The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-04-12
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: wAsIINGror c. THURSDAY APRIL

recalled her to herself, and his evident de-
| termination to make love to her, now the
opportunity had been afforded by SenoI
| Martinez being called back to the corale by
| Amoso, who wished to know about the chang
| ing of horses stall. Perhaps it was heI
| evident fear of him that annoyed him into
| taking a petty revenge. Alter several futile
| attempts at winning smile, he launched
| boldly into vital subject; perhaps it was
| only an attempt to arouse her.
Senorita Martinez has not been by any
means forgotten since Ell Gobernador's ball
and rimor has it that Senior Garcia sings
only to Natalia now"; there was little
laugh in his voice as he continued. She did
not know that he had noticed the gasp she
had tried to stife or the sudden pallor rap
idly giving way to hot bushes Grimly
relishing this evidence of feeling, he added
"How [ wish | had his gift of song that |
might show sweet Natalia what she in
spires; but you will have charity for small
talent, and believe that the lack of poetry
in expression is amply compensated for by
the depth and sincerity of my feeling"
He had bent over her, and was holding
out soft, white hand for one of the little
ones she had clenched tightly against the
bench. 1t stung his pride to acknowledge a
repulse, so he excused as shyness that which
made her shrink from him with loathing.
I" L am sure Senor Lopez does not lack
talent-at least, papa says So" she stammer-
ed, not quite knowing what she said, or
should say. 1t had quite terrified her to
hear him speak so knowingly of Rafael
Garcia's verses to her. She had kept her
secret so WELL and Rafael would certainly
not tell-and papa would be so angry-she
was wildly thinking, when the indulgent
papa appeared, smiling and putting a little
harder than usual.
Seating himself at the table just placed
in the patio, and inviting his guest to a cup
of coffee and chelado, his satisfaction was
supreme when he discovered that Natalia
did not leave the patio, but remained close
by busying herself with the flowers and
softly humming to young periquito.
OF course, the only cause for her remain
ing was plain enough to him, and Martinez
talked gayly of certain rancho, well stocked
and yielding nice profit; though the prop
erty of Lopez, it had been under his manage
ment for 20 years and more, ever since the
death of his best friend, who had intrusted
it to him for the little boy he was leaving
alone in the world, and who would need,
most of all, the friendship his father was
bequeathing him. That friendship had
yielded steadier and more profitable in
come than the estate; but neither the man
In his great generosity, nor the boy in his
supreme selfshness, realized its actual worth.
And now, the boy grown to manhood, and
selfishness grown to deceit and ingratitude,
they sat, the best of friends, chatting good
humOredly of plans and prospects, OCCASION
ally glancing at the young girl slowly moving
about amongst the flowers, each thinking
his own peculiar thought as he chatted, one
mean and base as the other was generous
and noble.
Poor Natalia! How many foolish women
have waited to hear, as you are doing, to
lessen suspense by immediate certainty if a
secret is told or not told, or perhaps to pre-
vent by simply your presence its being told.
Foolish child 1t is not .Paoblo Lopez's
purpose TO inform your devoted papa that
this Rafael Garcia, the artist and poet, is
paying you devoted court; that you have
tucked away in hidden corners many of the
daintiest of verses dedicated to your own
sweet self; that each night, when all is still,
when only papa's snoring occasionally breaks
in upon the quiet; when the stars, always
constant, twinkle brightly down into the
patio and light your way to the dark sala,
where, bruising your dainty, bare toes
gainst table-legs and chaxs. you grope your
way 10 the wide, low window and cautiously
unfasten the heavy bolt, and, as nearly as
the iron bars will permit, fall into the arms
OF this dark, solemn-eyed artist this poet