Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-03
THE ENGAGEMENT.


from Cuba in 1873 They had come to
these shores on the same vessel, and
though the Roveros were a little over
bear ing on account Of their family con-
nections in Havana, and the Escuedos
were prone to refer on all occasions to
their past possessions at Cardinas, yet,
after their arrival on American soil, they
fraterniZed as IL they had all been Dor n
under one roof
S ortly after the arrival OF the two
fam lies in New Orleans, they selected
residences down on the Rue Dumaine,
about two squares apart, and barely
day passed but found a Rovero ut the
Escuedo residence or an Esccuedo sip
ping delicious Xeres at the Royero table.
Old man EScuedo started in the sugar
trade and the delicate Castiliau RoyerO
opened wholesale cigar store. Both
prospered well, and In a few months had
succeeded in accumulating quite hand
some sum /, the result of shrewd specuIa-
ton. Both drove out on afternoons IN
their carria yes, and both dined frequently
together down on the lake. 1t was almost
touching to see the fond affection existing
between those two fanatics, and their
neighbors could not but believe they were
/ closely related.
| 1t was not long before that sort OF pro
miscuous brotherly love that had grown
up between them became more concen-
trated, and Jose Rovero became deeply
enamored with Juanita Escuedo. He was
"a and she was is, and their fathers looked
upon their espousal as a thing extremely
desira BILE for both. OF afternoons they
talked the matter over together, as they
smoked their Regalia Cnicas after dinner,
and laid their little plans for setting up
the young folks in a handsome domestic
establishment when the happy event
should take place.
One unfortunate afternoon Mr.. Gle
burne, a gentleman OF the highest re-
spectability, called at the Rovero house
on friendly visit. In the course OF CON
yersation he alluded to the recent compile
ton Of a new cock pit, were gentlemen
spent their leisure moments watching the
game chickens battle with one another.
He, himself, he said, was quite fond
of It,
This remark electrified old man Rovero
A brighter luster came to his eye, and
ruddier glow TO his cheek. He regretted
he had not known this before. why, ne
was the happy sossessor OF the champion
cock of ali Havana, and nothing could
give him more pleasure than TO snow
American birds what q Spanish game
cock was made of. He thanked his visitor
for the infor nation he had given, and
said that he was probably the Oldest COCK
fighter in all Cuba
The next day old man Escuedo dined
at the Rovero's, and the new cockpit was
mentioned. II the announcement OF its
existence had pleased Rovero, 1t de
lighted the whole Escuedo family. oi
all amusements this to them, was para
mount Old Escuedo twistel his mus
tache vigorously. Since he was Is years
old he had raised game chickens, and he
informed his friends confidential.y that
he had brought the greatest lighting
chicken ever known In Cuba This
caused Senor Revere to raise his eyelids
in astonishment, and to shrug his shoul'
ders He, too, had brought over the pride
of all Havana. He ventured to suggest
that perhaps his amiabie friends chicken
could whip all Cardenas, but his own was
the champion of all Cuba.
In the most courtly Castillian they dis
cussed the mer Is of their favOrlte birds,
waxing warmer and warmer all the time
The family. having adjourned to the
broad gallery after the cafe noir
heard with astonishment loud word'
in the dining room. and on enter
ing were astonished to see bott
old gentlemen confronting one another
pale and excited. The reappearance oi
the ladies brought them TO their senses
and they became the polished courtiers o
half an hour before. The result of thi:
little encounter was a match for s.. .OO
between the Rovero and Escuedo birds
to take place at the new cockpit in 1
month from tina; day.
1t is impossible to forecast the result
that may follow from so slight q circum
stance as the possession of game rooster
From that afternoon it was noticed the tw
old gentlemen grew more polite To eacl
other, and there was reserve in theil
manner that betokened an underlyin.
coolness. 1t was bruited about tha
there was to be the greatest cock fight a
the new cockpit New Orleans ever saw
and there were formed two parties, tn
one favoring the Rovero bird, the othe
swearing by Escuedo's As day afte
day passed the excitement over the even
increased, and the two chickens, having
, fully recovered from their sea trip from
Havana, were duly trained and groomeC
each morning.
: While the alarms OF war were mar
shalling together the adherents Of ~Pe
i pite," the bellicose chanticleer Of Royero
and ZIP" the fierce-eyed chicken of E
( cuedo the two swains, Jose and Juan
2 ita, billed and cooed in loving half tone
| utterly oblivious Of the coming fray.
| II the heads of their houses, the oil
: gentlemen, chose to exhibit strong feel
3 ings on account of their feathered pets
. | it mattered little to them, for they move
2 in an atmosphere Of love entirely abov
a such sublunary things as chicken ights
r At last the great day approached. Th
!, papers had announced the event in fan
a ing advertisements, and seats had bee
V sold in advance, some of them bringing
$ as much as $40 apiece. Such was the il
e terest taken in the fight it was found i'm
possible to afford even standing room {
! the throng that desired to attend, and S
an arrangement was made that the vary
e ing progress of the combat should b
given to the crowd in the street by
i stentorian-voiced lawyer from the uppe
e window Of the cock pit.
d The two families had almost ceased I
speak to one another, and Jose though
D he noticed a slight GOODNESS in his ini
t morata, Juanita He called there regJ
larly every day. and was well receive
l. and all that, but his welcome had NOR
a ice water than wine about il. Everybod
II was polite, courteous, suave, but throus
it all there ran au uudercursent of frozsl
d lemonade that was not exactly pleasar
It to the ardent Jose Rovero.
s The day of combat arrivei. Old ma
4 Rovero had arranged for a messenger
st convey the result to his family, an
Senior Escuedo had hired cab driver