The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1866-05-12
The Spa nIsh Lover.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

Delaplaine, lazily, over the newspaper
Flora, my love ~
Miss Delaplain looked lang qdly up from
| her novel-a pretty, brown eyed young lady,
with delicately shaped eyebro ows, and lips
whose carmine freshness made one think OF
ripe crimson cherries dashed with ram.
What is it, papa?'
Here's most eligible residence to let,
my dear, IN st. Charles square-rent reasons
able, location excellent-brown stone front
whole house in complete repair. Upon my
word it sounds very promising. l think, my
dear, you had better 60 around and take a
look at 1t; it's high time We were engaging a
| house,
Flora Delaplaipe sighed rather reluctantly
Papa, house hunting IS such dsagree>
! able business.
swell, well, we all have to encounter dlsa-
greeables in this world, child. 1 haven.
time to 90 myself, and certainly won't stay
in this house with the unconscionable land
| lord raising the rent cool thoussnd at .
jump
Yes, but, paps-'
Ny dear" interrupted the old gentleman,
lrasciblv, ''don't let US have any more butts.
The fact is, Flora, you haven't been worth a
crooked straw since that Spanish exile, Es-
terIo. began to turn you head with HIS absurd
compliments. It's my opinion, Flora, tha,
he's a rating fool
"Papam
Miss Delaplaine flushed to her very eye
brows.
"Yes, yes, l know you think I'm mistaken !;
but, my girl, let me advise you to stick TO
honest American lovers, that talk stra ght>
forward English and aren't afraid to look YOU
in the eyes. I've no faith in your Count Es-
taban d Esterio. Wha. do you know about
him, after all ?'
Papa, he owns a splendid estate in Ar
ragon."
"Splsndid estate in fddles,icks, my dear -
"And Clara Dewey would give her ears TO
secure the same attention that he pays me.
Where did Clara Dewey pick him up 2
Il don't know, papa, but al tae girls are
wild about him.
"Tll tell YOU what, my dear" said Mr.
Delapnins, sagely, "whsn a Spanish Count
springs up IN single night, like mushroom,
and nobody know. who he Is, or where he
came from, there is something rather ausPicN
ious in the whole business, and !, for one,
don't believe in it
"You always were so suspicious, papa
"Time will prove my dear-.ime viii prove.
And now don't let's waste any more talking
about Spanish hiIalosos. Put on your bon
net, aid go to look a. the house
alone, papa
Well, asa some OF your young lady friends
to 20 with you-Miss Dewey, II you choose
IA Flora went reluctantly up stairs to put
on her bonnet and shawl, she thought within
herself. What would papa say If ne knew
was actually ngagcd TO poor dear Manuel 7
1t will never do TO tell him now, with his
mind weighed down by all these pre- uiices.
A secret marriage will be the only thing.
Aud even pa "a could hardly refuse forgiveness
TO his only daughter when she comes as the
Countess Es;AJan dEste.io.'
The color came to Elora's cheeks, and her
ewes sparkled as she repeated iAe rausica.
Spanish syllsbles 10 herself
Clara Dewey, bright brGnett OF Is or 20.
was 4uith willing to accompany her friend IN
tie house hunting expedition, and as they
walkei along, rallied her, arch'y, about her
Spanish cavalier.
Bat, Flora, there's one thing rather
pecaliar about him-he never makes his
appearance in the daytime, - call OK prom
enade,'
"Perhap, bis engagements do not allow Of
it, said Flora.
Il Yes. but-oh mere IS the house"
Flor. Ds!aplaine rang the bell, and IN,
quirsd if slo could be allowed 70 inspect the
mansion.
Certainly. num- said the servant girl.
&" A.sis isn't at home, hutlll call ;as house
keeper
lie housekecper came Prin, sharp.
yisagei old lady, in rls.Ing black six, "rI
cap strings winter than .now-aud led ta-
young ladies from apartment to apartment,
with valuable explanations Of every adv.n'
tage or disadvantage.
u think We shall take the lease said
Flora; il seems delightful
ALLOW me to show you the kitchen" said
the old lady, ma jestically, "and the buffers
pantry, and the waters ROOM
The butler, a pompcus, silver haired old
man, was engaged il labelling bottles OF wine
while Jus, beyond, tall waiter, With white
apron tied round his waist, was washing
delicate Sewers CHINA he half turned his
head at the sound of 1uttering silks and
feminine voices As he did so he started
violently, and transparent painted plate
fell to the ground witu crash that shiyered
it into inftesimal fragments.
Manuel - calculated the old Ady, sharp
", :. that is the second plate you 4 ave broken
within a week shall advise yodr mistress
to stop 1t out of your wages"
She led the way up stairs, descanting as
she did SO, on the general carelessness
of servants.
Manuel is pretty good waiter" she said,
"but dreadtully careless and am afraid lie
drinks. Ny dear young lady, you have over
tired yourself running up and down stairs
YOU are as pale as ghost"
Flora smiled ieebly as she disavowed all
WEAKNESS, and tsok her leave, promising to
send her father to decide on the merits of The
house.
Clrra," she filtered, when they were
once more III the open air, that waiter
was-'
Count Manuel Estaband d Esterio," quiet.
" returned Miss Dewey. My dear Flora,
we have been most grossly deceived by a
vulgar adverturer. No wonder that we never
saw him in the day time. How fortunate
that we have discovered the deception even
now.
Flora cIasped her hands in sien thanks
fulness. Clara Dewey could nevet know how
much cause for silent thnnkfuln ess e1; ;sted
within her breast.
And | had promised myself in marriage
to that scheu.ing deceiver," she murnered
TO herself "Oh, can ! ever be sufficiently
grateful for this escape! A week hence and
it mis- ght have been to late"
Mr.. Delaplaine engaged the house on St.
Chales Square, bnt his daughter did not m ar
~ Count Manuel Estsband d Esterio.'-
And to this day the honest old gentleman is
gentleman is ignorant ''whst ever became Of
that Spanish fellow the girls we're 20 bewitch-
cd about N. Y, Herald.
ARTzNUs WARD ON NAPoLEoNs LIFE OF