The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-09-16
VOL. XXVIII.-NO. 46.

ceiled room from the preparation OF tamales
Jesusa yentured timid remark, but it
was drowned in torrent of invective. II
was with a faint sigh of relief that she
found that she was not the object of his
wrath. The occasional flowers of speech
which Senior Orfla had culled from the
English language seemed to be only those
which could most easily be woven into a
choice nosegay of profanity, and he sent
the rival tamale-seller anatomically and as
a whole to his father, the devil.
1t was not altogether pleasant to hear
her father swear, and Jesusa tried to be-
guile him with suggestions of frijoles and
coffee. He declined roughly, and, after
substituting darker clothing for his white
suit, he gave Bonita another kick and left
the house.
Jesusa lifted the cover of the tamale-
bucket and looked in. 1t was nearly full.
With little cry Of distress she went back
to her room and took down the rosary !;
but the tears dropped down her cheeks
faster than the beads slipped through her
fingers. She had sunk into disconsolate
heap upon the prayer-rug, when all at once
she started upright. Far down the street
she heard arhigh tenor voice taking runs
and trils with curious nasal twang. She
listened.
"Hot, hot, Texas, Spanish,
A-a.nd chicken tamales ="
A cart ratified up to the gate and stopped.
Bonita growled, and Jesusa had only time
to wipe her eyes and peep into the glass be-
fore Hiram Perkins shook the screen door.
"Buenos dias, senorita, he called gayly,
as she let him in. 'See how Tm learning
the language? I've got 'good-day' and
adios' down fne Don't be scared, little
girl, he added, as he saw her frightened
face, "your pa is safe over on Eighth
Street"
"At Sonora Sanchez's?" Jesusa asked.
"May be; she's the fattest one of the lot,
with shawl over her head, aud awful
dark complicated. He's mashed on her bad. y
The girl looked at him inquiringly.
"Don't you know what mashed means
yet? | haven't time to explain now, but
when / have chance for-er-miscellane-
GUS conversation, I'll tell you all about it.
We must keep strictly to business today,
Jesusa. By the way, would you mind if
I call you Susie for short? The whole
name dome come natural.
''Is it because of my fathers anger and
that it is his name also?" the daughter
asked, with wistful look.
"Why-no. The truth is | amt never
been accustomed to using the name just
for everyday wear, as it were, and it comes
sort O. awkward, even if it is pronounced
way off the spellin'. The prettiest girl
ever knew was named Susan-but she
wasn't half as pretty as you are.
Jesusa slipped her hand into his and
smiled up into his face.
at is we'll What then?'
"Things can't go on this way Perkins
resumed. e.This sneakin' is played out.
I'm going to have it out with the old man,
and set down my whole weight when l
come to see you. I'm sick of perchin' on
the edge of the chair, ready to jump and
run"
"But next month | shall be free, and he
sMedT5 III lOu So Ii HC ShOuiQ ohObI--
"Lord bless you, little girl, don't you
worry He dassent shoot, | know you
come of age next month. | rode out to
the ranch Sunday, and tell you it is just
sufferin' fora good dose of Yankee farmin'.'
Iesusa tried to look intelligent,
s'You know, my dear, that this tamale
business amt really worthy Of man o
my talents. There's some money in it
and I'm free to confess there have been
peddiers in the Perkins family before; and
when a feller had to wear his hair on his
coat collar and go barefooted in his boots
for want of cash, | won't deny it was {
godsend."
~ do not understand, ventured the per
picked Jesusa.
"Well, no, s'pose not.
Perkins had been talking more to him
self than to his companion. He pushed il
a hair pin that was falling from her loosen
ed braids and picked thread from hel
shoulder.
eListen here, little girl. We've beer
engaged now for considerable SPELL W,
amt either of us happy this way, and
propose that we get married next montl
and 90 out to the ranch to live. What Dc
you say?"
"But-Padre Adam dare not tell to
him -"
'.Padra Ahdom? Great Scott Have
l got to tackle another father Who's
Padra Ahdom p
Tasusa uras sohhin0 now
II am so miserable when go to church
Il have not confess
aOh, l see-the priest-there's another
complication"
Perkins pondered minute, and Jesusa
wept on.
Il wonder how it would do to play one
old fellow off on the other he muttered
irreverently '.Hush, little girl !dou't cry, .
he said aloud. II can't stand it, DO you
know that sometimes when | think of you
so scared and unhappy, | almost break
down right in the middle of my singin''
Jesasa wiped away her tears obediently.
''I'm goin' right off to see the priest,
Susie, dear, and if don't fix things, it
won't be for the lack of argument Yon
keep your father at home this evening and
invite Sonora Sanchez here. I'll come
down, and we'll have a settlement I'll
ask the priest to be on hand to interpret.
couldn't do myself justice in an argu-
ment, you see, when the other fellow don't
know anything of my language but cuss-
words and I don't know enough of his to
sass back. Good-by, my dear. Don't cry
any more; your cheeks are all in fever
now, and"
She slipped from his encircling arm as
the gate clicked again.
"Hush y she whispered fearfully. at
is the senorita who comes to learn the
drawn-work," she added, with relief.
The Americans bowed eivilly to each
other, and the two women watched Mr..
Perkins as be dlove away, his narrow
shoulders held very straight and the fiery
tank nm n level with his head