Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-04-11
Fan Flirting in Vera Cruz.


Cor. New York Evening Post.l
Standing within an open easement,
behind a grille of iron bars which pro-
ject to give room for a balconyroften
ornamented with massive gratings, or
leaning over a 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 a
high comb Over her shoulders, and
flirting a fan, every motion Of which
has a meaning. A closer inspection
will often discover a cavaliero sta
toned on some other terrace, or per-
haps in the street below, for whose
benefit all this play of woman's witch
cry is enacted. He watches her with
scrutinizing glance, and interprets his
fate in every turn and hirt of that bit
of pasteboard and muslin. | was
witness of such a scene not long since.
Leaning over the parapet Of a house
of the better class was a face crowned
with loose wave of hair af that rich
purple black which distinguishes the
Iberian everywhere the nose arched
with a curve hat implies command
the mouth and chin delicately chisell-
ed, but very firm the eye cold and
clear and self-controlled, languishing
and fiery by turns, but ~Oftenest superb
ly calm the head carried on a long,
swanlike neck, as BELTS a 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 seeming
IL gazing into space. Only close OBJ
servation discovered by the covert
g%lanees 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 e~ngrossing his entire
attention. The play had evidently
been in progress fer some time. The
fair dame upon the housetop was, to
all outward seeming, engaged in study
ing the shipping in the harbor. Her
right hand, holding the fan, rested
carelessly upon the parapet, as if for
greater ease or security. Occasionally
the fan twirled slightly. A moment
after her gaze, recalled from the tran
quill harbOr Ostensibly to adjust some
article of dress, fell an instant upon
the gallant below. 1t was the merest
glance, seeming to rest nowhere, and
yet a glance which appreciated every
detail of the answer in its passing.
The reply was equally eyanes-
cent and apparently ~irrelevent
an almost imperceptible shrug, or
a motion of the hand under the
cloak, unintelligible to any but her for
whom it was intended. Then the gaze
went out seward again among the
shipping and the cavaliero was intent
upon the sign of a shop farther up the
street. The two faces wore the far
away expression of those whose
thoughts were wool-gathering in the
clouds. But appearances were never
more deceitful. The gallant soon lost
interest in the perusal of the sign and
resumed his covert glances toward the
parapet; the mantilla a second time
demanded readiustment, and the pan
tOmime went on as before. AT last.
after at least a dozen repetitiOns of the
scene, the fan suddenly closed with a
snap, the cavaliero raised his hat
slightly, as if to place it more firmly
upon his head, the face disappeared
from the terrace, aad the little episode
was at an end. Wandering along the
street half an hour later | saw the
same black mantilla shading the same
patrician face looking out inquiringly
from behind the iron grating of the
first floor windows, and, a little further
along, the same slender gallant saun-
tering ir~releyantly toward the case
ment. And | thought the fair Iber-
ian would have been happier in some
stolen ramble on the hills in an hum
bic peasants dress, with her hands
full of flowers and her lovers arm
about her than in the family prison at
home.