The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-09-16
Select Sturp.
LOVE AND TAMALES.

Jesus Orfila strobe down the street like
an animate caryatid of the wrong sex. He
was clad all in white, from crushed cap to
canvas shoes. His loosely knotted ker-
chief fell away from his bronze throat and
showed the muscles of his neck, grown
thick and strong under the weight of the
heavy bucket he carried upon his head.
At intervals his voice rang out sonorous
and clear:
"Tamales- -tamales-caliente-
esq
His way led through the "Spanishtown"
of the city; and when the dark-browed
Mexican women hailed him, he dealt out
jests and compliments with his peppery
wares.
Early mass at Our Lady of the Angels
was over, and many a reboso-covered head
bent in salutation, for, besides his fine
eyes, Senior Orfla had substantial attrac-
tions.
Sonora Orfila (now with the saints of
Paradise) had deeply offended her father
when she ran away with the handsome
Jesus, and, as consequence, at his death
her share of the great rancho and the little
house on the outskirts of the town had
been securely settled upon her little daugh-
ter. Jesusa had been sent to school aud
had learned some English but her asso-
ciates had been mostly of her own nation
atty, and American ways had not entered
the little house where she and her father
| lived alone.
1t was only short time now to the
pretty Jesusa's majority, and at eighteen
the property would be hers. Though she
had many admirers, she loved only her
father. What, then Had he not ex-
peetations?
On the morning in question, Senor Or
fila had canvassed the streets of Spanish
town with Indifferent success, and he turned
his steps towards another part of the city.
The adobe houses grew fewer. The dwell
ings were more pretentious. Instead of
dooryards, hard and smoothly swept as a
floor, with scraggy red geraniums sprawl
ing over the fences, green hegdes and lit
tie patches of grass appeared, with callas
and broad-leaved plants in punches.
OF all the things he looked at, the only
object which Senior Orfla saw was the
big brick building on top of HILL Itwas
the high school Of the oity. He kept
doggedly on his way, although he knew
that humiliation awaited him. Formerly
he had closed out his stock among the six
hundred pupils at the noon hour; formerly
but now his custom had been basely
stolen.
He heard the clang Of the waffie-man' S
bell ahead, but another sound in the rear
made him furious.
at is that son of devil, he muttered
in Spanish.
A yellow cart, with a white awning,
came up the street behind The hack
part was filed with large canvas-covered
box, from the end of which rose the tank
of a gasoline stove, brilliant with scarlet
paint. The high tone paled the drivers
hair still further, and it was of a pale
shade already. He handled the yellow
reins with flourish, and chirruped gayly
to the sleek white horse.
"Mornin', Haysus," he called, with a
slight dFaEl as he passed,
But senor 0rfla held his head more
stihy than before at the insult of being
addressed so unceremoniously by his first
name, and ignored the salutation,
The mal In the wagon touched up his
horse as he heard the waffie-man's bell and
saw the pupils swarming down the walk,
and, with little runs, and trills, and shakes,
he began chanting in high, thin voice
.sHot tamales, tamales, tamalesl
Here's yer fine hot tamales
Nice, hot Texas, Spanish,
A-a-nd chicken tamalesl" J"
He was received with shouts of laugh
ter, but no ope greeted senor 0rfila as he
lowered his heavy bucket and wiped the
perspiration from his face. Impudent lit
tie boys from the school beyond, on their
way home to luncheon, called out in pass
ing, while they kept at safe distance
i'Hey, Mexicanny No savvy United
States, Mexicanny !"
Two or three girls, Spanish students,
came timidly up, with hope Of improving
their pronunciation with little conversa-
ton; but he answered them so savagely
that they fed, fortunately without under
standing his vigorous remarks.
Meanwhile, the cart of his rival was sur
rounded by noisy group. He lifted the
cover of the mysterious box, and, as he
handed the tamales right and left, great
clouds of steam puffed out upon the air.
at Is of the devil 1t is all of his
father, the devilr' Don Jesus muttered,
with sulphurous maledictions, as he stood
without customer.
Then he lifted again his heavy bucket
and turned his back upon the aggressive
cheerfulness of the whole outfit.
1t was several hours later when he
reached his home He had tarried awhile
at the wineshop of his friend, Jose Garcia,
and il was not altogether the sun and his
wrath that set his blood boiling.
Jesusa sat within the house in her low,
white bedroom. Her rosary and bottle
of holy water suspended by the neck)
hung below a tiny shrine sunk in the thick
wall. The little Virgin had received abun-
dant offerings of heartfelt ayes and choice
flowers Of late; but Jesus looked into her
nlacid bisoue face with doubt born Of
despair. Why did she net help her
troubled daughter and straighten matters ?
She jumped up hastily as she heard the
click Of the gate and Bonita's yelp. She
knew that her father had come home, and
that the dog had been kicked, and drew
her own conclusions. Her heart beat suf-
focatingly Had he found out
Senor Orfila slammed open the screen
door and came in. Fumes of Zinfandel
at once mingled with The faint odOr Of