New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-14
A SERPENT OF THE TROPICS
ny YDA II. Adds.

BY YDA III. Adds.
Dona Monica Yznagaa de Bcnites was the riches
She was widow with four children Cclcdonica. IN,
wife Of Anado Vega Manuela a dark, plump, plair
girl OF eighteen: Simeon and Lorenzo. brown. sturdy
stoid boys of twelve and eight years respectively
Then there was Pedro Penltes, the son Of Dons Mo
married, and had three children: he kept littlc
shop on the corner opposite his stspmotherS aooue
and further along to the left within tho same stone
walled enclosure, his halfsister, Celedonica dweit
Dona Monica was middle sized, shapcly woman
with squsrccut build and an air OF Whoies o,,S
vigor Her head and face were Of a rather pop n
Roman matrons; and the severe couture of colled
brais and the simplicity of bcr costume enhanced the
Cclcdonica retained the wonted garb of their class
the low, easy sandalke shoes on feet as often si0c K
stm falling I'm full folds 10 the ground the sole upper
garment linen chemsc enriched on band and sleeves
with flick embroidery hand wrought In SILK losses OF
black. or deepest purcst red or blue Mahueia isss
cons>r, at.vo than her mother and sister, adopted
more wodern ideas, and so wore when me eSlschclS
Of temperature and occupation permitted, loose COT
ton jacket w., -
account of this liberation OF advanced IDEAS IN dress
regarded by the rest OF tho family win a GER
tain nSe Of ieaC%s suspicion in an eonvd re-
iona trousers, snD wore the short jacket ana broad
hat Of the cabaero Of other days Dna 1S ee n,
remcy suggestive Of unpairOuc progress, wheh con.
trssted with the wide white cotton drawers ana shrt
outside them. constituting the raiment OF PEDRO
bona Monica ived beyond the very restricted
time had boon when the casa Benites had been the
very nerve-centrc of the village. The Benites had
the Shop OF the time and the two corner rooms n
the great, square, white, stuccocd adobe were sun
superior to the usual equipments Of kosaros csiaDls
ments TO warrant The Inference hal some Grant
American carpenter had strayed TO this ltle mining
town at the foot Of the mountains, and mad ient a
hand al his craft work while stranded here by ne
vlcssitudes of fortune But the little traffic Of the
hamlet had cbbod thence, and na1 CcncfUlfdtu II u
clustering group of white vailed rcd-tlcd houses,
dim, dul little fonda whose faded sign, Meson dc
la Union,' had been concession to the American
husband Of the hostess. All tho shops-and they
not number half score, all tod-wcre ranged then
on the &" Gale Mayor and Dona Monicas apartments
were closed up. and given over TO dust, DARKNESS,
and silence, save when some exploring lizard was
minded TO make his way In, through door lnsn
yeTnt Set aar thSn IN nd Sc deserted
For, late, the invaders tcmcriy vas as
covered and made patent to the Nolid-tnc la,lo
and the daring children Of the American tenants
staghtway formed themselves into BODY NIL , ,Sn
joined by Espetacion, the sister Of Maxima, Pcdro
Espetacon was a tall slender girl, of vigorous
muscle and feeble intellect. II she was not clever
she was courageous tie le g King themS wEcS
the sweep of her dragging. slatiem skirts, and the
shuttle Of her slipshod chanclas sounded at tho door
the darkest reccsscs of the rooms, and srove to
conceal there the 100 tsplepdGr Of MS his
sleek ogees of The shelf standards or clattercd over
Cons hs n sharp bea9y e n brown eyes We're sure 10
spy him out; and her talonlihc fingers once curved
around him there was no escape for the miserable
only lis scay tan then. If he would throw himself
strongly aside after moment Of agony untold. he
might escape. leaving in the girls hand his TAIL,
broken short on Indeed, more than one unbalastci
half healed, still slid about the upper branches Of
the orange trees in the patio, wisely stunning
There had been a siege and skirmlsh in the corner
rooms one hot september afternoon me ain OF war
arched corridor when the irreprc sible tlrelcss chill
dren sailed into the uatiO-a Irdoubtahc quintet
and Lorenzo. and the two Americans. fair-harcd 1T
tic Judge, and the implsh GYPSY Pink leading tho
van ensh of face and spidery Of limb in her slim.
brown. bird-caw fingers sqUirming iglana. painting
marched Straight across The patio and poised her
mothers knee Mrs. Albright shrank away, with
Oh, Pink i how s'c can You touch such dreadful
%wiy, Betty" said the child. distinct and lively
its tail grow out again E;Pe,acion says 4 VIII
both those e ns T9d chSn Css 81 h .h' m ,ny
by her baptismal name Isl, Betty! An Pinks
goi,' to put 80 guiana in her room under bed, for
'Petacon can't get TO change him sho cheat Pc
Tson Mollic Mervyn Mrs. Albrisht's sister, ut,
energetic protest and insisience MIS-. Albright IN
vain sought 10 alay tho rising passion Of her circle
refused to consde' their sunl's fears contemplate
IN their familiar eyes The boys simeon and Lo-
ticc from their participation in the matter. Espc
tacon fingered 70 await the issue, her stupid, silly
laugh revolving delight in brutality. Mrs. Al
bright, inclined to yield a point, was kent to The
ing rebenious Pink to the zaguan door. made her
throw the reptile into the dusty road. whoncc it
Espetaelon; bona Monica fastened across The :onct
TO hustle her boys from the larder, ard Pnky fol
lowed sulcnly
ThGss children M grow worse every day Bst
tie savages before The summer is over"
Mrs. Albright made no reply perhaps she thought
her sister should be content with victory; perhaps
rafters Of the kitchen porch a primitive beehive Of
lrun-likc stool framed of Janiboo-liho canes and
her hand ovor the aperture, ioaSas the Big brown
bees that hummcd and bGzzcd furiously about her
sunburned restless little n paw f'''' OAr''' O' the
Only look at Pink tormenting the bees - cried
teach her a osson!'
The bees never sting the little one.' said Manu-
eia softly ~ In her own tongue having learned to
love herr
The mothcr's affection turned grateful look upon
brown Manuela. " Yes. they love her, nv poor
little daughtcr She has gone into one of her dark
moods now; Petrta. will you sine' Your Music
always soOhes the child, as Davlds Gained SAUL
1t was Characteristic OF pretty Petra sanchez that
She should have sat through the little scene OF contest
without offering word OF mediation. 10 was ALWAYS
o. Storms might beat and destroy ali about her II
only her own tranquil life undisturbcd She
turned TO Mrs. Albright the soft, vouptuos beauty
)f her perfect face, lit with serene amiabc smile
~ sing i-I-but yes surely. Simeon hitter
vi thou bring mr the guitar from The saia -
La guliaiila qucrs ~ asked Simeon the stod.
is II the little one you want then ~
No, thou la tercera ~
And presently the bow orlh clu 10
drumming his fingers across the big guitar. whose
thirteen strings strsightway doomed di5corIant
protest Simeon dallied acrOss the zaguan, cvoknc
lire dissonsnce from the tortured chords until an
,ucry OF dismay arose. and prot;y Perita snatcled
he guitar from him, tuned It with swift and cunning
ingers and swept the strings In passionate prelude
Ter voice rose sweet and pathetic IN the strains of
La Goondrina.7 II IS paiDtivc little song. fun |
u the homesick longing OF Spaniarl, prisoner 10
he Moors, who sees with kccnes envy the spainward
light OF the swallows wingng north TO their winters
xlie. IL was curious and touching 10 sec how the |
earning and the tenderness of It found way TO the
eart OF the robelous little girl By tho beehive The
aughy hands fell and hung llsiless. defiant heat
rooped, the form relaxed is unchildllke tension, |
fin hff