The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1888-01-06
CORNER LOTS.
BY ROBERT HOWE FLETCHER.

BY ROBERT HOWE FLETCHER.
Tulita Anita de Lunavarita stood In the
garden, picking lavender Although the sun
shone, and the waters of the bay sparkled,
and the distant Coronados Islands and the
hills of Mexico hoated In blue haze before
her, Tulita had no eyes for the pretty picture.
Her mind was occupied with weightier mat
ters. Perhaps she was not even aware that
she herself made a much prettier picture
with her girlish figure relieved against the
white adobe house behind her, and her
shapely head poised on one side, as she critic
ally examined, with her big dark eyes, each
spray Of lavender. She may even have been
unaware that the young man walking on the
other side of the road was evidently of this
opinion, although when he made misstep
into chuck hole full of dust, through hav
ing his eyes on her, Tulita's rosy lips puck
cred themselves up, and suspicious little
movement of her shoulders suggested that
she was not entirely ignorant of the young
mans mishap.
But, as has been said, her mind was en-
gagged with weightier matters and scarcely
vouchsafing q second glance at the retreating
figure OF the young man, she entered the
white adobe house. Placing her fragrant
load upon n table, she took up an old copy of
The Fashion Guide, which she had left face
downward when she went to gather laven-
der, and consulted it with a studious frown.
Then going to chest Of drawers, she pro-
cured some odds and ends Of ribbons, and,
seating herself with business like air, pro-
ceeded, with many references to the instruc-
tions, to braid the sprigs of lavender together
with the ribbons
These useful as well as ornamental little
articles" the book said, at the end of its dis
QUESTION, ''are rapidly becoming indispensa-
BILE in every household. In fact, we know of
several young ladies who derive a comforta-
BILE income from the manufacture and sale of
lavender sticks.n
Il don't know" said Tulita, to herself, as
she regarded her first effort disparagingly,
sit seems to me that anybody would be
fool to buy that. But, there" she continued,
more hopefully, ''you never can tell about
these Americans"
And, proceeding with. the work, she soon
exhausted her lavender and ribbons, and had
instead a neat little pile of Lavender sticksn
"Madre de Diosl" said Tulita, as with her
chin on her hand sho gazed at the result of
her labors, 'if that little mother of mine was
to catch me at this, how quickly those things
would 60 out of the window" and she laughed
softly at the thought. although" she CON
tinued, ''if she can do sewing for money, why
should not also worki At any rate, 1 must
have ome shoes, that is the truth" And
thrusting her foot out, she leaned over the
table to look at it. 1t was dainty, slender
foot with an arched instep, but the shoe upon
1t twas unmistakably, hopelessly ragged
"Ah! go hide yourself" said Tulita, severely;
"you make me ashamed"
Then sinking back on her chair, she rested
her chin on her hand once more and thought:
"Ah, il only could make enough to buy
pair Of shoes" And after awhile a tear
rolled down her cheek and fell on the laven-
der sticks.
But at this moment the click Of the latch
on the garden gate made Tulita spring to her
feet With quick movement she swept the
lavender sticks into drawer, and when the
new conner entered the room, Tulita was be-
fore the mirror singing to herself, while she
braided her long hair, which had fallen as
suddenly as a southern night.
'Is it thou, madrei' she said.
Eyes, it is I--au that is left of me-" said
the lady who had entered, woman whose
still handsome face was lined by grief and
trouble. "Sainted Mother but it is warm in
the sun" she continued, tanning herself with
that indolent, graceful sweep of the wrist Pc
Suilsii W VI tue SOulu utu,
a moment she elevated her head and said:
"What is that odor In the house, like sage
brushf
"Perhaps it is this bit of lavender said
Tulita, hiding her guilty face behind her
hair.
"Paughn said her mother. SIT 10 too
strong Throw it away"
And as she obeyed, Tulita's heart went
down into her ragged boots at this unexpect-
ed disparagement Of the odor Of lavender
Sage brush, indeed" 1t disheal tened her
80 that the idea Of attempting to 'dexivs O
comfortable income from the manufacture
and sale of lavender sticks" was at once dis
missed in scorn. Even the possibility of new
shoes grew very faint.
But with the next mornings sun the hope
and high spirits of youth returned, and when
Tulita started to walk in to San Diego to
make some purchases for her mother, the
lavender sticks were hidden beneath her
shabby little black mantle. Last night, after
she had gone to bed, she had lain awake fol
at least an hour deciding where to offer then
for sale. SIENNA & Squills' drug store was
tho favored place. 1t was on the principal
street, and had fine large windows full of
fancy goods. 1t would he very simple mat
ter to walk in and ask them to sell the sticks
for her. OF course she would pay them some
thing for their trouble. Then, too, she had
heard that very morning there were an un
usual number of eastern tourists in town, and
she hurried her steps SO as not to lose any
chances
= But when Tulita came in sight of SIENNA &
Squills' establishment her enthusiasm ebbed
She chided herself for walking so rapidly and
getting heated and out of breath. What
would the people in the store think of herl
Slower and slower grew her pace, until, ar
irving in front of her destination, she stopped
and looked at the display of fancy goods in
the window. The comparison was not favor
able to her lavender sticks.
perhaps, after ali,n thought Tulita, "the
idea of anybody wanting to buy such things
Is absurd Suppose Senna & Squills should
laugh at herl She concluded to think about
1t a little more ard walked on
The further Tulita went, however, the
more her courage returned, until, telling
herself she was behaving ridiculously, she
resolutely retraced her steps until the store
was once more reached But again she paused
irresolutely before the window, Then she
crossed the street TO look in the window of
book store that might perhaps be better
adapted to her purpose, Deciding against
the book store, she returned to the drug
store. Then the dreadful thought occurred
to her than her movements must be attract
ing attention The policeman ON the corner
had certainly looked a. her very hard
What If be should speak TO heri This idea
was so appalling that Tulita hurriedly
walked on down the street, without looking
to the right or left. 1t was net until she had
turned the first corner she came To that she
recovered her equanimity. Then scolding her
self severely for this panic, she continued on
slowly around the block, antil once more she
found herself in front of SIENNA e. Squills'
establishment Bracing up her treacherous
courage with great effort she walked in.
One of the clerks, observing the hesitation
OF young and pretty customer, advanced
toward her, and, in his suavest manner, said:
What can do for you today, missf'.
"Is-a-is Mr.. SIENNA inln faltersd Tulita.
"Mr. SIENNA, missl' exclaimed the young
man, with look of surprise, "Mr. SIENNA is
dead.n
"oh," murmured Tulita, ~ am very
sorryn
And, with burning cheeks, she found her
self In the street once more. How far or
where she walked after that Tulita was never
quite sure, When her thoughts were suffi.
GENTLY collected she discovered that she was
In tont of one Of the principal hotels She
saw news stand near the main entrance.
On the impulse OF the moment she stopped,
and, opening her bundle OF lavender sticks,
she showed them to the proprietor ard asked
him III he would try to sell Iham for her Ha