Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-04-22
A TIGRESS.

nhIuTe > DoultN, yet enough 10 make the
beholder sigh for more, and, to crown all,
that Understandable coquettish prettiness so
becoming, yet of which they seemed igno-
rant were the foundation for my castle in
Spain.
was only an overgrown boy of 20 when
first visited Santa Fe. Having a business
acquaintance with all the merchants and
trades, was speedily introduced to society
as it was there then. Seen from an ortho-
dox New England view that society was
barbarous; yet to me, frankness, easy cour-
tesy and the absence OF pretensions seemed
preferable to prim dignity and abundance
Of cant. Yet. if the truth be told, those
destinations and beautiful senoras and
smoritas were rs false As beautiful.
After two weeks at Santa Fe found my
self $4,000 winner at monte. found my
self also desperately in love with Senorita
Ermina Arota, Who, strange to say, repre-
sented the goddess Fortune-in other
words, she was the monte dealer. She was
also the reputed mistress of Don Jose San
oobal, the owner of the monte bank
have never seen more beautiful wom-
an In my life. Lighter in complexion than
most Mexican or Spanish women, yet with
that clear skin through which every pulsa-
ton of the blood could be seen: her hair
nearly auburn; eyes black as midnight,
with long, dropping lashes, so soft, so timid,
that rose and fell with your glance; added
TO this perfect hand and foot, and form
sxquisitely round and full, not gross, and
the description is complete. | cannot tell
whether the features were regular or not
Even now, after more than 20 years have
elapsed and my blood has cooled, can only
remember her as "a marvel of beauty.
Born in old Spain, she came with her par
ents to Mexico when "A child Soon after
her father died, and her mother married
old Sandobal, the uncle of Jose, then the
principal gambler in Santa Fe He was one
Of the greatest scoundrels living, who was
always ready to use his stiletto when there
was small chance Of danger have rarely
seen since such an eye as that of young San
dobal-cold, gray, passionless and hard as
granite; a sallow, pale complexion, with
haggard, dissipated look that made his 30
years seem sc, and you have the picture of
one of the rich men Of Santa Fe in the old
times.
Don Jose was very attentive and courte-
Gus to me As my winnings increased so
did his attentions. But his voice and man
ner were too soft for those cold, gray eyes.
There were the terrible claws concealed be
meath the velvet foot.
/ was at that age when calico or satin is
eharming-a sweet face, a pretty form, a
soft voice and the clasp of a little hand
would make me in one moment Pagan or
Christian, ready to worship at any shrine,
but beauty's first. Is it strange then that
worshiped Senorita Ermina and was mad
enough to have married her il l couldf
Taking advantage Of the license permit
"a \ bod t,IA ha. 80. L., 4
miration in less than 10 minutes after be-
ing introduced to her. But now l had
talked to her more seriously and had urged
her to 20 back to the States with me as my
wife.
She seemed at first astonished at this
proposal, but after little became grave,
almost sad, and for the rest Of the night
avoided me. This was at ball But once
during the night she brushed past me
and said behind her fan, in a whisper,
'-Senor Michel, you will not play more at
monte for my sake" and she had com
menced dancing again before l could ask
for an explanation. She might have asked
q much greater favor with the certainty of
it's being granted; yet If went to the
house Of Don josef was expected TO play.
IL did not 60, could not see Senorita Err
nina, and it seemed ! could not live TWEEN
ty-four hours without seeing her
The next day old Judge Donnelly said to
me: Young man, they say you have won
q heap Of money at monte. Amt you
afraid of the consequences"
what consequences, judgeS" / asked
"Well, you have won Jose Sandobal's
money and firted with his lady-openly
too. II | know that man, he'll try mighty
hard to kill you himself, or hire some one
else to do it, Maxweps mule train goes in
tomorrow, and if you have no unsettled
business to keep you that train will take
you into Independence two weeks sooner
than any other"
Just then little rustic, and Senorita Err
nina fitted past the open door. The judge,
stopping short, gave little whistle.
wished TO excuse myself and join the lady.
mo you don't" said he. That cursed
woman will be the death of you before you
leave Santa Fe."
laughed and told him / thought death
at the hands of such a beautiful woman
would be almost a pleasure
"Other meI have not thought Sc" he an
swered
Then asking me to step over TO Captain
Marcy's with him, he explained TO that
gentleman-who was an army paymaster-
ehoe a hthd rOHAt ElOso1V III Cbiu MEiCh
wished TO give him for his draft on the sub
treasurer at St Louis. Just then Maxwell
came in, and he made arrangements with
him for me to ride in his private wagon to
the train. All this the judge had done with
out consulting me in the least, and felt
that my pride had suffered Yet was sat
isfed he would not have taken such liber
ties with me without some good reason SO
thanked him and went back TO my own
quarters to pack up.
Late In the afternoon took my money
two buckskin bags Of gold-frdm Read e.
Kincaid's store and carried IL across the
plaza to Captain Marcy's Office. He counted
IL, sealed up the bags and gave me his draft
for the amount; then taking out his tobacco
and wrappers Tin New Mexico cigarritos
are made Of Havana tobacco, with the deli
cate inside husks Of corn for wrappers, and
the cigarritos are never made until wanted
for smoking) he offered them to me. ac-
cepted and was making cigarrito when a