Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-15
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quickly putting her arms around her
mothers neck, Tulita drew her bead down
upon her shoulder, and spoke to her sooth-
ingly in Spanish. Then, turning gravely, al
most defantly to the young men, she said:
my mother has not been very well for tho
Last few days, senores, and tonight she Is not
herself. You will excuse her
At this, both Of the gentlemen arose, and
Mr.. Brown, speaking for the first time, said:
I'VE are very sorry, indeed we are. We had
NO idea that-that your mother was not we'll
In fact, / hope that you will pardon us for
taking the liberty Of calling on you about 30
trifing matter"
Now, although Mr.. Browns apology was
not very eloquent, there was sincerity and
sympathetic feeling in the young mans voice
that made its way to the hearts Of both Of
the women The sonora raised her Head,
and. drying her eyes, said, with smiling sim
plicity:
s.Al,, senior, do not feel distressed because
cry little. l often cry. am not very
strong since my husband died But it is
nothing
Tulita meanwhile, having arisen had gone
to the door, in the evident expectation Of the
immediate departure Of her unexpected
guests In fact, Mr.. Brown himself stood
hat in hand ready to 60, but Mr.. Benton was
lingering to make some reply to the senoras
words. Then Mr.. Brown, ON the impulse Of
the moment, said to the girl, who stood near
him, ''You are not annoyed or angry with
me-with US. mean, for comingF
"why should / Der replied Tulita, with
dignity 1T Is of no consequence"
May hope, then, that You will make the
lavender sticks for met | will call for them,
Of course said Mr.. Brown.
Il will make some moro for sale at the
news stand" replied Tulita; mo doubt you
can get them there"
Having administered which little cut
Tulita turned her big dark eyes severely
upon the still tarrying Mr.. Benton. Brown,
convinced now that their visit had displeased
the young LADY, also turned and glared at the
| cause Of his discontinue What was their
| surprise to find that Mr. Benton had eseated
himself and that he aud the senora had aIe
| parently launched into an extended con-
| versation.
Are you coming, Bentonr said Brown,
inpatiently.
I'm a minute, my dear fellow replied his
friend; II have just discovered that Mrs.
| Luna varifa and have a whole lot Of mutual
friends up in San Francisco
And the sonora herself, turning to her
! daughter confirmed this in quite an ami
mated way, repeating several names, evil
IDENTIFY those of the friends referred to.
| Then Mr.. Browns eyes SOUGHT Tulita's
with such solemn protest that she in her turn
could not help smiling Common IoIiteness
forced her to say, "Wil you not sit DOWN.
But no, Mr. Brown would not sit down: he
preferred to do penance standing. Then he
looked so unhappy, casting gloomy glances
at his friend, which that gentleman Ignored.
that Tulita finally began to feed a little pity
for the young man. PERHAPS she had been
too severe. After all he very evidently
a gentleman. and was not bad looking, and
he had the good taste to appreciate her Law
ender sticks And so, nfter little hesta-
tion, she ventured to ask him if he was a
stranger in San Diego. She almost laughed
again to see how grateful he looked for this
bit of condescension In fact this young
man was 50 modest and courteous-so differ
ent from his companion, for instance-it was
really pleasure to encourage him little
Then gradually Mr. Brown ceased to cast
remonstrative chances at his friend, and pres
emily when he saw that he was keeping Miss
Lunavarita standing, he consented to sit
down.
1t was growing dark when Mr.. Brown
again arose to his feet and exclaimed
pereinptorly, Come, Benton, we must go
| don't know what Mrs. Lunavarita and heI
daughter will think of us"
Now, even if Mrs Lunavarits's daughter
had cared to give expression to her thoughts
Just then, she was the next moment rendered
sJes,chless by her mothers behavior Giving
Mr. Benton her hand as he bade her good
night, the sonora said, in a pleased and most
vivacious manner, Good night, senior,
shall look for YOU tomorrow at 10 o'clock
and then we will take our little ride"
After leaving the house Mr. Benton and
Mr.. Brown plodded along through the dusk
and dust in silence for some minutes. Their
Mr.. Benton ss,id. women are strange crea
lures" To which trite remark his companion
made no reply. But, having arrived at thu
end of his reflections. and broken the silence
Mr. Benton continued: "Do you remember
my telling you, Frank, that had-a sort Of
superstition that your 81 Investment wa.
going to bring US luckf And rs Brown as
seuted, with "A nod of his head, well,
think it has, though had no idea when
inquired the name Of your friends, of the
people next door, that the luck was all ready
laid away in lavender, as it were, waiting
for us to come and get it. Mrs Lunavmits
has 200 or 300 acres of land over on the sea
shore What do YOU think of that. 1t il
the same old story. They once owned leagues
and this is all they have left, and they hav,
got that. ny Mrs. Lunavarita says. because il
is not worth anything, although she is wrong
there At any rate she is holding it fer hel
daughter. hoping that ii may he worth some
thing some day. 1t is all they have got
Two thousand dollars is the highest figure
she has thought of. II it is anything like
she describes it, and if she will let mi
handle it. propose to make it worth 500,
900 in the next year.
Look here Tom. said Brown, impulsively
"if YOU do get hold of this thing. YOU will ID
the best you can by Mrs Lunavarita, won
you
MY dear fellow said Mr. Benton in 1
rather cold tone. sis il necessary to ask I'M
that, | am not a devourer Of widows and
orphans
.'Oh, hang it, don't lie touchy," said Brown
"You know did not mean anything lik'
that. Only these two women are so lonely
and innocent and plucky, they really hav'
made quite an impression on me-
II noticed that one Of them seemed to-" re
piled Mr. Benton, iryly. but did not OBJ
serve the other had As for the proposition
If everything turns out AS expect, it was
lucky day for Mrs. Lunavarita when
knocked mt her door. And now let us qui
work for the day, and go and have a respect
able dinner as send off for the new firm o
Benton 4 Brown, real estate dealers.
A year and half have elapsed 1t i
Christmas Eve. Once more Tulita is watch
ing the sun set, bu, this time from another
home, where Point Iona does not intervene
its huge bulk, where she can see the COLDER