Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-10-23

lie. knew that she was young, graceful
as a doe, seductive as an houri, and beauti-
full beyond compare. ! knew that she
loved Manuel wildly, that he idOlized her,
and would starve rather than desert her.
| knew also that she lived within stones
throw of the cafe for Manuel would
leave me at breakfast to kiss her good
morning, and at midday to kiss her again,
and at shutdown TO kiss her once more
GOOD night. and would return each time
within ten minutes. ! knew also, of
course. that her name was Florita. All
this the young fellow told me over and
over again, with his face flushed and his
eyes afame; but knew nothing more.
One night of each week was always
Manuers. Any part of any other night,
or all of it, for that matter, was mine, and
he was at my service for sightseeing or
prowling; but Saturday was Florita's.
Except on festival nights, Saturday, of
all nights in the week, is the gayest in all
the Spanish cities, for then the cafes are
in full blast, filled not only with the city
people, but with the country folk who
come to market on that day. These cafes
have raised platforms, are edged by row
of footlights, and hold half dozen chairs
for as many male and female dancers.
Here you see on gala nights the most be
witching of all the sights of Spain-the
Spanish Dances
On this particular Saturday night Man
ue had taken himself off as usual, and
was left to follow my own free will alone.
So strolled into the garden of the mosque,
sat me down on one of the stone seats I'M
der the orange trees, and watched the wom-
en- fill their water jars at the old Moorish
] IN bn oh of
their gossip. When it grew quite dark |
passed out through the Puerta del Perdon,
turned to the right and wandered on aim
lessly down a narrow street leading to the
river. Soon heard the click of castanets
and the thrum of guitars; there was a
dance somewhere. Pushing aside a swing
ing door, / entered small cafe. The
room was low-ceiled, apparently without
windows, and the air sitting with ciga-
rettes. The customary stage occupied one
| corner of the interior, which was crowded
| to the very walls with water carriers, car
! gadors, gipsies, hucksters, and the young
| bloods of the town. They were cheering
wildly black-eyed sehorita who had just
finished her dance, and who was again at
the footlights bowling her acknowledge
ments. She made pretty picture in her
short yellow skirts trimmed with black,
her high comb and her black lace mantilla,
her bare arms waving gracefully. found
a seat near the door, called for bottle of
San Vicente, and lighted a cigarette. AT
the adjoining table sat a group of young
fellows drinking Aguardiente. 1t is a vii.
famous liquor, and more than thimbefuI
sets a mans brain on fire. They were
measuring theirs in tumblers. When at a
second recall the girl again refused tC
dance, the manager explaining that she
was very tired, the young cabaleros begar
pounding the table with their glasses
shouting out in angry tones, LA sehorita
la se1oritar When for the third time the
tired girl advanced to the platforms edg,
and bowed her regrets, one of the grouI
sprang forward, leaped upon a table, ant
with an oath dashed the contents of hi.
glass over her bare shoulders. A fright
ened shrek cut the air, and the next in
slant heavy carafe filled with wine grace
my head, struck the ruffian full in the fac,
and tumbled him headlong to the floor.
Instantly the place was in an uproar
Half dozen men sprang past me, on
waving an ugly knife, made a rush for tn
table in my rear, and threw themselves oil
a young fellow who had thrown the carat
and who now stood with his back to III
swinging its mate over his head like fail
Then came a crash, another Spaniar
, sprawled on the floor, and flying tigur
dashed past and bounded over the foot
lights. AS he plunged through the cur
tain in the rear l caught sight of his face
1t was Manuel
Grasping the situation, | sprang throug
the door reaching the sidewalk just as tn
police forced their way past me into tn
Il.
crash of breaking glass, rattling of cal
bines on the floor, and the tumult wa
over
Humiliated at Manuel's deception, an
yet anxious for his safety, hid myself i
! the shadow near a street lamp with my ey
' on the swinging door, and waited. I'll
{ first man thrust out was the ruffian VIII
4 had emptied his glass over the dance
! His arms were pinioned behind his bacl
his head still bloody from the effects
: Manuel's carafe. Then came a villainou
f looking cutthroat with a cash across h
4 cheek, followed by three others, one
whom was the manager.
4 The mob surrounded the group, the pri
oners in front. | crouched close until the
u disappeared in body up the street, the
f crossed over and swung back the doc
d The place was empty. A man in his shi
n sleeves was putting out the lights.
i There has been row?' / said
q "Unquestionably."
l. And some arrests?'
@ YES, senor.'
/. Did they get them all?'
Il "All but one"
y "Where is hep
/ The man stopped, grinned the width
l. his face, and, thrusting up his thum
e waved it meaningly over his left shouldt
e Manuel had escaped.
II For half the night | brooded over Il
I, unfaithfulness of human nature He
it was my hero telling lies to me about /
v, Florita, spending his Saturday nights in
e. low cafe engaged in vulgar brawls, and
ID over dancer. ! began TO consider al
doubt. Was there any such fair creatu
a. at all as Florita? Was there any implaC
TO bic father? Had Manuel ever been st
IN dent? Was it not all prearranged scheI
Id to bleed me day by day, and, awaiting
ce chance, rob me, or worse? A man "
to could escape unhurt, surrounded as he III
X been, was no ordinary man. Perhaps
was simply decoy for one of the mum,
~ Gus bands of brigands still infesting I
IL mountains; and l remembered with shu
IN der the forefinger of the Englshman f,
in warded TO his friends in a paper box a,
er sort of sight draft on his entire bank /
IL count. i began 10 bless myself that me
accident had warned me in time. / woI
he pick up no more impecunious tramps, ]
ed heart and pocket-bOOk wide open.
~. l.