The National tribune., 1894-11-22

ma you have ever Deen IN :
"My adventure with Don Elviro, l un-
hesitatingly replied.
Here is the story of that adventure:
At that time had lately eIhigrated, family
and ali, TO one of the Republican States of
South America, having begun to discover
that the mother country was treating me
in a rather step-mOtheTly fashion, and hoping
for better luck from the hOrse-bTeedlng farm
in which | had invested my remaining capI-
tai Outside the limits OF our little estancia
there WAS nothing but the waste pampas,
fat as a table, sparely dotted over with wild
apple trees aud slunted cactus painless and
-oadless, and almost pVin;lesS, except at
those places where the ground was torn up
oy bulls or stamped into holes by thirsty
horses on the borders OF the streams and
pools.
Our visiting list was necessarily small,
and yet we had a visiting list. Our most
constant visitor at one time was certain
Don Eviro Pergez, resident at Merqulza, a
tail, sil, Mt, ill-favored Spanard, middle-aged
and mo: use, with face like tanned buck
skin al teeth like a boaI 5 tusks. 1t was
not for our own sakes that Don Elviro visited
us, but cur farm bappened 10 lie as most
convenient hating station between Mer-
Qniza al the next farm Oh the plains, Occu-
pied by an cid Scotch farmer recently come
from Aberdeenshire. This farmer had
daughter-Jessie MaeNeil. l had never
happen,d 10 see the girl but had heard
her called The White Flower of the PAM
pas" which sounded promising, and every
body knew that Don Elviro had proposed
to her some dozen times over to no avail
On tie occasion of each OF these proposals
(which involved two rides of 50 miles each,
If you piease), we had the pleasure of enter
tanning the enamored Spaniard twice. On
his way 10 MacNeilIs farm he always looked
es though he were going to bury his dearest
relative: on his way back he looked as
though be had not only buried his dearest
relative, but had also discovered that his
dearest relative had cut him out OF the will.
At first, being young and sanguine, we
attempted conversation, but very soon we
contented ourselves with placing cooling
drinks before him and assigning to him a
hamm, ck and fan. We bad ceased to be
surprised at nis appearance at any hour of
the day or night. This infatuation had be-
come Standing aud recognized fact, and in
Merquza, when people saw the dismal
Spaniafd riding past, tie usual remark was:
"Tbere is Don Elviro going off to propose to
Miss MacNeill;" OF else, There is Don
ElvirO coming back from proposing to Miss
MacNeil."
One morning very early, just as we were
sitting down to breakfast, we saw the fa-
miliar large-limbed figure on the familiar
old gray horse pass the window.
"Don Elviro," said Ada with a patient
little sigh, as our eyes met.
We were both rather weary. but we were
neither of US surprised, for Don Elviro had
passed our way two days before, to have
what it was his habit Of calling lone more
last chance"
Two inmates later the Spaniard stalked in,
looking extremely bilious and more than
usually gloomy. The first noticeable thing
shout his behavior was that he did not bow
TO my wife, nor, in fact, take any notice of
her presence; but, sitting down at the table,
proceeded 10 glare sternly at a sliced pine
apple. During the whole of breakfast not
snly did he address no word to Ada but
the Iced water or the sugar, he simply over
looked the circumstance. Ada tried to rouse
my dull masculine sense with significant
glance, but was stupid enough not TO see
anything amiss, beyond little pardonable
distraction, which / ascribed TO Jessie Mac
Neilrs chains, and TO her cruelty.
Just as / was starting on my farm rounds
Ada caught me In the Yerapda.
George she said solemnly, Don Elviro
10 mad"
Mad IN love, you mean"
No, don't mean that, mean that he is
simply insane; and, oh, George, just TO think
OF mailman in the same house with the
ekildreni"
Very well, / viii think of it." said. and
started for the farm with my mind quite at
rest about Don Elviro, for though my sweet
Ada was pattern of womanhood. there was
no denying that she had both nerves and
faneies
My rounds being over ] had just got COM
fortably settled for my habiiuai siesta when
Ada come in, looking rather excited. She
assured me that Don Eiviro was certainly
mad; bat when questioned as 10 the syinp-
toms, she could accuse the Don of nothing
worse han walking up and down the We
randa and not getting out Of her way.
That man terrifes me-" she insisted.
Ny love, you do the poor old Don far too
much honor / replied. Ia spite of his
tusks, warrant him childlike aud harmless.
Leave biBI to walk off his steam on the We |
Tanda. / sympathize with the man. / am
quite sure ] should have behaved much |
worse If you had happened to refuse me-"
Ada went out with her pose in the air, !
and j dropped into heavenly oblivion. |
don't think really expected TO be left un-
disturbed; and so l was not really surprised |
when right IN the middle of the oblivion |
Ada burst IN, this time with the baby In her |
-@"'N NHS wv o't5ESA babicc 10
her skiris
George" she painted. now you simply |
must 20 out to him; he has been muttering,
and now he is walking about the orchard |
without hat on.n
Well, If he isn't mad yet, that will GER |
tsanly settle the question:" 1 remarked.
Take John Fraser with you, !" my wife i'm /
piored, and 90 and lock him up.n
John Fraser was an enormous Lancashire /
mar, a creature Of beef and plum-pudding. |
and the chief bulwark Of our household.
John Fraser has got his leave for the |
day" l answered. He must be 10 miles |
froa here by this time"
On, George! And Gunez?"
"Gunez went into Merquiza yesterday for |
the piano-turer"
And Carlos and Filip?"
"Out on the plains with the horses"
This Is terrible. But you will 90 out to |
him, George, vii! you not?"
=" Yes, / viii CO." l said, rather sadly, for I |
was very fond of my siesta.
IL was low the very hottest hour of the /
day, and we were almost 81 rhe hottest sea-
SOD. The air tasted like what imagine to !
be the taste Of finely distilled einders The |
one or two horses left in the corral had all /
lain down; there was an immense stiffness
over the plain. When / got up TO Don
ElvirO l felt that my forehead was damp,
nrz6 L. st.a 4.