Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1867-01-31

Don Francisco and his mother Don.
ma Julia in his rapid Irish way,
hardly giving him time to answer
"Thank you many times" said
Benito; "they are all we'll"
Jerry went on inquiring farther.
but his questions were all answered
coldly, though politely. Itseemed
to me that the subject was un.
pleasant, and pulled Jerry's arm.
We passed on.
"The mannerless churl!" Jerry
exclaimed, "not to invite us to his
fathers house; the finest place
and the prettiest girl in Merida
I have no patience with him"
We stopped before a refresh
ment-table, behind which sat an
old fat woman, serving the guests
with wines, liquors, nuts, cakes, ci-
garitas or coffee, as suited their va
rious tastes, and receiving the re-
ais which each paid for his enter
tainment. This was the only "ball-
bill" to pay. Each cavalier, after
dancing, took his partner to the
table if she desired refreshment,
drank something himself or took
cigarita, and paid his money.
"Those who danced paid the bill" p"
including music too, | suppose, for
those who did not dance had moth
ing to pay unless they chose
We took glass of wine of the
country white wine, made from
small yellow grape--and were
leaving the table, when Jerry
turned suddenly to the right, hav-
ing been tapped by fan.
"By Jove! Tom, here she is
now!" he exclaimed, and seized
the small white hand of a very
beautiful girl who had called his
attention. She smiled very sweet
ly, and her large black eyes SEEM
ed to smile even more than her
small white teeth. OFarrol low
cred his voice and moderated the
boisterousness of his manner, for
like all Irishmen, he was constitu-
tionally a gentleman.
( "When did you come to Merida
again ?" she asked in those sweet
liquid tones which only a South
ern beauty is mistress Of.
"Only tonight; not an hour ago, "
said O'Farrol. "But we are going
to stay as long as you will let us"
"Wep she exclaimed, looking
steadily at me. "We%
"My young friend and travelling
companion, Tom Conover," said
Jerry, dragging me nearer; ola
Sonora Carlota de la Tore, the
prettiest girl in Merida" he added
in a whisper, which of course she
heard, as he intended. She gave
me her hand in the most artless
manner possible. | took it and
pressed it warmly. t. !.
81 hope his visit to our city will
be pleasant" said she. -e
.'if l meet you often it certainly
will" said l boldly; at least |
thought it boldly, for then but
eighteen summers had rolled over
my head. e.-. -
"Oh! that you shall do certain
ly," said she; and in five minutes
more we had joined the walters,
and were whirling around the long
room in the graceful gyratlons OF
that giddy dance.
This lasted a long time, until l
was dizzy, and then we went to a
window. Opening the grating, we
found ourselves upon a balcony
without, where the moon was shi-
ming down calm and still, and the
city lay beneath us as quiet as the
"City of the Dead" We walked
away from the window till the hum
and hustle of the .tandan9o were
hardly audible; and the liquic
notes of the aageolet came up the
Quiet street from an orange-groye
through which was visible. a little
stream, shining in the moonlight
among the dark green foliage like
a silver thread. We listened {
long time, and talked in subduet
tones, like two romantic children
as we were. And she showed mi
her uncle's residence, dimly visibli
in the moonlight across the top
of the low, aat-roofed houses
The gardens around it We're full
Of nrees, whose tropical foliag
looked like a deep shade upon al
exquisite picture. She told m
80 4