The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-01-05
A NEW YEARS GIFT.
BY FRANCIS L. LONG.

in one of the lower taverns of BARGE
Iona, In a quarter OF the city much fire.
'quented by sailors, fishermen, muleteers
and rustic pastors from the adjacent
province, late in the afternoon on the
day before the New Year of A. d. IS,
might have been seen two men in the
garb of students of the university, sit
ting at rough table of unplaned wood.
smoking clgdrroS, and leisurely discussing
the merits of bottle of reno ciar0 which
stood like sentinel between them. The
dress and bearing of both men indicated
that they belonged to better class of
society than one would expect to find in
such a place, for the tavern was not of
she best repute, it being little better than
a brothel, or casa de pubIico, 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 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 a lady would turn to catch a
second glance. He was a wild and reck-
less appearing 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 toward the other. This
gentlemon's name is Don Pedro de Ala
mazda, son OF wealthy noble His COM
rade, Francisco Salano, was a year or SO
his Junior, and his long, silken hair, fine
eyes, and pale face, added to his light
and slender figure. gave him an almost
glrllsh appearance, when contrasted with
the more robust and masculine develop
ment of the elder
You are very dull companion to-
day, amigo mio," ratified de Alamada.
by San Fermin, one would imagine
the note lately handed you by the much
deh0 (boy) was request to attend your
mothers funeral, rather than missive
from girl whose beauty has fired the
heart of every gallant in Barcelona.
Salano, your humors are hard to compre-
bend.
Salano did not reply to the raillery of
his friend, but moodily pulled away at
his cigar, genuine COtOsd de SANTIAGO,
and with the tip of one in his white and
delicate fingers wrote the name La Bonita
for at least the twentieth time upon the
table in drops of wine which his care
lessness had split.
What does the fair danseuse say to
you IN her note?' continued Alamada;
your rueful countenancs would lead
me to suppose that you are either dis
carded or new lover, or La Bonita has
issued draft upon your excheouer
which you cannot conveniently honor"
F." Cdrrom6d! you have hit the nail on
the head" muttered Selano. az am
ruined by La Bonita. / am well aware
that she is heartless coquette. and en-
titled to no mans faith. So lone as 7
have doubloons in my pocket She is
mine, but when my gold fails She BELONGS
to some one more fortunate. With goId
| won her from her first lover. Baptista
who shot himself in a fit of Jealous RAGE
and by San Jago! | have no donht The
vixen fatters herself that | will be foolish
enough TO do likewise, whenever she is
Pleased TO nominate my successor"
nat Is wrong now? inquired Don
Amanda, endeavoring to bring about
a partial reconciliation between his es-
tranged eyes IN order that he might
bring them both to bear upon the face of
his friend; but to no purpose. however
for while one studied Salano's clouded
face, its fellow made tour of observa-
ton to the adjacent wall.
''Pu tell you what is wrong" re-
turned the other petulantly. LA
Bonita has no more soul than the gilt
winged humming- which dazzles our
vision as it fits from bower to bower.
Like the humming-bird among flowers,
TO her each face is equally dear, and the
last face is the dearest and sweetest of
ali"
Don Alamada gazed at the rueful face
of his companion for an instant, and
then burst into a peal of hearty laugh
ter"
Why, my dear Salano, what else can
you expect from a daasel4se or ooyphee
Of her known character? Money, nv
dear fellow, is all they care for, and if
you are foolish enough to squander it
upon them, why should they refuse it? !