The Phoenix herald., 1879-06-07
Flirting in Vera Cruz.

Standing within an open easement,
 before a 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 a meaning. A
 closer inspection will often discover a
 cavaliero stationed on some other ter
 race, or perhaps in the street below, for
 whose benefit all this play of woman's s
 witchery is enacted. He watches her
 with scrutinizing glace, and interprets
 his fate in every turn and hirt of that
 bit of pasteboard and muslin l was
 witness of such a scene not long since.
 Leaning over the parapet of a 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 a curve that implies command 1; 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 a long, swanlike neck, as befits descendant of the old conquistadores. Below, on the opposite side of the street, lounged 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 expressing his entire 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 se- 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. It was the merest glance, seeming to rest nowhere, and yet glance which every detail of the answer in its passing. The reply was equally and apparently irrelevant an alm ost imperceptible shrug or mo- tion 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 a shop further up the street. The two faces wore the faraway expression of those whose thoughts were wool-gath- ering in the clouds. But appearances were never more deceitful. The gal Lant soon lost interest in the perusal of the sign and resumed his covert glances toward the parapet the mantilla sec ond time demanded readjustment and the pantomime went on as before. At last, after at least a dozen repetitions of the scene, the fan suddenly closed with snap, the cavaliero raised his nat slightly as if to place 1t 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 l saw the same black mantilla shading the same patri- elan face looking out inquiringly from behind the iron grating of the first floor and little further along the same slender gallant, sauntering irrele- vanity toward the easement. And l thought the fair Iberian would have been happier in some stolen ramble on the hills in humble peasants dress, with her hands full of flowers and her overs arm about her than in the fami " prison at home.-Neao Fork Ereaing Post.