Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-06-27
Flirting in Vera Cruz.

Standing within an open easement,
before q grille of iron bars which pro-
ject to give room for balcony, often
ornamented with massive gratings. or
leaning over the parapet that borders
the terraced roof above, may be seen the
fair Vera Cruzan of the better class
she of the Andalusian type, appareled in
heavy silks, with long black mantilla,
falling back from high comb, over
her shoulders. and flirting fan, every
motion of which has q meaning. A
closer inspection will often discover
cavaliero stationed on some other ter
race, or perhaps in the street below, for
whose benefit all this play Of woman's
witchery is enacted. He watches her
with scrutinizing glace, and interprets
his fate in every turn and fiirt of that
bit of pasteboard and muslin. I was
witness of such scene not long since.
Leaning over the parapet of house
of the better class, was face crowned
with loose waves of hair of that rich
purple black which distinguishes the
Iberian everywhere; the nose arched
with curve that implies command !;
the mouth and chin delicately chiseled,
but very firm the eyes cold and clear
and self-controlled, languishing and
fiery by turns. but oftenest superbly
calm the head carried on q long,
swanlike neck, as BELTS descendant of
the old conquistadores. Below, on the
opposite side of the street, lounged a
tall, slender gallant, wrapped in the
convenient round cloak. and seemingly
gazing intently into space. Only close
observation discovered by the covert
glances he shot from time to time in
the direction of the terrace, and his
solitary position on the pavement, the
purpose that had drawn him thither,
and which was engrossing his entire
attention. The play had evidently been
in progress for some time. The fair
dame upon the housetop was, to all
outward seeming, engaged in studying
the shipping in the harbor. Her right
hand, holding the fan, rested carelessly
upon the parapet, as if for greater Sc
curity. Occasionally the fan twirled
slightly. A moment after her gaze, re-
called from the tranquil harbor, osten-
sibly to adjust some article of dress,
fell an instant upon the gallant below.
~ W no VAO u4OAOoo e3A0ASoS oOSoAAu6 w
rest nowhere, and yet a glance which
appreciated every detail OF The answer
in its passing. The reply was equally
evanescent and apparently irrelevant !;
an aim ost imperceptible shrug or a mo-
ton of the hand under the cloak, unin-
telligible to any but her for whom it was
intended. Then the gaze went out sea
ward again among the shipping, and the
cavaliero was intent upon the sign of o
shop further up the street. The two
faces wore the far.away expression Of
those whose thoughts were wool-gath-
ering in the clouds. But appearances
were never more deceitful. The gal
liant soon lost interest in the perusal OF
the sign and resumed his covert glances
toward the parapet ; the mantilla Sec
ond time demanded REIMBURSEMENT and
the pantomime went on as before. At
last, after at least dozen repetitions
of the scene, the fan suddenly closed
with q snap, the cavaliero raised his
hat slightly as if to place it more firmly
upon his head, the face disappeared
from the terrace, and the little episode
was at an end. Wandering along the
street half an hour later saw the same
black mantilla shading the same patri-
clan face looking out inquiringly from
behind the iron grating Of the first floor
windows, and little further along the
same slender gallant, sauntering irrele-
vanity toward the easement. And I
thought the fair Iberian would have
been happier in some stolen ramb!e on
the hills in humble peasants dress,
with her hands full of flowers and her
lovers arm about her than in the fami-
ly prison at home.-NeU York Erening
Post.