The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-02-09
A COMPLICATION.

The afternoon had been very war m. Sig.
nora Nuyez was so overcome by the heat
and by drowsiness-for she had been UP
late at the ball the night before-that she
really could not go with Marie to the plazs
for walk. Marie must go with old Pinta.
the nurse, and the little ones, or else she
must stay in the court and while away the
time listening to the fountain or practicine
on her guitar.
Marie assumed an air Of great disap
pointment. If mamma could not go, she
would most certainly stay with her. But
mamma languidly insisted, so she threw
her mantle ccquettishly over her head and
went out under the spreading trees just
as the sun dropped it's great disk of fire
into the shining sea.
The brilliantly tinted sky formed back
ground against which, in bold relief, stood
the Baltimore, United States man-of-war.
Marie knew the ship was there. She
had heard her father mention it. She had
seen, too, pair of laughing blue eyes and
curly auburn head at the ball last night.
Marie saw the eyes and hair-that was
enough. A more careful observer would
have detected a blue naval uniform in
close connection.
To be sure, she was betrothed to Andre,
but his eyes and hair were the same black
to which she had always been accustomed.
Besides one might look at blue eyes and
auburn hair as at the sunset, even if she
were betrothed. Mamma had taken good
care of her at the ball. She had danced
only with Andre and Fernando and the
stupid Geof. Indeed the tall soldier had
not been among the dancers, but had stood
with a companion near the door, looking
on. So Marie went to walk with old Pinta
and the little ones. 1t was so warm, nc
wonder she Jagged a little.
The blue eyes had looked at her as she
passed them time and again in the merry
dance, and once they had smiled-unmis-
takably smiled. She had smiled back
A rich, dark rose bloomed ON her cheek
now at the remembrance. But who could
resist the contagious merriment of those
laughing eyes?
A clear bird whistle made her start and
look for Pinta. Where can she beP All,
there she is, far down the plaza. All alb
sorbed in watching the little ones, who
frolic before her, she does not miss the
light step of Marie, which should follow
close at her side.
through the meshes of her mantle the OBJ
ject of her day dream.
No one is near The dusky night is set
Ting fast beneath the spreading trees He
stops whistling, and-oh, dear, if any one
should see!-lifts his cap. Just the least
bit, yet it's lifted He draws his hand
from his pocket, and as he passes drops a
little packet into the chatelaine she wears
ofI do IN, iuh
"Sweets for the sweet"
That is all, but her heart beats very fast
as she swiftly and silently overtakes Pinta.
tWe must go in. The night is here,
and mamma will chide us now" And no
one is the wiser.
Not even the disappointed soldier, who,
following at a safe distance, saw the heavy
doors close, leaving only a blank adobe
wall for him to gaze upon. Safe in her
own room, the lights all out, Marie would
have been less than woman, more than hui
man, if she had not eaten the bonbons,
every one, and sighed because-because
as she tossed the empty paper bag in a
basket where others of its kind were
thrown she had no private drawer to keep
sweet memories in. Perhaps it was the
late, unwonted feast of sweets which caus-
ing eyes and glowing curls, of kisses and
sweet names. Perhaps it was the sweetly
troubled sleep which made the morning
nap so late.
But that is past Mamma stands beside
her bed, unusual sternness in her eyes.
In one hand little bag, in the other a
slip of writing paper. Marie's heart stands
still Can it be the bag She knows moth
ing of the hidden note.
Signora Nuyez reads: "Sweets for the
sweet. Walk again tomorrow on the pla-
"a"
Alas, poor Marie The bitter after tastel
Her simple, sheltered life has never
taught her how to deceive in things like
these. She drew the coverlet over her pref
ty head and sobbed out the whole story,
shameful to Gillian mother.
"Stay in your own ROOM, was the only
word vouchsafed by the mother, who had
not met pair of laughing blue eyes in
her girlhood days.
Across the placid water sounds tattoo
from the warship in the harbor. On shore
party of jolly soldiers, somewhat belated,
hasten to the theater. All but two have
entered, one of them tall and fair, with
auburn hair. From an arched doorway
spring two dark browed men.
'Sweets for the sweet and knives for in
vaders!" they hiss.
A loud cry, and the blue clad party rush
forth again to the assistance of their COM
rades The police gallop to the spot.
| Down the dlmly lighted streets and al
| leys rush pursued and pursuer. The moon
rises over the mountains and lights scene
of death. Andre, Fernando and some who
wear the naval blue lie with closed eyes
upturned to the starry sky, but the blue
eyes, no longer laughing, are safe on the
Baltimore. Poor Marie does not know this.
And hidden by her parents in convent
she tells perfunctory beads for black
eyed lovers soul, while her tears fall and
her heart prays for him at whose smile she
smiled back.-Frances McCool in Boston
Transcript.