The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1877-12-13
OUR STORY TELLER.
A NEW YEARS GIFT.
BY FRANCIS L. LONG.

In one of the lower taverns of BARGE
Iona, in a quarter of the city much
frequented by sailors, fishermen, mule
teers and rustic pastors from the adjacent
province, late in the afternoon on the
day before the New Year of A. ID. 18-,
might have been seen two men in the
garb of students of the university, sit
ting at rough table of unplaned wood,
smoking cigdrros, and leisurely discuss
ing the merits of bottle of resO claro
which stood like sentinel between
them. The dress and bearing of both
men indicated that they belonged to a
better class Of society than one would
expect to find in such place, for the
tavern was not of the best repute, it be-
ing little better than a brothel, or casa
de publico, as such houses are politely
called in Spanish.
The elder of the two, who appeared to
be about three or four and twenty years
of age, was chattering away in the best
possible good humor, although his face
was not quite as pleasant as we would
like an intimate friend to possess, or one
to which lady would turn to catch a
second glance. He was wild and reck-
less-looking man, with nose which
seemed nodded after bill-hook, and his
eyes apparently had not been on speak
ing terms from the time of his birth, since
one of them seemed constantly to turn
its back, so to speak, toward the other.
This gentleman's name was Don Pedro
de Alamada, son of wealthy noble. His
comrade, Francisco Salano, was yeal
or two his junior, and his long, silker
hair, fine eyes, and pale face, added to
his light and slender figure, gave him al
almost girlish appearance, when con
trasted with the more robust and mascu
line development of the elder.
"You are q very dull companion to
day, amigo miO," ratified de Alamada
" BY San Fermin, one would imagin,
the note latelyhanded you by the muchach
(boy) was request to attend you
mothers funeral, rather than a missiv
from girl whose beauty has fired tn,
heart Of every gallant in Barcelona
Salano, your humors are hard to compre
hend."
Salano did not reply to the raillery o
his friend, but moodily puffed away a
his cigar, genuine C0LoSa de Santiago
and with the tip of one in his whit
and delicate fingers wrote the name L
Bonita for at least the twentieth tim
upon the table in the drops of win
which his carelessness had split.
"What does the fair danseuse say
you in her ncte?' continued Alamada
':.your rueful countenance would lea
me to suppose that you are either di
carded far new lover, or La Bonita h;
issued n draft upon your exchequ.
which you cannot conveniently honor
Cdrrombd you have hit the nail c
the head" muttered Salano. "I a
ruined by La Bonita. / am well ava
that she is a heartless coquette, and e
titled to no mans faith. So long as
have doubloons in my pocket she
mine, but when my gold fails she
longs to some one more fortunate. Wi
gold / won her from her first love
Baptista, who shot himself in a fit
jealous rage, and by San Jagol 1 ha
no doubt the vixen fatters herself th
i will be foolish enough to do likewi
whenever she is pleased to nominate I
successor"
What is wrong nowT' inquired D
Alamada, endeavoring to bring abo
apartial reconciliation between his
tranged eyes in order that he mie
bring them both to bear upon the face
his friend; but to no purpose, howev
for while one studied Salano's CLOUD
face, its fellow made tour of obser'
ton to the adjacent wall.
"Pll tell you what is wrong"
turned the other petulantly. I"
Bonita has no more soul than the o
winged humming-b which dazzles ,
vision as it fits from bower to bow
Like the humming-bird among flow,
to her each face is equally dear, and
last face is the sweetest and dearest
ALL"
Don Alamada gazed at the rue
face of his companion for an insta
and then burst into a peal of hea
laughter.
Why, my dear Salano, what else
you expect from ddnseuse or a coru1
of her known character? Money,
dear fellow, is all they care for, and
you are foolish enough to squander
upon them, why should they refuse
You won La Bonita as Jupiter '
Dame, with a shower of gold, and
you cease TO sprinkle her lap with au
erous dew she will drop you lik
broken, toy, and look elsewhere fo
rainmaker."
Yes, but such an avaricious trol
as she is would exhaust the treasures
Pactolus," rejoined Salano.
Let me advise you in the premis,
returned Don Alamada. "Drop
Bonita at once and forever. Have
satisfaction of letting the town k
that you have voluntarily shaken
rather than the modification of
mitting her to boast that she had
carded you, and thereby become
target for the gibes and pasouipade
the wits of the university"
"Ah, Dios! would that / could