The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1890-01-24
Don Geronimo's Warning.
BY LILY TYNER.

Bl LILY I1NEks
It was at the ball at the Presidents
palace. That was on the 18th of Sep
tember, the great national. holiday. For
twenty-four hours and more the noise of
fireworks and the Changing of all the
bells il the city had not ceased. The
cathedral bell ang-or rather was beaten
every three minutes; the bell of the
cabilda, or town hall, never paused.
The military band had played constantly
in the park before the cathedral or in
professions. The sky rockets had been
as numerous and constant at midday as
after dusk. Every one was wild with
excitement. But there are some people
who cannot stand excitement Like
those in the United States who dread the
Fourth of July that they would fain fly
to some wilderness until it is all over.
Nervous people who are irritated by noise
and smoke.
Don Geronimo was a nervous man, but
he was too patriotic a soul to be away
from the capital on that glorious ami
versary of independence He might
have mounted his gray macho aud ridden
six leagues or so to his inca to find abso-
lutte quiet But he chose to repain in
the city and attend in the evening the
ball.
Don Geronimo was a widower. This
fact did net weigh upon him, except in
such a way as to incline his heart toward
the repetition of matrimony. Dona
Luisa, his late wife, had been dead over
ten years, and he had observed every
couvsntionality in the way of remember
ing that good lady. And now his
thoughts turned lightly in the eternal
'pring of the tropics TO another love.
The maiden in question was little Anita
de Zepeda, only daughter of one of the
richest families in the State. Anita was
z beauty: her miscellaneous daan hlra- aras-
sparkied now ana then with CLEANS of
wicked ooquetry. She was barely seven
teen, and Don Geronimo Lozano was
forty and more. Nevertheless and not
withstanding that nearly all the gay
youths of the city, or indeed of the
Department, with handsome Young
Ramon de Rochela at the head, were
dead in love with her, Anita had actually
encouraged Don Geronimo to hope he
might win her.
Anita came with her parents to the bail.
They came rather late, for at eight
O'Clock heavy rainstorm had Just set in
and IN city where there are no carriages
or wagons of any sort, one must either
walk or be carried in chairs. Anita her
self could have gone TO the ball very well
in a chair. Any two OF the numerous
Indian servants of the family could have
carried her-for she weighed hardly
more than one hundred and twenty.
But with Anita's mamma, Dona Marta,
1t was different. Dona Marta was of
remarkable weight in a country where
the ladies, youngand old alike, are most
ly slender. Dona Marta had preferred
to wait until the storm passed. Den
Jorge, her husband, had felt it would be
wanting IN respect to the President not
TO appear early in the evening. Dona
Marta had finally consented to try
chair. The strongest of the servants
we're selected to carry her to the palace.
After much groaning they had lifted the
heavy lady and started out Of the house.
But the round, smooth stones of the
street were wet and the rain fell heavily.
One of the barefooted Indian mozos
slipped. Down came the chair and Dona
Marta and all her ball fnery in the street
"a vast collapse of rubber cloak and
umbrella atop, After that they went
back into the house aud waited until
they could reach the palace afoot.
Don Geronimo, on the contrary, went
early, intending to get as many dances as
possible with Anita. That young lady
not appearing and the heavy rsinstom
making it quite possible she might not |
come at all, Don Geronimo began to get
Gross. he watched the entrance door to |
the ballroom all in vain. At last he |
gave up. He went OF TO the supper
room and there consoled himself with |
and eognac in alienation for |
some considerable time. By and by |
he went back to the ballroom in
compsny with his dear friend, General |
artega, who also had been partaking of |
The ball was now well |
begun. Nearly every one was on the
floor. They were dancing a DANA; the |
in the far end of the room
seemed ready to blow their head off in
The effort. Don Geronimo heaved a sigh /
ind cast a glance about him to see if /
here remained a lady without partner,
whom he might ask TO dance with him,
when his glances fell upon Anita herself,
lancing away as if she thoroughly en-
dyed it with RAMON de Rochelai True
,nough, and there were also Dona Marta
md Don Jorge likewise treading the
merry measure. Don Geronemo was
ionplussed He quietly seated himself
o collect his wits. His dear friend, the
General, came and sat beside him. Don
ieronemo frowned as he watched the
iancers.
do you know that young ladyl" he
lsSed, indicating Anita.
"of course do, said the good-na-
ured General. ''It is Anita de Zepeda. "
Don Geronimo's frnwn deepened.
Every time that pretty Anita bowed and
waved and turned her mischievous face
oward her partner, Don Geronimo felt a
rev pang.
At last the DANA was over. He arose
nd made his way toward the Zepedas.
lis black eyes shone with excitement
nd anger. They shot little sparks TO-
ward Ramon de RocheIa But Anita
vas never merrier.. She sat tanning her
elf gently with huge Spanish fan, not