The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-13

Monterey. Estenega is well Travelled, ac-
tive Amoricanized Spanard. and regardless
OF the Inherited feud makes love TO his fasci-
mating enemy who IN tusn ~ enfhralled IN
spite SPIT e of herself. CHAPTER Estenega
horrifes Chonita by utterl!s autl-Spaniah
sent ments about the political future OF the
Mexican provinces in California.
CHAPTER w. CJn,mued-
The girls were u little frightened
This was not the "Son" TO which they
were accustomed. The young matrons
frowned The old people exclaimed,
"Carambar Mother of Godr Holy
Maryr | was aghast Well as knew
her, this was a piece of asdacity for
which was unprepared
AS the dance went on and she grew
more and more like an untamed wood
nymph even the caballeros became
vaguely uneasy. hotly as they admired
the beautiful wild thing enchanting their
gaze looked again lat Estenega and
knew that his heart beat in passionate
sympathy.
II have found her." he murmured ex-
ultantly "She is California, magnif-
cent, audacious. incomprehensible, a
creature of storms and convulsions and
impregnable calm; the germs of all good
and all bad in her; woman subh-
mated. Every husk of tradition has
fallen from her."
Once rs she passed Estenega her eyes
met his They lit with glance of rec
ognition, then the lids dropped and she
fioated on He left the room. and when
he returned she sat on window seat,
surrounded by caballeros. as cold and as
pale as when he had commanded her to
dance. He did not approach her, but
joined me at the upper end of"The sala,
where | stood With Alvarado the Cas-
tros, Don Thomas Larkin, the United
States consul and half dozen others.
We were discussing Chonita's interpreta-
ton of ''El Son"
THAT was n strange outbreak for
Spanish girl" said Senor Larkin.
"She is Chonita Iturbi SSMoncada,"
said Castro severely "She is like no
other woman, and what she does is
right"
The consul bowed. True, coronel. l
have seen no one here like Dona Choni-
ta There is a delicious uniformity about
the Californian women--so reserved
shrinking, yet dignifed; ever on their
guard Dona Chonita changed so swift
ly from the typical woman of her race to
an houri, almost bacchante-only an
extraordinary refinement of nature kept
her this side of the line-that an Ameri-
can would be tempted to call her eccen-
trio"
Alvarado lifted his hand and pointed
oh ha xnyirH 70 ha rhn
golden Goals in the blue fire of heaven
are not higher above censure," he said.
Dona Modesto raised her eyebrows.
Goals are safest when burned on the do
mestic hearth and carefully watched;
safer still when they have fallen to
Rshes."
put my hand through Estenega's
arm and drew him aside. The music of
the contradanza was playing, and we
stood against the wall
"Well, you know Chonita better since
that dance" said to him. Polar stars
are not unlikely TO have volcanoes Bet
ter let the deeps alone, my friend; the
lava might scorch you badly. Women
of complex natures are interesting stud
les, but dangerous to love. They wear
the nerves TO a point, and the tired
brain and heart turn gratefully to the
clear, idle minded woman. She is too
much like yourself, Diego. And you
how long could you love anybody?
Love with you means curiosity"
His face looked like chalk for mo-
ment, an indication with him of sup
pressed and violent emotion. Then he
turned his head and regarded me with -
slight smile. mot altogether. You
forget that the most faithless men have
been the most faithful when they have
found the one woman. Curiosity and
fckleness are merely parts of restless
seeking-nothing more"
Il was sure you would acquit yourself
with credit! But you have an unholy
charm and you never hesitate to exert it,"
He laughed outright. lone would
think | was a rattlesnake. Ny unholy
charm consists of "a reasonable amount
of address born of great weakness for
women and some personal magnetism
the latter a purely physical quality. AS
10 the exercise of it, why not? Vive la
bagatelle!"
1T is useless to argue with you. Are
you going to let that girl alone"
''She is the only girl in the CALIFORNIA;
whom shall not let alone"
could have shaken him. Ito what
endl And that brother? l have often
wondered which would rule You in a
crisis, your head or your passions"
'lt would depend upon the crisis
am afraidyou are right-that altiloquent
Reinaldo will give trouble"
'ls it true that he has been conspiring
with Garlic, and that an extraordinary
and secret session of the departmental
1unta has been calledT
He looked down upon me with his
grimmest smile. "You curious little
womanl You must not put your white
fingers into the departmental pie. If you
had been "A man. with as good brain AZ
You have for a woman. you would have
been an ornament 10 our politics. But
the dividing chasm between the brain OF
rYnap opd vror,av Ics,,,y ,,.,,,t 90 lo-s,, =. =.