The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-23

CnOnitG DC9lt OCtT NUN JtTJuttU.
We spent the next day at the race
field. Many of the caballeros had brought
their finest horses, and Reinaldo's were
famous. The vaqueros threw of their
black glazed sombreros and black velvet
Jackets. wearing only the short black
trousers laced with silver, shirt of daz-
ling whiteness, a silk handkerchief twist
ed about the head and huge spurs on
their bare brown heels. Some of us stood
on platform; others remained on their
horses; all were wild with excitement
and screamed themselves hoarse. The
great dark eyes of the girls flashed; their
red mouths trembled with the flood OF
eager exclamations; the lace mantilla or
lowered reboso fluttered against hot
cheeks, to be torn off, perhaps, and
waved in the enthusiasm of the moment.
They forgot the men, and the men for
got them. Even Chonita forgot her
climbing trouble for the hour. She was
famous horsewoman and keenly alive
TO the enchantment OF the race field.
The men bet their ranches, whole capo-
neras of their finest horses, herds Of cat
tie. their saddles and their jewels. Es-
tcnega won largely, and, as it happened,
from Reinaldo particularly. Don Gull
lcrrno was rather pleased than other
wise, holding his son in need OF further
punishment, but Reinaldo was obliged
to call upon all the courtesy Of the Span
lard and all the falseness of his nature
TO help him remember that his enemy
was his guest.
We went home TO siesta and long gay
supper, where the races were the only
topic of conversation; then TO dance and
and sing and flirt until midnight, the
people in the booths as tireless as our
selves. Valencia's attentions 10 Este
mega were as conspicuous as usual, but
no managed TO devote most OF his time
TO Chonita.
That night Chonita had a dream. Sh,
dreamed that she awoke without soul
The sense of vacancy was awful, ye
there was singular undercurrent con
sciousness that no soul ever had beer
within her-that it existed, but wa
yet to be found.
She arose, trembling, and opened he
door. Santa Barbara was as quiet
all the world is in the chill last hours o
night She half expected TO see some
thing hover before her, a will-o -the-wisI
alluring her over the rocky valleys an
towering mountains until death CAV
her weary feet rest. She remembers
vaguely that she had read legends of tina
purport.
But there was nothing-not even th
glow of late cigarito or the flash of
falling star. Still she seemed 20 kno'
where the soul awaited her. She close
her door softly and walked swiftly dow
the corridor, her bare feet making n
sound on the boards. AT door on II
opposite side she paused, shaking vi
lently, but unable TO pass it. She open,
the door and went in. The room, Ill
all the others in that time Of fcstivit
had more occupants than its wont.
bed was in each corner. The shuttle
and windows were pen; the moonlig
strcamed I'm and she saw that all we
asleep. She crossed the room and look
down upon Diego Estenega. His mig
garment, low about the throat, ma
his head, with its sharply cut profile, 10
like the heads ON old Roman medallion
The pallor Of night, the extreme
finement Of his face, the deep repo
gave him an immortal appearan
Chonita bent over him fearfully. W
he deads His breathing was regular,
very quiet. She stood gazing down M
him, the instinct Of seeking vanish
What did IL meani Was this her 50