The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-15


To the presidents ball. TO the circus, 10 the
theatre, and sometimes TO church-itrIueInlIy
70 dinner-I was with the Correas. me Leo-
nora knew of my devotion, for, though never
expressed it in words, | Know my teAl-'"'o
face showed il thousand times;
Al meeting and parting / would do no more
than give her hand gentle pressure w0ulu
snueeze il. She did not return II, but then
she didn't seem 20 object TO my testing my
grip power. and with the usual enthusiasm 10
which youth Is prone was not dlshear'ehe"'
For a period Of three months this state Of
affairs continued. / was dining with my
rleasant friends one Sunday, and the discus
Sion was what we should all do on the follow
ing Sunday. 1t would be Leonoras birthday.
Juan suggested that we take IMP up tne
la Gran Vega" the grand canal ana a. II
seemed 10 please the young lady immensely
1t was decided that we should go.
That NIGHT as tossed about in my small,
uncomfortable. iron bed-stead. resolved that
on the following Sunday should deciare my
love to Leonora and If she accepted I'VE ioI-
ever in the land Of the AZtecS. ! iahclvu 'i nv
dcclaration had been made l could never
again draw semi-happy breath.
Fvervbodv that goes 10 Mexico buys az the
border a book Of phrases. Utterly useless
tbey arc. for they are never heard. But tins
time il was the exception. At tie back OF ihe
book noticed glowing, heart-warmlng love
passage. ....1;,.. =.
spring it on the not altogether unsnspectlnS
Ieonora. on the day Of the picnic. when the
propiious moment should have arrived.
trim ND La Grau Vega is one impossible
to forget. Our party was gay one. l1oi1
were an even dozen OF Us. SlX men anu oiA
vvoren The women had q boat 10 them
selves in which they carried all the delightful
doIicacies for n repast. which the dark-eycd
dauobters of the South knew well how TO pre-,
pare. In the mems boat there was a plentiiui
supply Of pulque, tequilla' coShac ana
The Grand canal. ut the early hour in tho
morning which we started on our picnic, was
not vet file With the thousand of small craft
that later il the evening covers IT'S surface.
The snow-capped volcanoes, Popocatapotl
and Ixtacihuajl. seemed 10 be night IN hoht
of lis On either side there was low. green
fat country teemlng with iuAurlah, feS,
Under the skilllul guidance OF the Gonao,
Lers. our tiny little boats were propeuci
through the shallow, limpid water at RAPID
We swept by the old Spanish fortress, now
tumblng in ruins. but as grim and cruel look
inc "A the pictures of the old Spanards them
selves
Zacatecas. who had plunged his sword 70 me
nlt in the hearts of two thousand brave
"tOros " we shot Ike iiash
THROUGH and alongside of the floating gar
dcns. with their little patches of earth covered
over with myriads of understanding roses We
fnGer The old bridge Of Santa Maria. on
which troop of cavalry. always drawn up n
battle array to collect toll, stood. the boat
skinned.
But I was dead to the beauties Of scenery
that molnng-and looked more at the de-
mure little Miss in the boat on the other side
Of the canal than did at the beautiful! sights
we were fitting by.
In the boat with mo was Federico CarvaJo,
| n vOungstcr Of eighteen. IN love with Leonora.
! He was said 10 be wealthy and handsome. l
| thought him rich and ugly lie mad made me
uncomfortable three oriour times by saving
| things in Spanish that did not understand.
| and because Of the loosencss Of my trousers
had ncknamed me Senior ''Pantalones.'
The stopping place. twelve miles IRON the
city. was finally reached, and We dlsemoarked
for lunch.
Under the trees the eatablcs were spread.
! The ahomnable old Spanish custom OF every
one making toast had 10 egone through with.
| When nv turn came / stood mp. stamlnered
out two or three words. blushed and sat
| down
Finally tho lunch was over
| Now thought the time has arrived.
One of The features of the entertainment
was 10 ride some burros mp nearby noun
tain. By taking a long time to put Leonoa
| onto the back of one al the little animals,
which IS rot as tall as cCnnon-slZcd don
! KEY. lmauage3togeta little behind the others.
My huI3 WAS naturally lazy, aud ! gave
him full permission 90 be little iazler than
| his won't
As soon rs the last of the preceding party
! had disappeared around o curve IN the ROAD l
| jumped eagerly of my n0rro.
| Rushing mp t0 Leonora and taking both her
hands in mine. ! told her of NY love My
studied phrases flew TO the winds, and with
| feminine articles for masculine nouns,
Without Acrmy life would be aweary blank.
only tel mo that vou care forme.' pleaded,
land | viii he happy
Lcouora looked alarmed and cast her eyes
down.
Growing desperate | snatched her TO my
arms and sraiuue her tony breast. imprinted
| burning kisscs Oh her brow and ch.eA
had not heard the sound of approaching
footsteps IN my frenzy to tell Leonora OF my
love
As turned her loose she gave a shrek and
said in Spanish. Look there
Not thirty feet away stood Federico CaryalO
an insocnt smile upon his face.
He advanced towards us. and shaking ms
finger in my face exclaimed.
"Sir, You are no gentleman TO take adyant-
age Of an unprotected girl in that way"
she loves me" | replied and when ont Of
this girls presence 1 shall cowhide You foi
your words"
she does not love YOU" he sneercd.
"I.eonora." said IN an implOrlng voice
did not speak the TRUTH
No" she said smilingly Federico is my
betrothed, and love him dearly"
The trip back over the canal is blank 10
me. Thousands Of boats with merry parties
surged past rs And as we approached the
city. there was but one cry that could be
heard over the shrieks of laughter OF the
| jolly crowds. and that was the cry Of the en-
! terprising vendors. saying:
"Tomalis TomalIs Tomalis."
| The Price of Fur Seal.
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