Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1888-03-24
CORNER LOTS.


SuOuc, 1ilu Ollo WdbClS VI bIS DuJ AICsl,
and the distant Coronados Islands and the
hills of Mexico floated 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 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 a misstep
into chuck hole full of dust, through hav
ing his eyes on her, Tulitas rosy lips puck
cred themselves up, and suspicious little
movement Of her shoulders suggested that
she was not entirely ignorant Of the young
mau's mishap.
But, as has been said, her mind was en-
gagged with weightier matters, and scarcely
vouchsafing second glance at the retreatine
figure of the young man, she entered the
white adobe house. Placing her fragrant
load upon a 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 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.
'"rhese useful as well as ornamental little
articles" the book said, at the end of its dis
QUESTION, "are rapidly becoming indispensa-
bic in every household. In fact, we know OF
several young ladies who derive q comforta-
hla inoo fha ms a and co la n
lavender sticks"
~ don't know" said Tulita, to herself Gs
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 neat little pile of Lavender sticks"
"Madre de Diosn said Tulita, as with her
chin ON her hand she gazed at the result of
her labors, 'if that little mother of mine was
to catch me at this, how quickly those things
would go 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 worka At any rate, must
have ONE shoes, that is the truth" And
thrustlng her foot out, she leaned over the
table to look at it. 1t was a dainty, slender
foot with an arched insuep, but the shoe upon
it was unmistakably, hopelessly ragged.
"Ah! 60 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, if only could make enough to buy
pair of shoes" And after awhile 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 mado 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 southern night.
SIS it thou, madre?" she said.
eyes, it is I-all 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 sum- she continued, tanning herself With
that indolent, graceful sweep of the wrist pc
culiar to women of the south Then, pausing
a moment, she elevated her head and said:
"What is that odor il the house, like sage
brushr'
'Psrhaps it is this bit of lavender" said
Tulita, hiding her guilty face behind her
hair.
"Paugh!" said her mother, SIT is too
strong. Throw it away"
And as she obeycd, Tulita's heart went
down into her ragged boots at this unexpect-
ed disparagement of the odor of lavender
'Sage br,lsh indeed" 1t disheartened her
SO that the idea of attempting to derive
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 hei
shabby little black mantle. Last night, after
she had gone to bed, she had lain awake fol-
ms least ar now deciding where to offer thsm
for sale. SIENNA q squills' drug store was
the favored place. It was on the principal
street, and had fine large windows full OF
fancy goods 1t would be a 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 Tuiita 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 here
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 ALL" thought Tulita, "the
idea Of anybody wanting to buy such things
Is absurd" Suppose SIENNA & Squills should
laugh at her! She concluded to think about
it 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 q