St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1892-07-02

Just think OF Q meal IN thot oeml-00r-
barous place down in the hot lands Of
Mexico equal 70 the best 70 Be had In
Italian or French restaurants that
stand high in the favor Of artists and
other bohemians In New York! There
were nine bountiful courses, served in
excellent style, at total cost Of three
rcales, or thirty-seven and half cents
in Mexican money. hardly more than
twenty-five cents American, with ex-
change reckoned as it was then. The
watermelon served at dessert was the
most delicious had ever tasted-a deep
red pulp Of . Arm texture and mealy
crispness that almost melted in the
mouth. The melons in this region arc
raised on the sandy beds Of the streams
in the dry season, where they mature
quickly in the intense heat For drink
there was pulquc from Apam ON the
table-land, brought by railway train to
the nearest station, and thence hauled
by teams across country.
This fonda was, of course, patronized
by the "quality"-the visitors from the
neighboring great estates, city people
who had come over from Jonacatepee,
and rancheros, with their families.
These latter, like farmcr-folk the world
over, I believe, were undcmonstrative
and chary Of speech, exchanging but
few words rs they sat at table. awk-
wardly handling their knives and forks,
ana evidently awed by the unaccus-
toned magnifcence Of their repast Don
Ernesto had entered into little friend
~ chatting with Maria, . proceeding
upon which . good ranchera, who sat
opposite with her husband, looked with
evident disapproval.
''Drunky' she was heard to remark TO
her husband, under her breath.
"Yes," he responded, with conflrmar
tory glance.
Poor young fellow, TO be 50 harshly
misjudged for his metropolitan man
ners, when his delicate health made
him total abstainer!
Jovita, one Of the mattresses, became
. great favorite with us all She was .
girl Of about fifteen, slight with regu-
lar, delicately chiselcd features, and
glossy dark hair falling in two long
braids- "a type Of lovely rural innocence.
There was an exquisite shy grace In her
movementA
Take her photograph" suggested
Don Celso, and the proposition was
heartily seconded by all hands. But
,sysn here the function Of . hand-camers
laepeared to be known, and Jovita took
sudden alarm.
mo, no." she appealed. Her head
drooped, pretty fingers went shyly to
her mouth, flush stole over her brown
cheeks, and she stood there with face
averted, . picture Of maidenly shame.
She was now on her guard. and ever
glanced apprehensively 1t uA Every
time she saw the instrument aimed In
her direction she would turn her face
quickly away. II was too shadowy in
the .Josda for . good snapshot, and 70
I really did not lose anything. But
when we rose to leave, JOvita was
standing by the range, well ont in the
light, and awaiting an order. She had
seen M start, and deemed herself in
safety. She was looking the other way.
l was within few feet, and my camera
was ready.
u .Adioe, Jovita!" I said.
She turned my way unthfnkingiy.
Click went the shutter, and had her.
A shout of merriment from my COM
panions greeted the success of my STRAIT
agem. and the expression of dismay ON
Jovita's face gave way to rippling lit
tie smile, rs If to say that now it was
done, it was no great harm. after ALL
Sylvester Baxter, in Harper's Magazine.