New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-02

Don Joaquin stopped, brushed the eehei
from bis cigar, and rendered it. The Eng
to condemn, in his British way, the 'fellOw
that sold it." The don drew one from hi
breast.
"Thry theez one," he said, in the slow
gentle, hoarse voice peculiar to his people
lit, ees-a-ces-s frone-"
From your fathers plantation :" asked
the Englishman, accepting.
Isl, ST." replied the don; "z-frone me
plan'tion; 'e-,he bez kine."
"Sit down." said the Englishman, patting
chair bottom with his broad fat hand.
The Cuban waved o gracious refusal
looked up at the stars, and suddenly letting
his trouble into his face shook his head
mournfully.
whats the row 2" aeked the Briton
"Sit down, Justiniani-sit down, old fellow
What has got into yous You weren't
| always so, were yOu!
The Cuban drew q chair little toward
his friend and seated himself.
"What makes you so deyvilsh sad, old
boy 2" continued the Englishman.
lisa treubly," slowly responded the low
voice of the don. Then, after pause, Elsa
one teeng-aEif was nOt-I wOuld-a Re
| cheer"
them were b. coming vacant; The blue linen
uniforms Of the army were much in the ma
| jority, and even of these, two or three
| groups near them presently dispersed. The
Euglishman softly brushed off the ashes OF
his cigar against the post Of his chair back.
II.
The don resumed. Ills abOu' seeze yearce
sgo"-drOoping his words very slowly, one
by one, with great painstaking-"'s abou'
Creole de Coova (Cuba)-z.was young-a-
beautifule-deen loOg ig-a the creOle-has-s
eyes a-blu'; twas beautifule. Forehead
-w'-iite- cheeks-t'roat-a-l ex-
pressed their lusciOusness by gathering his
| finger-tps at his mouth and opening them
with solemn wave Of the hand, the looked
up into the starlight with q sad ecstasy in
his eyes as though he saw her face in
Heaven.
"Dead9, asked the Englisman.
No-belief-not.'
'Did she live in Havana!"
"No-Marianao, she leeve. love-a her.
go to sea plenty time-plenty."
You used to 60 and see her often!'
Isl; often-pazz by the weendOw-look-
in out" He touched his hat reverentially,
as if he bowed to her once more at the win
dow in Marianao.
why didn't you ask her father! But you
didn't know him. eh9"
"No-si-nO; I-ah-I deem"
''You didn't know him at first, but you
met him afterward3"
Isl, 81. ! ask-a heem come to Gee hees-a
thaughter. He sayce, Isl, senor.' She have
a-no mother; anO seest'r; a-n0 brother.
He sayce, Come; but-a me thauther hasa
been leeve in the States; z-you want mar
ry-muz got to ask-a me thaughter ligue
meseP.'"
Right" quietly said the Englishman.
II go-oaften. Af.wile-" The doa
looked at bis companion to know if he had
the word correct.
YES" said his friend, 'afterwhile.'"
"She loves me-" said the don, with
deeper voice than ever. His eyes glistened
explaining; II thoughd." He sighed, and
again was silent. lone thsy, some bothy
was a-git weddin'."
Married" said the Englishman
Isl; git marriet. We was a-talkin' bout
that lathy. bora fadther, an a-mesel; we
was a-talk bout. An hore-a fadther sayce
how theez a-bri'groom aska fore thad
brittle three timee. l sayce it was.a bad;
he muz-a stop-he muz a. l don know
frowned at the poverty Of bis English vo-
Fright, said his companion; that q man
houldn't make an ass of himself twice
Or one womsn."
"Ab. senor" said the Cuban. "she VISA
Q s;gs, only eiehteen;" trying to hold
"ob, know" replied the other hastily; |
put 1ts their blahsted way. They re ali ,
like; say the women ere ail alike.H
Inc don shook his head, but was too Do
-.e to Contradict. After pause he recon-
nenced, with his usual slow impressiveness.
she sayce she t'ing-a data me-I-wil
THE deucew
Twas ALA play" The speaker paused
q moment, and then resumed: II was all
q playin'. Hor.a fadther, he laughin'; an
she laughin'; an sayce, i will a-bet a-you
the protiest-a granada in Coova.' Zwas-a
one pOmegranate, you know"
"She took the bet" said the Englishman,
There was long silence. The English
man extended his lighted cigar toward his
friend. for his light had gone out; but with
q wave of acknowledgment the offer was
declined.
The Cuban resumed. "Was nex'a even |
I ask-a-to be my wife" He drew long
breath.
"And she said no. suppose. She just
played with you"
II sayce datr' replied the don. II sayce,
You has play weeth me-fare-a- weilv"
The Englishman thumped his knee with
his palm. ''Juetiniani, you're man-Pn
Jay that for your
"But.a ices a-keelin' me-" slowly respond
ID the don.
"Leesten, ;" said the Cuban, with unbroken
sadness. II was leav' the door, she look a
right; an she lsughin', an ssyce, When
you comm gain you bringa one pome-
yranate. Oh, she was-a beautifule-moze in
;heeze world come back to Havana"
Now zee there what a piece O nonsense"
aid the EDglishman.
Isl, senor," said the other; "all-a none
,ense. She was a-young, you know. Hor-a
fadther thied. l was-a one thay-a cowart;
60 to MarianaO-try to see bora Once-a
more; she was-a 60 to France. l was afrai
% be cowart again-I 60 to the chorch-
xneel-a before the Virgin, you know. an
nake-a swear" The don could 60 NO far
her.
For q minute or two neither spoke. All
vt once the Englishman rose nervously.
oh. see here, Justinianl, what ails you?
You're not going to" But he was. His
lad, handsome face went down into his
, aims, and the drops of anguish stole
through bis fingers to the ground:
The Englishman stood up Disconnected.
CheL he sat down again, his hands in his
pockets.
"See here, Justiniani
But the don did not respond. In little
while he tried again:
"See here, Justiniani!'
The Cuban rose to depart. His compan.
on Immediately offered an arm. 1t was &C.
,epted.
'Justiniani," said the Englishman, 'I'm
'orry for you"
The don was, a. we have said, grave
md solemn man; still, he was Cuban. He
lrew his arm out quickly to cast it lovingly
lbout the speakers neck; but it was caught
~ the Englishman's hand.
"None of that" said the true Briton; "rm
10 Cuban. Take my arm" They walked
way together.
"Now, Justiniani, I'm going to tell you
What I've been thinking this long time.
There isn't much the matter with you; but