New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-11
MISS ESPERANZA O'SHEA.
AN INTERNATIONAL ROMANCE.

close the psSSer by had to pick his way po-
litely mindful of women's trains and mems feet
Outside the seawall the ocean lay long and level.
part of it paled by moonlight. and here and there
on its darker expanse specked with the small,
steady lights of anchored yachts The scene was
pcturesque-a black arch spanning moonlit
roadway gate-tower. dark against the sky. with
a round, bright moon shining over its shoulder,
elimmeiing Of white waves SETTLING about broken
rocks From the corner of the balcony where the
musicians sat foated the strains of Wollrams
Song 70 the Evening Star" with its undertone of
inehable, piercing sadness
II was lust at this prOpitious moment that the
crowd at the far end of the balcony became aware
that the crowd at the end near the main entrance
were enjoying sensation. There was a rustic of
crushed silk as the women moved IN their chairs
a universal turning of heads, raising of girls
lorgnettes, an adjusting of mems glasses. a muir
murous interminslins Of queries and then run
ming fire of comment, not too carefully sup
pressed Well, did you ever WHO are they. for
PHYS sake? Has she ever been here before !?
Where are they from? Did you say it was an &C
trees.' And all the heads slowly revoved on the
crarcd neckS all the eyes turned to follow three
new arrivals walk down the balcony
Miss Espcranya O'Shca had often been stared
at, but never 10 this extent. AS a Californian.
beauty and an hercs, she had known what it was
20 he looked upon with curiosity, admiration and
envy. But she had never before left her native
State. hence she had never been subjected TO the
broad, bold, unwiniina stare Of the cultured East
Nevertheless she bore it with the mpassive aplonb
OF one born and bred in its fierce, bright glare,
and, at the head of the family, walked slowly
down the long veranda the little cortege trotinc
at her heels, it had done, iguratvely speaking
ever since she had been old enough TO walk at all
Miss O'Shea invariably led her family in all
things. She had done so since her tcndercst
years. Her papa, big. forid. grizzled man. in
a high gray hat and 4 loosely hanging gray suit
always obeyed Espcranza. AS to her mamma she
was Mexican, and though she had lived for
twenty years under the shadow of our hospitable
flag, she had never been able to master the
intricacies of our complicated language. and
could. therefore hardly he expected to guide the
steps Of her extremely self-confdent daughter.
Close upon the musicians Miss OShea paused
her darkly circled eyes falling upon three vacant
chairs. She indicated them with the gesture of
used 10 command and her obcdent parents
silently seated themselves. MIR. OShea took OF
his hat, ran fat short fingered hand through his
grtzzled hair and respired the sca-ar. then turned
his eyes inward and made TO sound. Mrs. OShca,
whom the lights revealed To he dark, fat, waist
less formless lady with ink black hair and mus
tache, the possession of which would have made
he heart Of a sophomore sing INDUCED in a few
loft Spanish muttcrngs, and went 10 sleep with
the promptitude Of one who knows what is OK
pected of a wel-traincd Spanish mother. Miss
DShca alone remained alert and wakeful, and gave
the crowd stare for stare.
1t not surprising that crowd should stare
at this brilliant young lady. She made mp
with an open and unhlushinc frankness that be-
o;,,Iic oroip Gf
this form of decoration. Rice powder was thick
on the bridge Of her nose. There was pink on hey
cheeks and red on hcr lips. Her hlir c1r'"f
down 10 her eyebrows, was blcachcd a bright
hronze-red She was tall and wcl-formcd,
with square, broad shoulders and tiny waist
Her foot pecpng from the hem of her skirt In
a white kid slipper worked with gold, was by no
means small Neither were hep hands. but they
were white as milk, beautifully shaped and COW
cred with superb rings As to her dress. IL was
an indescrhably gorgeous creation Of white ana
Gold with a bodice Of dead white suede braided
from neck 10 waist-linc in gold arahcsones. But
neither paint, powder, nor bad dressing coui"
hide that She wa, handsome and young.
Where on earth has she come from? p brca'hed
the crowd. with the wide eyes of lively amaze
ment.
Had this query heen put directly TO Miss
cood hnmor that she had come straight from tall-
fornia for the purpose of having a good time
Her father TOO. had thought that she ought 10
have GOOD time she would have continued
with the charming frankness of eghteen-not
q. New-Yorlz or Boston even Chicago elohteeh.
hut a California eighteen. an eighteen ula' ha'
cleaned its experience Of men ana manners from
life on ranch near MERGED, varied during inc
last two years by winters in the town-house IN
Sacramento.
After a serious perusal Of the papers, EepNr-
ANA O'Shea had come TO the CONCLUSION 'i'a'
Narraransctt Pier the best place 10 go W
In pursuit OF the vaguely speclhed eooo 'i,"e'
Moreover. it appeared TO he place where a daz-
fling wardrobe would meet with an lntelIigeh'
annreciation. At breakfast one morning tsp~r-
80 .pnopncei her intention of spending the
summer there. ..,r, .o,o
"All right, Espy, SAD ME- 'hcd'
rraph for rooms today"
81. ST.. rnurmured the Sonora OHhea' iaSi"9
the heavy lids that once shaded the nheSV oS'
On Mexico. and casting a sleepy glance a' "'i
daughter "yez, cettanly, OF cos, ana 'heh oi'o
moro she relapsed into smiling somnoie"c''
The wardrobe did its work at Narragansctt
Pier. if it's work was 10 make us "earer s'"'.
at talked about and crudgingly admired ~
was certainly remarkable one In "a piaco -
remarkable wardrobes il made its MARK hau i''
own niche with the other wardrobes. ana us
share in the days talk. Miss O'Shea wore IL
with an impassive front, and greatly enJoyed ''e
sensation 1t creatcC. as wardrobe to be s'areu
at il was brilliant Success. On its own grouhu
memo of the other wardrobes could compare with
IL Arrayed in one Of lis masterpieces no one
WAS as conspicuous, no one as gorgeous, no ohe
truth T. tell, despite the powder, the paint was
a. handsome as Espcranza OShea.
But there is admiration and admiration. Inc
unsophisticated Esperanza had not grasped 'niS
fact. That the elanccs and stares oil one Oh ''ie
most ;ll-bred crowds in the country were not al
nsr,;,ino did net penetrate her simple mind for