Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-06-20
ag'ashlnaton Standard
Tt; Other Eng|Hhnan
You are English, I take il, sir?"

You are English. | take ii, sir?'
II was clear to me that at any rate the
speaker WIS WIS travelling alone. l
had not ialien in with three Englishmcn
IN as many weeks. And turned to in
spect the newcomer with a cordially his
slrudged and smutty face could not
wholly suppress. II am" answered,
land am very glad to meet fellow
countryman."
You are a stranger herc:" He did not
take his eyes from me, but indicated by
gesture of his thumb the busy wharf
below us, piled high with hundreds and
thousands of frail crates full of oranges.
From the upper deck of the San Miguel
we looked directly down upon it. and
could see all that was coming or going
in the trim basin about us. The San
Miguel. a steamer Of the Segovia Quadra
& Co. s line, bound for several places on
the coast southwark was waiting to
clear out of Ell Grao lie harbor of Va
lencia. and ! was wal ng rather impa-
tientiy to clear out wi 1 her. "You are
ii stranger here?' he 7 peated.
Yes: have been : tho town four or
five days, but otherwi . am stranger"
| answered.
"You are nc. r. Ito trader" he con-
timed ~ inr:.nt the orange trade.
No. l am not; l an travelling for
pleasure" answered readily. You will
be able to understand that, though it is
more than any French:nan or Spaniard
can" smiled Us spoke. but he was
not very responsive.
ut is n c:.rc! i...ice to visit for pleas
urc. lac said dryly. looking away from
me to the busy throng about the orange
crates.
Not ut all" retorted; lit is lively
town and quaint besides. and it is warm
and sunny. | cannot say as much as
that Of Madrid, from which came two
or three weeks back"
Come straight here?" he asked lacon-
icaliy.
was growing a trifle tired of his
curiosity, but | answered, "No; I stayed
short time at Toledo and Aranjuez-oh,
and at several other places"
You speak Spanish"
Not much Muy POGO de Castellano."
laughed. calling to mind that madden
ing grimace by which the Spanish peas
ant indicates that he does not understand,
and is nc: going to understand you. He
is good fellow enough, is Sancho Panza,
but having made up his mind that you
do not speak Spanish the purest Castilian
is after that not Spanish for him.
"You are going some way with us
perhaps to Carthagena?' persisted the in
quisitor.
He laid queer stress upon the last
word, and with it shot at me sly glance
"A glance SO unexpected and so unpleas-
antly suggestive that did not answer
him at once. Instead looked at him
moro closely. He was a why young fell
low, rather below than above the middle
height. to all appearance the chief engi-
neer. Everything about him, not ex-
Guiding the atmosphere. was greasy and
oily. as if he had come straight from the
engine room. The whites of his eyes
showed with unlovely prominence. See
ing him thus, took q dislike for him.
ITO Carthagena" answered brusquely.
mo. nm not going to stay at Car
thagena. Why should you suppose so,
may ask7 Unless, indeed, added, as
another construction of his words oc-
CURED to me. '.you think want to see q
bit Of fighting? No, my friend. the fun
might grew too furious"
To explain this l should add that three
days before there had been q mutiny
among the troops at Carthagena. It was
mentioned at the time in the English
papers. An outlying fort was captured,
and the governor OF the city killed be.
fore tho attempt was suppressed. OF
course, this was In every ones mouth,
and ! fancied that his question referred
to it.
My manner or my words, however,
i disconcerted him. Without saying more
he turned away, not going below ut once,
but standing on the main deck near the
Office in the afterpart. There was good
deal Of hustle In that quarter. The cap
tain. second officer and clerk were there,
giving and taking receipts and what not.
He did not speak to them, bu: leaned
against the rail close at hand. | had an
uncomfortable feeling that he was watch.
ing me. and this suppose gave rise to o
strange shrinking from the mar, which
did not stay with mo always. but re.
turned from time to time.