Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-07-03
Gales aud Sketthes.
RoGERs's LUCK.
Continued from yesterday

/ Rogers sat one moonlight evening IN the
court. listening to the tinkle OF guita
where some OF the people were dancing In
one of the great empty salas.
IL wish I could have Dance" said
lula, with a pretty petulance.
And why not" Rogers cried: Come,
we will have turn on these wide. smooth
flags. Why. do you know we have never
danced together?' -,
You were little fit for dancing" said
Don Eulalo, rolling cornhusk cigarette
when saw you. yonder under the atamoS
ten months twill be tomorrow p
! Ten months :" cried Rogers. ''Now,
can that be possible?,.'
And even while lula waited. poised tor
the coveted dance. he passed in swift re-
view this happy epoch. What were the
! elements OF contentmect that had spun
these long months by swiftly as the move
ment of a dream? His lite had been
simply full the tranquility of mind. con-
genial work-and lula A flood of con-
tiicting thoughts surged and beat in his
brain, as he whirled to the measure of the
"Paloma" valse.
but no ~ cried lula. stopping short
and freeing herself from his clasp with a
little push, half playful, half petulant,
'.you dance not well you are stiff in your
valse like all your countrymen. A dancer
would move like spray of naallate. that
trails from its limb and sways to every
breeze or like swallow, sloping through
the air Never mind-we will teach you
this winter. when we go to keep carnival
at Gua dalaxara Is it not true. papacito.
that Embellishments could teach three
legged metati-stone how to dance ?'
But shall not be with you," said
Rogers sadly.
How notp Will we then leave you
here-you brought all our prosperity
Shall you have ali the labor, and we the
pleasure? Nay, you must think US in.
grates!'
but shall not be here" again he an
swered; 81 must leave you speedily"
Tula's dark eyes dialated as with Won
der.
81 am under obligations" Rogers s,am-
mered; II fear have given offence-I
must no longer neglect-the lady whom
am to marry"
Tula's little hands fluttered helplesslv
at her ide; she turned away as if to hide
her face, then swayed, and would have
ldlltu upou tLC sCOuCS, Dut tudu hoSCi .
caught her. He laid her gently in her
fathers arms. The old man looked at
Rogers. over his darling's pallid face.
SIS there no help for this ?" he said, in
a piteous tone of appeal.
mo. nome" said little Rogers. bitterly,
''save at the cost of honor"
THAT were too great price for life it.
SELF" the Mexican answered gravely ;
land now my friend, forgive me-but
when my child revives. It's better that
she shall not see your face"
In misery the long night wore away for
Rogers. Now for the first time, he saw
in its true light the inlatuation that his
friends had deplored. and realized that in
his betrOthal tc Caroline Howard his van
ty had been concerned. perhaps his intel
lectual being gratified; but of the true af-
lection that should sanctiiy a marriage,
he had known nothing. tie knew it deep
ly now. Justly and dispassionately he
contrasted the two women with impartial
thought. Caroline Towards exactions,
her caprices, her seltishn9ss, her moral
cowardice. her worldliness and narrow
ness of ann. ranged themselves in opposi
ton to the gentle gravity the thought for all
about her. the disregard of self the tender
charity, that marked lula Cordoba. Caro-
line Towards mental vigor. too, and sup.
CRITICAL culture, were no wise equal to the
capabilities that had shown themselves in
lula under Rogers's desultory tutoring
Give Gertrude Miss Towards training and
Miss Towards added years. and the
Spanish girl need bargain for no odds
Even Caroline's classic features wanted
ola with tho fresh topIny
beauty of Tulu's Southern face. "She
saved my very life" cried little Rogers
to the silence and the zapote trees. land
have brought her misery. unworthy that
am. Now. for the first time. do curse
my luck"
Don Eulalio and the young man sat a,
break fast silent both. and sad, when the
nozo Rafael spoke at the door: There s
a senior Amertcano here-one E-Strain a.
And the next moment Strains self was
in the room He was in buoyant spirits
what with the successful termination OF
his work and the thought of speedy re-
turn home. Inevitably something OF ami.
nation came in with him. But. pleased
though he was at reunion with his old
time companion, Rogers could not bear
the testimony tension of speech on general
topics, and so he left the others and went
to sit moodily in his own room. Here
Strain presently followed, and with a
clouded face.
Don Eulalio tells me great things Of
your success. old fellow. You must know
how glad am
He has succeeded" Rogers answered
briefly; lit profits me nothing-save ex.
perience. "
at will profit you fourth of his re-
ceipts. the patron tells me. call tina,
fair percentage on no capital"
"If | would take it-yes. He may pay
me what | was 10 draw-verv superfluous.
ly-from your company but want moth
ing more"
You were always Quixotic," said
Strain impatiently. IF you cheaper
your services, others will cheaper you
All YOU can get will be none too much for
comfort. Here was rejoicing in your
financial advancement, because it might
help to divert you from the dissappont.
ment--confound it /! I'm no good al
breaking news! Rogers, YOU customary
i'll luck pursues you here"
at does" said the other. gioomily.
Strain stared. What. have you heard
already? | thought brought the latest
mail. Well, here's your letter. Isuppose
it marches with mine"
Rnrers eyed the envelone yiciouslv