The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-15


shawls, combs, articles Of lacquerware,
Jewels, silk stockings, slippers, spangled
tulle. handkerchiefs, lace, fans. The
girls eyes were sparkling. Chonita
clapped her hands and ran around the
table. pressing TO her lips the beautiful
white things she quickly segregated,
running her hand eagerly over the little
slippers, hanging the lace about her
shoulders. twisting a rope Of garnets in
her yellow hair.
Never have they been so beautiful,
Eustaquia! Is it not so, my Prudencia"
she cried 10 the girl who was curled on
one corner of the table, gloating over
the treasures she knew her uncle's gen.
erosity would make her own. "Look
how these little diamonds flash! And
the embroidery on this crape!-a dozen
eyes went out, aye vi! This satin is like
a tile! These fans were made in Spain!
This is as big as n windmill. God of my
soul"-she threw a handful of yellow
sewing silk upon piece of white satin
"Ana shall embroider this gown-the
golden poppies of California on a bank
of mountain snow" She suddenly seized
case of topaz and a piece of scarlet
silk and ran over TO mel being Mon
terena, etiquette forbade me 10 purchase
in Santa Barbara. "Thou must have
these, my Eustaquia. They will become
thee well. And wouldst thou like any
of my white things? Mary! but l am
selfish. Take what thou wilt, my friend"
To refuse would be to spoil her pleas
ure and insult her hospitality, so ac-
cepted. the topaz-of which had six sets
already-and the silk, whose color pre-
vailed in my wardrobe, and told her that
detested white, which did not suit my
weather dark skin, and she was as blind
and pleased as a child.
"But come, come" she cried. "My
father is not SO generous when he has to
wait too long"
She gathered the mass OF stuff in her
arms and staggered up the companion
way. i followed, leaving Prudencia
raking the trove her short arms would
not hold.
"Aye, my Chonitaw she walled, "I can.
not carry that big piece of pink satin and
that vase. And have only two pairs
of slippers and one fan. Aye, Cho-n-i-i-ta,
look at those shawls Mother of God,
suppose Valencia Mendendez comes"-
do not weep on the silk and spoil
what thou hast" called down Chonjta
from the top step. "Thou shalt have all
thou canst wear for year"
She reached the deck and stood pant
ing and imperious before her father.
"All! All! / must have all!' she cried.
"Never have they been so fine, so rich"
Holy Mary" shrieked Don Guillermo.
"Dost thou think / am made of doub-
looms, that thou wouldst buy whole
ships cargo? Thou shalt have a quarter;
no more-not yard"
81 shall have ALL" And the stately
daughter of the Iturbi y Moncadas
stamped her little foot upon the deck.
"a third-not a yard more. And dia-
monds Holy heaven! There is not gold
enough in the CALIFORNIA; TO feed the ex-
travagance of the Senorita Dona Chonita
Iturbi y Moncada."
She managed to bend her body in spite
of her burden, her eyes flashing saucily
above the mass Of tulle which covered
the rest of her face.
"And not fine raiment enough in the
world to accord with the state of the
only daughter of the Senior Don Gull
lermo Iturbi y Moncada, the delight and
the pride of his old age Wilt thou send
these things to the north to be worn by
an Estenega? Thy Chonita will cry her
eyes so red that she will be known as the
ugly witch of Santa Barbara, and Casa
Grande will be like tomb"
"Oh, thou spoilt baby! Thou wilt
have thy way At this moment
Prudencia appeared. Nothing whatever
could be seen of her small person but
her feet; she looked like an exploded
bale of goods. WHAT whatr' gasped |
Don Guillermo. "Thou little rat! Thou
wouldst make Christmas doll of thy
self with satin that is too heavy for thy |
grandmother, and exc out thy dumpy
inches with a train? Oh, mother Of |
God" He turned to the captain, who |
was smoking complacently, assured of |
the issue. II will let them carry these |
things home; but tomorrow one-half, at |
least, comes back" And he stamped |
wrathfully down the deck.
"Send the rest" said Chonita to the |
captain, land thou shalt have bag Of |
gold tonight"