Morning journal and courier., 1885-11-02

return. He carried It out to the leGLer, lelS- urly sauntering:down the street, swinging his cane, and appearing as comfortable as though he was on the shady side of the street on hot day. Of course he was the exposure of all eyes, but he was accustomed to that, and appeared not the least perturbed. The wine was won, and Gilsey determined to have re- venge in paying it. That evening, when Backus had responded to the fourth encore on one of his topical songs, he was surprised to see box of Mumm's extra showed over the footlights. The audience how1ed and demanded fifth verse. It was followed by another case, and so it continued until twelve boxes of wine had been piled up on the ftage before him, entirely concealing his rotund form.
 Love Letters Under DimcuIties.
 From Temple Bar.l
 While was in Cuba I was fortunate enough to form the acquaintance of lady of noble Mexican family, who had been set tied in the island for many years. She must have been between sixty and seventy; but except that her hair was snow-white and her form somewhat bent, she showed little sign of age, while her skin still preserved it's smoothness and her eyes sparkled with the viyacity of youth. She was one of the most charming takers I have met One evening, in conversation with her, 1 alluded to the passage in the tSB arbiere," where Don Barto- To examines his niece's fingers to see if she has been writing to Almaviva. "Surely," said, 'it is out of the nature of things to suppose that Don Bartolo would exercise so strict watch upon his ward"
 Dona Juana smiled.
 ''Well," she said after moments pause, s'I will tell you of a case in point, which shows that when I was a girl such extreme vigilance by no means uncommon. I was educated with my sisters at a convent near Mexico I was the youngest, and when 1 was fifteen I returned to my fathers house. My sisters had married and I was alone with my father and my duenna. I led very hsppy life; whatever I wished for was mine at CIlce; and 1 was careful not to give utter ance to unreasonable desires. In the morn ing 1 sat in the house or walked with my du- enna; in the afternoon we drove, my father riding by the side of the carriage Four things only were denied me; pen, ink, pen cil, paper. But I had no one to write to, and 1 did not feel the restriction hard one; indeed, 1 never thought much about it. So you see, senor, that your Don Bartolo is not such an exaggerated character; for my fath- CTS views were but those of his countrYn eu.
 ''But tell me, senora," said I, ''did the time never come when you found these re- strictions Durdensome?"
 ''You shall hear," she said; ''that is if you care to listen to the love story of an old wo- man like myself. 1 was seated one morning at the window, when I noticed a young ca7a- Her come riding up the street. He was su- perbly dressed and mounted; he wore broad brimmed sombrero trimmed with sil- yer lace; his large black riding-cloak was lined with scarlet, and his heavy silver spurs jingIed as he rode. I thought 1 never in my life had seen SC handsome cavalier. He saw me sitting at the window, and looked so dxedly at me that 1 drew the curtain in my embarrassment. He must have turned his horse at the head of the street, for while 1 was still trembling with excitement he came rieiing pest again, and this time he passed he took off his sombrero and bowed. I scarcely slept that night. Next morning l accompanied my duenna to mass st the ca thedral. As we left the church I raised my eyes and saw the cavalier who had bowed to ina the day before standing at the entrance. Senor, need not tell you that I had never had any experience in affairs Of the heart; was fresh from the oolt7ent. and had scarcely sroken to any man except my co1fessors and fly fatbsr; but I felt insIinctiYely that this handsome gentleman had come there to see tue. As we passed I felt his hand touch mine, and little note was placed between my fingers.
 ''WAen wa returned to the house I man aged, not without difficulty, to open and read my letter alone It is fifty years since I reeeiFad 1t, end I have it sLilI-ny first love letter. Can you enter into tl.e feelings of a uexican girl when alae 1s told for the first time thst her eyes are brighter than the stars, more tender than the gazeile's, and that her heart surely cannot be colder than her smile? But will not weary you with the repetition of my r1Pecf0rIG 1itE1a fStta- Ji0a nf which still know by heart. read and re- read it, and then sat down to consider how I was to answer it."
 t'There your difficulty must have been in gurmoUntable.
 s'Truly it did at first seem so Writing materials had none Confde in my duenna 1 dared not. She was a relative of my fath- er's, stern and severe. Still l was determined to answer the letter. So kind note; SO handsome a cavalier; it would he cruel to leave him without a reply. Besides my heart WAS enlisted on his side. The letter had to be answered, that was certain; only how was 1 to do it?
 q need not tell you, who know something of Spanish life, that my library was extreme ly select. Indeed, it consisted but of my book of office and two large books of devo- tioDal exhortations. But had huge pack ct of saints cards I had used at the convent -one for almost every day in the year. I do not know whether you have ever seen such cards-with a picture of the saint or martyr at the top, and a prayer addressed to him underneath. Well, 1 was desperate and I re- solved to sacrifice the saints cards. I cut out the words needed-and the fervid ejac- ulations served my purpose well-and thus I composed my letter. Then took one Of my handkerchiefs and sewed each word to it in regular order.
 EsIhe next morning I was at my window l,ati and hof +T,o cavalier approach on foot. rolled my hand kerchief into ball, and when he was close to the window let it drop at his feet. He picked it up, pressed it to his lips and has, tened away.
 ''ln this n.,s1nec we corresponded for near ly two months, exchanging handkerehiefs daily, either at my window or st the cathe- dral door. During all this time I had never exchanged a spoken word with this gentle man. He told me who he was, and was re- joieed to learn that his family was equal in position to our ora. By this time my pile of saints cards had been long exhausted, and the books of sermons were sadly mutilated, but they furnished me witt, the fairest phras- est When tie second month had passed wrote that thought he should speak with my father.
 EThe next day he came, accompanied by his uncle. e,ia proposed formally for my hand. My father readily accepted him, fol he was man of distinction and noble. We were married soon after and lived for ter years in Mexico, Political disturbances forced ns to retire to Cuba, where my bus band had estates. I have been twenty years u widow, and have never ceased to regret my loss. So you see, senor, that though I wor my husband by deception, yet it was, as it were, forced upon me, and l think in my case it was pardonable Only the saints cards and those pious books! that was g grievous sin, and I have done penance for ii since, I may tell you"
 have given the substance of the story, but the manner of the narration cannot be reproduced. The lovely, white-haired old lady, telling her little love-story of half g century ago, now with smile and then a sigh; her soft voice and the tenderness in her eyes as she spoke of her husband and lover, would have impressed the most careless lis tener; and by one who heard her the story oi