The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-24
A MEXICAN GIRLS LOVE LET.
 TIERS.
Temple Bar.l

lady of noble Mexican family, who had been settled 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 its smoothness and her eyes sparkled with the vivacity of youth. She was one of the most charm ing takers have met. One evening, in conversation with her, alluded to the passage in the Barbiere," where Don BartoLo examines his niece's fingers to see if she had been writing to Aluavlva. Surely" said, it is out of the nature of things to suppose that Don Bart0k0 would exercise so strict watch upon his ward "
 | Dona Juana smiled.
 Well" she said, after a moments pause, q will tell you of case in point, which shows that when was girl such extreme vigilance was by no means un common. was educated with my sis- ters at convent near Mexico. was the youngest, and when l was fifteen l re- turned to my fathers house. My sisters had married, and l was alone with my father and my duena. led very happy life; whatever l wished for was mine at once; and was careful not to give utter 1 ance to unreasonable desires. In the morning sat in the house, or walked with my duena in the afternoon we drove. my father riding by the side of the car riage. Four things only were denied me ]: pen, ink, pencil, paper. But had no one to write to. and did not feel the restric- tlon hard one; indeed never thought much about it. So you see, senor, that your Do.: BGrto!o is not such an exae- gerated character; for my fathers views were but those of his countrymen
 But tell me, senora," said I, !" did the time never come when you found these restrictions burdensome2'
 You shall hear" she said "that is, if you care to listen to the love-story Of an old woman like myself was seated one morning at the window, when mo- ticed young cavalier come riding up the street. He was superbly dressed and mounted: he wore broad -brimmed sombrero, trimmed with silver lace; his large black riding cloak was lined with scarlet, and his heavy silver spurs jingled as he rode. l thought never in my life
 
 saw me sitting at the window, and looked so hxediy at me that drew the curtain in my embarrassment. He must have turned his horse at the head of the street, for while was still trembling with excite rnent, he came riding past again. and this time, as he passed, he took off his sombrero and bowed. scarcely slept that night. Next morning accompanied my duena to mass at the cathedral. As we left the church l raised my eyes and saw the cavalier who had bowed to me the day before standing at the entrance Senor need not tell you that l had never had any experience in affairs of the heart; l was fresh from the convent, and had scarcely spoken to any man except my confessors and my father; but felt instinctively that this handsome gentle man mad come there to see me. As we passed felt his hand touch mine, and a little note was placed between my fin. gers.
 "When we returned to the house, l managed, not without diff culty, to open and read my letter. It is fifty years since l received it, and have it still-my first love letter. Can you enter into the feel ings of Mexican girl when she is told for the first time that her eyes are brighter than the stars, more tender than the ga- zelles, and that her heart surely cannot be colder than her smile? But 1 will not weary you with the repetition of my pre- cious little letter, every line of which still know by heart read and re read it, and then sat down 10 consider how l was to answer it.
 There your difficulty must have been insurmountable
 '" Truly it did at first seem so. Writing materials had none Con6de in my duena ] dared not She was a relative of my fathers, stern and severe. Still, was determined to answer the letter. So kind a note so handsome a cavalier it would be 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 to do it?
 Il need not tell you, who know some thing of Spanish life, that my library was extremely select. Indeed, it consisted but of my book of office and two large books of devotional exhortations. But had huge packet of saints cards had used at the convent-one for almost every day in .he year. do not know whether you have ever seen such cards with picture of the saint or martyr at the top, aud prayer addressed to him underneath. Well. was desperate, and resolved to sacrifice the saints cards 1 cut out the words l needed-and the i fervld ejaculations served my purpose we'll and thus composed my letter. Then took one of my handkerchiefs, and sewed each word to it in regular order.
 "The next morning was at my window betimes, and it was not long before saw the cavalier approach on foot. rolled my handkerchief into ball, and when he was close to the window, let it drop at bis feet He picked it up, pressed 1t to his lips, and has,ened away.
 In this manner we corresponded for nearly two months, exchanging handker- chie,s daily, either at my window or at