Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-10
THE CASE Oh MOA BARRIOS.
A sPANLARD's AMERICAN STORY.
WRITTEN FOR THE PITTsBURG DISPATCH
PHILLIP BRAGGALAN.

mother relaxed considerable of her grimness
as she helped a little, and Moa seemed
handsomer than ever in the mild excitement
of the mingling labor and pastime. The
reader who is also a housewife may care to
know that we first stewed some lean beef
and peas together; that simultaneously we
boiled a fowl along with a little ham,
smoked sausages and vegetables; that there
was seasoning, to a higher degree than
most American palates might like, with
saffron, parsley and bay leaves; and that
finally, after mixing all these materials,
some hard boiled eggs, artichokes, giblets
and other things were added. All this pro-
duced a finer ola podridaIthat the little
restaurant at the Hoosac had ever before
seen, and such as wealthy Spaniards in their
own country are accustomed to eat. 1t was 9
o'clock in the evening before the dozen invited
guests were seated at the table, and the late
ness of the meal insured Voracious appe-
tites. We served the result of our cookery
in a more formal fashion, too, than the
tavern had been accustomed to. There was
a dinner of several courses; beginning with
a soup dipped from the gravy of the ola,
strained from the meats and poured boiling
hot over slices of toast. After this the beef
was served with the peas. Then followed
the fowl and other vegetables. 1t was an
they enjoyed it so genuinely and heartily
that the occasion proved more amusing to
me than anything else had encountered In
my travels for long while.
1t was observable that Moa, although she
entered into the spirit of the affair, was not
all the time engrossed in it. watched her
closely, impelled by admiration, and dis
cerned that she had spells of serious thought,
or recurring melancholy quite out of har-
mony with the general jollity. That led me
to be attentive to her, not with any idea of
gallantry, but merely because she interested
me. The beverage which accompanied the
meal up to the last mouthful was cider, and
the juice of the apple was old enough to
have developed fair percentage of alcohol,
so that the drinkers felt its exhilaration; but
as a climax insisted upon brandy, which,
as 1 explained, would take the place of the
native Spanish liquor usually swallowed for
digestiOn's sake after hearty ola podrida.
The men followed my direction readily, but
the women were reluctant, and in the case of
Moa poured a spoonful or so into her glass
and loosely insisted that she should take it.
She bsnteringly declined and then seriously
repulsed me.
81 will not have it, and let that satisfy
you," she said, in low but emphatic voice.
'No she shall not drink it, Albert
added, in a savage Whisper
The demeanor of the young couple was
such a sudden alteration from their previous
cordialitv that my face expressed, although
my tongue did not utter, surprise and curl
osity. Albert saw this at once, and said
apologeticallv:
81 beg your pardon, but to see Moa drink
from a glass hiled for her by a stranger
would be something couldn't stand. No
Il am not Jealous of you. That isn't it at
all. My reason is good, though, and to-morss
row will tell it to you. Don't let us say
any more about it to-night-or think about
it-for that would be apt to spoil Moa's good
humor, and mine too
The supper was already over, and with
much merriment and satisfaction the party
dispersed.