The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-09-01

deserves to strangle on q green orange
As to my daughter, sir, she'll never
want. leave her an income as endur
ing as the Seven Floors On each ami.
versary of the glorious conquest (glory
to Cody we usually receive as much as
twelve duros, which keeps us comforta'
bly, for about three months"
AS was paying nearly five dollars 9
day in another part of the grounds,
naturally wondered what they lived on.
Indeed, was in the act of offering the
old dame dollar to let me come and
dine with her, when, looking down the
walk, saw young and graceful Anda.
lusian lady approaching. As yet she
was more than half hidden by the climb
ing vines of the trellis and the cluster
of orange trees near the gate.
She was evidently coming to test the
oracle.
A wicked plan suggested itself. Toss
ing my hat into q corner of the room, ]
mentally vowed to dispense with the
dinner, and verbally promised to pay
the dollar to my hostess to be allowed to
guide the pretty stranger TO the roof of
the tower. I snatched up q capa (the
cloak of Spain and Italy,, and throwing
it over my shoulders, took my stand bare
headed at window overlooking the
Prado, far below on the banks of the
Darro. I stood for the grandson in a
twinkling.
The lady entered alone. saw her maid
waiting outside.
"Can I ascend the tower?" she asked
in half-abashed manner.
Certainly, my lady; grandson, show
the lady up upstairs.
All that was necessary to establish my
relationship was to say in the nature of a
command rather than request: "Give me
my hat"
My putative grandparent produced a
badly dilapidated covering for my head,
which 1 took the utmost care to carry
respectfully in my hand; as took the
lead up the steps, she courtesied to the
stranger and said Ascend"
During our absence she doubtless
passed most of the time in surmising
whether the visitor would give her real
or peseta. It may have been, also, that
she was not altogether so sure about the
liberality, which had prom
ised.
The narrow, ricketty stairway was
climbed. My lady slipped upon the
second landing, and although turned
instantly to render her assistance, MY
hands and arms got so entangled in the
capa, (which was utterly ignorant how
to wear that raised her to her feet in
very poor fashion. Still, she appeared
grateful. and the charming manner in
which she murmured her thanks caused
me to curse the circumstances that made
me only the grandson of the talkative
old woman below.
"What shall call you?" she asked.
"Muchochico" called myself mucho
chico because it was necessary.
I led the way to the bell, but as my
lady seemed anxious to approach it alone
I halted and affected to think that the
present occasion had no interest what
ever for me.
Having crossed herself, the maiden
knelt, and addressing first her patron
saint, thus began:
"Santa Teresa (again she bowed her
head,) grant the petition of virgin who
comes to thee sorely distressed in spirit,
and who Graves at thy hand an answer to
her hopes"
She appeared satisfied with this prayer,
but having risen and remained silent for
q few moments she knelt again as if to
make assurance doubly sure, and stated
her case more frankly:
"Santa Maria: want husband, kind
and rich. am unhappy alone-so very
crave companion whose
protection shall make me strong, whose
heart and mine shall be one"
It was the same traditional formula
that the confessors instin into the hearts
Of the confding girls of Spain at 81 per
heart. Her prayers had the one merit of
candor, a rare thing in the Iberian PENN
sula. For my part vigorously hummed
the Spanish national hymn, known to the
American memory by the words, II want
to be an angel"
The gentle maid essayed Intellectually
to reach the bell. She was not an ex-
pert climber, and did not do her work
well.
fastened to her aid, and she thanked
me for my offer of assistance. She placed
her foot in my hand, and truth compels
me to say it was rather larger than would
have been associated with so pretty
face. With considerable effort raised
my lady until with uplifted arms she
was brought within reach OF the charmed
bell. She did not hesitate. and the vigor
with which she rang the bell must have
can sod the old wOman Who WaS medi.