Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-05-26
PRETTY JOVITA,
An Incident of sinner in the Mexican


Hot Country.
Our dinner was astonishingly good.
just think OF meal in that semi bar
barous place down in the hot lands of
Mexico equal to the best to be had in
the 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 reales or thirty-seven
and half cents in Mexican money,
hardly more than twenty-five cents
American. with exchange reckoned as
/ it was then. The watermelon served
at desert was the most delicious | had
ever tasted-a deep. red pulp OF a
firm texture and mealy crispness that
almost melted in the mouth. The
melons in this region are raised on
the sandy beds Of the streams in the
dry season, where they mature quick
~ in the intense heat For drink
there was pulque from Apam on the
table land, says a writer in Harper's
Magazine, 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 Jo-
nacatepec and rancheros with their
families. The latter like farmer
folk the world over | believe, were
undemonstrative and chary of speech
exchanging but few words as they sat
at table, awkwardly handling their
! knives and forks and evidently awed by
the unaccustomed magnifcence of their
repast. Don Ernesto had entered
into a little friendly chatting with
Maria, a proceeding upon which a
good ranchera who sat opposite with
her husband, looked with evident dis
approval.
.Drunkr' she was heard to remark
to her husband, under her breath.
Yes" he responded with
confirmatory glance.
Poor young fellow, to be so harsh
ly misjudged for his metropolitan
manners, when his delicate health
made him total abstainer
Jovita one of the mattresses, be-
came a great favorite with us all. She
was a girl of about fifteen, slight, with
regular delicately chiselled features.
and glossy black hair falling in two
long braids-a type of lovely rural
innocence. There was an exquisite
shy grace in her movements.
Take her photograph" suggested
Don Celso, and the proposition was
heartily seconded by all hands. But
even here the function of hand
camera appeared to be known, and
Jovita took sudden alarm.
mo no. she appealed. Her head
dropped. pretty fingers went shyly to
her mouth. flush stole over her
brown cheeks and she stood there
with face averted, picture of maid
emily shame. She was now on her
guard and ever glanced apprehensively
towards us. Every time she saw the
instrument aimed in her direction she
would turn her face quickly away. 1t
was too shadowy in the fonda for a
good snapshot and so I really did
hot lose anything. But when we rose
to leave. Jovita was standing by the
range, well out in the light and
awaiting an order. She had seen us
start and deemed herself in safety.
She was looking the other way, | was
within few feet and my camera was
ready.
''Adios Jovita!" I said.
She turned my way unthinkingly.
Click went the shutter. and | had her
A shout Of merriment from my
companions greeted the success of my
stratagem and the expression OF dis
may on Jov1ta's face gave way to a
ripping little smile as if to say that
now it was done it was no great harm,
O ftnr. IL