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

The festivities were 10 last n week,
every one taking part but Alvarado and
Dona Martina. The latter was not
strong enough; the governor cared far
more for duty than for pleasure.
The next day we had merienda on
the hills behind the town. Tie green
pine woods were gay with the bright
colors of the young people. Here and
there a caballero dashed up and down to
show his horsemanship and the silver
and embroidered silk of his saddle. Sill
yer. too, were his jingling spurs, the
eagles on his sombrero, the buttons on
his colored silken jacket. Horses, with
out exception handsomely trapped, were
tethered everywhere. paving the ground
or nibbling the grass. The girls wore
white or lowered silk or muslin gowns
and rebosos about their heads. The
brown, ugly duenas. ever at their Sides
were foils they would gladly have dis
pensed with The tinkle of the guitar
never ceased. and the sweet voices of the
girls and the rich voices of the men broke
forth with the Joyous spontaneity of the
birds songs about them.
Chonita wore white silk gown, re-
member, flowered with blue-large blue
lilies The reboso matched the gown.
AS soon as we arrived-we were a little
late--she was surrounded by caballeros
who hardly knew whether to like her or
not, but who adhered to the knowledge
that she was Chonita Iturbi Y Moncada,
the most famous beauty of the south.
"Dios! but thou art beautiful" muir
INJURED one, his dreamy eyes dwelling on
her shining hair.
"Gracias, senor." She whispered it
as bashfully as the maidens TO whom he
was accustomed, her eyes fixed upon a
rose she held.
wilt thou not stay with us here in
Monterrey"
She raised her eyes slowly-he could
not but feel the effort--gave him one be-
wildering glance, half appealing, half
protesting. then dropped them suddenly.
wilt thou stay with mei" painted the
caballero
AYE, senor, thou must not speak like
that. Some one will hear theer'
IL care not! God of my life! care
mott Wilt thou marry me-"
Thou must not speak 10 mo of mar
riage. senior. tits to my father thou must
speak. Would |, Californian maiden,
betroth myself without his knowledge"
"Holy heaven! will! But give me one
word that thou lowest me-one word~
She lifted her chin saucily and turned
to another caballero, who, doubt not,
proposed also. Estenega, who had
watched her. laughed.
''She acts the part TO perfection" he
said TO me. Either natural or acquired
coquetry has more TO do with saving her
from the solitary plane of the intellec-
tual woman than her beauty or her
fathers wealth. am inclined 20 think
that il is acquired. do not believe that
she is coquette at heart any more than
that she is the marble doomswoman she
fondly believes herself"
"You vii! tell her that" exclaimed
angrily, "and she will end by loving you
because you understand her. All women
want to be understood. Why don't you
go to Paris again; You have not been
there for n long time"
Not deeming this suggestion worthy
of answer, he left me and walked tc
Chonita, who was glancing over the tor
| Of her fan into the ardent eyes Of third
| caballero.
"You will step on bunch Of nettle'
| In n moment" he said practically
Your slippers arc very thin; you had
better stand over here on the path.
And he dexterously separated her from
the other men. "Will You walk 10 thai
opening over there with me? | want tC
show you a better view of Monterey"
His manner had not a touch of gallan
try, and she was tired of the caballeros.
VERY well, she said. twill look a
the view"
AS she followed him she noted that IN
led her where the bushes were thinnest
and kicked the stones from her path
She also remarked the nervous energy o.
his thin figure. ut comes from his low,
OF the Americans" she thought sngrily
HE must even walk like them. Th'