National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-11-07
MEXICAN GIRLS LOVE LETTERS



When / was in Cuba | was fortunate
enough to form the acquaintance OF LAZY
Of noble Mexican family, who had been set
tied In the island for many years. She must
have been between co and 80, 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
sn octhness, aud her. eyes sparllel
with the vivacity OF youth. She
was one Of the most charming
takers have met. One evening, in CON
versation with her, alluded to the passage
In the "Barbicren where Don BartolO ex-
amincs his nicce's fingers to sec IL shc llts
been writing to Almayiva "5urely' | sud,
sit is out Of the nature of things to suppose
that Don BartOlO would exercise so strict a
watch upon his ward"
Donna Juana smiled
"Wcll,n she said, after moments pause
al will tell you Of case in point, which
shows that when was u girl such extreme
vigilance was by no means uncommon. |
YVES educated with my sisters ut a convent
near Mexico. was the youngest, and when
was 10 | returned to my fathers house
My sisters had married, and was alone with
my father and my ducnna. ! led very
happy life; whatever wished for was mine
at once, and was careful not to give ut
terancc to unreasonable desires. In the
morning / sat in the house or walked with
my ducnpa; in the afternoon we drove, my
father riding by the side of the carriage.
-Four things only were denied mo pen, ink,
pencil, paper. But had no one to write to
ard did not feel the restriction hard one;
You see, senior, that your Don Bartolo is not
such an exaggerated character, for my
fathers views were but those Of his coun.
tlmcn."
"But, tell me, sonora" said I, "did the
time never come when you found these re-
strictiors burdcnsomeE"
"You shall hear" she said, "that Is, II
yen care TO listen to the love story OF an old
woman like myself. was seated one morn
ing at the window when noticed a young
cavalier come riding up the street lie was
supCrhly dressed aud mounted; he wore
broad brmmed somhrero, trimmed with
silver lace; his large black riding cloak was
lined with scarlet, and his heavy silver
spurs jingled as he rode. | thought never
IN my life had seen so handsome a cavalier.
lie saw me sitting at the window,
and looked so Hxcdly at mo that l
drew the curtain in my cmbarra3s-
meut. lie must have turned his horse at
Tie head Of Tie street, for while | was still
trembling with excitement he came riding.
1Gst again, and this time as he passed he
look OF his sombrcrO and bowed / scarcely
PANIED my duenua TO mass at the cathedral.
As We left the church | raised my eyes aud
saw the cavalier who lad bowed to me the
day before standing at the entrance. Senior,
/ need not tell you that had never had
any experience in affairs OF the heart ; |
was fresh from the convent and had
scarcely spoken to any man except my
confcssors and my father; but | felt in
stinctively that this handsome gentleman
hr n {
| felt his hand touch mine, and little note
was placed between my fingers.
"WhCn we returned to the house / man
eyed, not without difficulty, to open and
| read my letter alone. 1t is fifty years since
| ] received 1t, and have it still-my first
| love-lettcr Can you enter into the feelings
| Of Mexican girl when she is told for the
| first time that her eyes are brighter than the
stars, more tender than the gaZelle's, and
that her heart surely cannot be colder than
| Ter smile? But will not weary you with
| the repetition of my precious little letter,
| every line Of which still know by heart. |
read and re-rend it, and then sat down to
| consider how ! was to answer it."
"1here your difficulty must have been
| insurmountableY'
"Truly It did at first seem so. Writing
materials had none. Confde In my du-
emma dared not; she was a relative OF my
| fathers, stern and severe. Still, was de-
| termined TO answer the letter. So kind q
note: so handsome n cavalier; 1t would be
cruel to leave him without a reply. Be-
sides, my heart was enlisted on his side.
| The letter had to be answered, that was
certain: only, how was to do it?
81 need not tell you, who know some
thing of Spanish life, that my library was
| extremely select. Indeed, II 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
conyent-one for almost every day in the
| year. do not know whether you have ever
seen such cnrds-with q picture of the saint
or martyr at the top and a prayer addressed
to him underneath. Well, was desperate,
and resolved to sacrifice the saints cards.
cut out the words needed-and the feryid
| ejaculation served my purpose well-and
thus composed my letter. Then took one
Of my handkerdhicfs and scwed each word
TO II in regular order.
"The next morning was at my window
hetimes, and 1t was not long before saw
the cavalier approach on foot. ! rolled my
handkerchief into n ball and when he was
close up TO the window / let it drop at his
feet. He picked it up, pressed 1t to his
lips, aud hGstened away.
SIN this manner We corresponded fol
nearly two months, exchanging handker'
chiefs daily, either at my window or at the
tathNhihl hbOT. bNlllls ull llilc
| never exchanged spoken word with this
gentleman. He told me who he was, and
was Iejoiced to learn that his family was
equal IN position to ny own. By this time
my pile Of saints cards had long been eX
hausted, and the books of sermons were
sadly mutilated but they furnished me Will
the fairest phrases When the second
month had passed wrote that thought bt
should speak with my father
sITha nnyt lov ba nama Tod hx
his uncle, and proposed formally for my
hand. My father readily accepted him, fol
he was a man of distinction and noble. w,
were married soon after, and lived Cor tor
years in Mexico. Political disturbance,
forced us to return to Cuba, where nv hus
band had estatss. / lave been twenty year
wiRcw, and have never ceased to regre
by loss. So you see, senior, that though
won my husband by deception, yet It was
as II were, forced upon me, and / think II
my case II was pardonable. Only the saints
cards and those piOus books that was
grievous sin, ana have done penance To-
1t since, may tell YOU"
| | have given the substance Of the story
but the manner OF the narration cannot b.
reproduced The lovely, white-haired ole
lady, telling her little love story OF half {
century ago, now with smile and then
sigh: her soft voice and the tenderness II
her eyes as she spoke of her husband anC
lover would have impressed the most care
less listener; and by oDewho heard her tn
story Of that evening will not soon be for
gotten.
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