Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-09-15
THE SPANISH HEROINE.

Poverty Is certainly Il blessing III one
respect at least, inasmuch as a fool
without money has fewer opportunities
for manifesting his follies than the
Wealthier animal of the same species.
1t would have been a piece Of real good
fortune if GeOfery Kendall had been
born to work for his living like many q
he ter man, since it is to be presumed
that hardship would have rubbed lit
tie commOn-sense into his soft brain.
AS it was his father had left him large
fortune, and the use he made of it was
something between a joke and trag-
edy. He was The legitimate prey of
all sorts of sharpers. He got into ter
rible scrapes and had to buy himself
out of them at enormous cost. With
out any real wrong he acquired for
himself an unenviable reputation
among the scandal mongers of the
town.
He was vigorous young fellow with
big beard, mild eyes, and hands as
white rs a woman's. He was, moro
over, something of dandy in his dress
and manners. Yet withal, a kinder,
better-tempered soul you would not
find in days walk.
What such a woman as Alma Thorpe
could have found in him to love, is a
mystery; unless, indeed, it was on the
principle of woman's tenderness for
children, birds and other weakness.
She was quite his opposite quiet,
sober little body, strong-willed and
quick-witted, with Il wonderful fund
of patience for her laundering lover.
She seemed to have no object, no hope
or ambition aside from his happiness.
Yet, like the fool that he was, the time
came when he flung away this Jewel for
a piece of ghttering sham. Luckily he
was made to pay dear for his folly.
Kendall and Alma had been engaged
for nearly year, and their marriage
was to take place shortly, when a lady
appeared on the scene who created a
sensation III the town. She called her
self Donna SanChicO, and was accom-
panied by her brother Don Marco
Damas. They were supposed to be
Spaniards uf distinction making tour
Tor pleasure Donna Sanchica was a
woman of thirty, large and luxuriant
of figure, with coal black hair and eyes
of, the same hue, as bold and keen as a
hawks. She was not long in working
herself into the best circles, where she
speedily becamea great f4vorite. AT
the social gatherings her mellow voice
and charming manners made her
scores of friends and admirers. 1t was
observed by the wiser ones, however,
that she devoted herself to the younger
and Weather men.
Il have one passion stupendous for
the American gentlemen" she admit
ted with engaging frankness; che is so
brave, so superb, Santissima p
1t was at one Of these gatherings that
Kendall met her. She seemed to pen
citrate his character at a glance, and
turned the batteries of her big black
eyes full upon his weak head. 1t was
simply foregone conclusion. Like
any other moth he flew toward the
brightest candle. She charmed, aston
ished, beWildered him. He had never
seen such a brilliant woman-so bril-
liant, so unconventional. Moreover
she admired him. He could see that,
and his vanity gave a great throb of
delight. That night when he went
home l fear that it was of the superb
Spanish beauty that he dreamed, and
not Of the pale little American girl
Without intending any treachery to
his betrothed he spent good deal of
his time with Donna Sanchica after
that. He had right to admire ner,
he said. She was his friend, his dear
friend, that was all. So day after day
he visited her, and came gradually to
neglect Alma. The towns people began
to talk. Rumor said that young Ken
dali and the Spanish lady were engaged
to be married. Some envied him,
while others, more sensible, pitted AL
ma, and cursed Kendall's blindness and
stupidity.
AS yet Alma had said nothing to
Kendall upon the subject, though it
had not escaped her. But she patient
ly sought to keep him true to his faith
by the thousand sweet devices of a low
ing woman.
At length even her patience gave out.
One day. after weeks absence, Ken
dali found few moments to spare
from his Spanish infatuation to call
upon his betrothed. He met her with
a sheepish and embarrassed air, as if
some consciousness of his own mean
unmanliness were troubling him. He
bent to kiss her, as usual, but she step
ped back and confronted him firmly,
yet with a white face and trembling
lip.
'All that is over between Us, Geof-
frey,o she said quietly. ssThis pretence