Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-02-06

and rartakcn Of fruit, Conchita came
to me with her hands full Of gold
ounces, sixteen dollar pieces; six or
eight of them filed her small palm.
Said she, "See what papa has given
me to play With"
"And are you going to gamble?"
asked [.
"No," laughed she, IL am going to
keep it,"
If she did lose any of that gold at
the roulette table, we were not pres
ent; but her father threw away few
thousand dollars that very night, only
desisting at sunrise because lie had no
more on hand to lose. lie expressed
no regret, but played again in the
afternoon, merely saying, "Santa Ma
ria" Che name of his plantation)
twill give it all back to me in a few
months"
Evening found Couchita at the ball,
her clear brown skin made chalky
white with powder, in which respect
she was no exception to the other
ladies; and all wore artificial flowers,
though natural ones could easily be
obtained.
When the fair was over, Conchita
was one of the first to leave lzamal
for her home in tha more eastern city
of Valladold. Don F's travelling
carriage was one of those peculiar
conveyances called Colan Roche, "A
wagon whose bottom is network of
thick ropes, on which is spread a thin
mattress, sewing as seat
CoEchita said she would never oc-
cupy any other part than the foremost
end of it; so there she took her place
beside the driver, bare footed, dark
skinned native, in white cotton gar
ments. Conchta had on cambric
dress, and a Mexican rebozo (scarf)
over her head and shoulders-for it is
only during the last few years that the
ladies of Yucatln have taken TO the
use of hats and gloves. Don r
stretched himself at full-length on tie
mattress and fell asleep, according to
i 4 ssffss :...syss.
Later on we saw Conchita at her
home. She, not her mother, seemed
TO rule the household. Her three
Young brothers, one sister and half a
dozen Indian servants all promptly
obeyed her orders, though she seemed
to bestow no affection on any of them.
When next we met Conchita she was
in. the capital, Merida. where the fam
lily had moved, occupying one of their
own houses. So that the children might
have more educational advantages than
they were afforded at Naladolid. As
for Don F., he was nearly always
away at the plantation.
With a carriage Of her own, fine
piano and iirst-class teacher, Conchita
was fairy cOntented; but new
thought had crept into her life, and
much of her time was spent swinging
in her silky pita, hammock, and tax
ing occasional whifis from the dqinti-
est of cigarettes. About what was her
mind so busy? Why, the poor little
thing was in love, and even her piano
I hafdly interested her any longer; II
required much coaxIng to induce her
TO practise half an hour day. Ii
would have been quite different had
the course of her true love run smooth.
But alas. her father bitterly opposed
her marrying a carpenter, even though
that industrious young man did call
himself a cabinet maker What was
TO be done? Conchita was very
dutiful child, and really loved her
father, he having always gratified her
little whims and fancies. So when he
forbade her to speak to or look at the
dear Lorenzo, she yielded implicit
obedience, requesting the loved one to
not even approach the window behind
whose iron bars she sometimes sat to
look abroad
She would pass in her carriage by
his door, where he was taking the COO
evening air, and never turned her head
his way, saying to us, lit is hard, but
he knows | think of him"
When carnival time came round. al
the gay and brilliant balls where one
seemed TO be transported to Spain it
self, Conchita might dance with whom
she pleased save him, Theu she sighed
and said, GLOW hard the only one
should like to dance with, | may not
even glance at with look of recogni.
ton; but some day papa will give hi,
consent, when he sees how sad nv lif,
will become"
And he did at last after three years
patient, waiting the wedding was cele
bratcd with Don F-'s full blessing
Jus. in time, for only few week
after Conchita had worn white satiI
and orange blossoms, she had TO don
black garb and mourn the death of he
father.
When we asked what she woul,
have done about marrying, had h
passed away without giving his con
sent, she replied, "Remained singh
: all my life and Lorenzo would hav
done the same"
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