Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-04-25

The fragment of conversation, audi"
BILE to the new corners, appeared to
disturb the old man. He abandoned
his hold on the stalwart arm which
had served him on the path, and
cropped for the gate. His features
twitched convulsively, and the look of
furtive diStyust dcepened in his rest
less eyes,
'Rich" he repeated, as if speaking
10 himself why should Dolores
wish for wealth2 Ali Poor child"
He stared at his companion abb
stractedly for "a moment, and then
pushed open the door in the wall.
Under ordinary circumstances the
officer would have pursued mis- way,
thus evading all expressions of
gratitude on the part of the old
mans family, but the laugh of the
girl Dolores, floating out on the sunny
air, had bewitched his ear. The sailor
on shore wished to see her. Accord
ingly, he followed his recently help
less charge, who appeared to be more
discountenanced than gratified by the
measure.
A girl, small, slender, and very
young, stood beside fountain in the
middle of the space of garden, with
the branches of an orange tree, laden
with blossoms and fruit, brushing her
shoulder.
A young man fingered opposite, gaz-
Ag intently at her
The garden was full of flowers, UNI
trained and luxuriant in growth, yet
such life, bloom and sweetness as the
spot could Toast belonged to Dolores,
glowing on her fimsy red and yellow
gown, adjusted with certain grace
by means of a crimson sash combining
the little waist, the rose fastened in
her black hair above one tiny ear, and
the softly rounded brown face, with
two large and limpid eyes. At the
moment she was a presence full OF
vivacity and gaiety
And the young man, tall, olive
hued, grave in bearing and in
dolent of movement-who was he?
Was he not lover? Did not the mas
culine instinct of hostility, ever ready
to flame in the breast of man under
similar circumstances swiftly supple
ment in that of Lieut. Curzon-rival?
The house differed from those
mansions of modest dimensions often
to be found in the locality, built of
stone, with an occasional balcony, and
even some curious effect of Barocco
ornamentation in the heads of Nereids
and Centaurs carved on the cornice.
This habitation was an ancient square
tower, resembling an old Norman
keep the base of roughly-hewn stone,
and filled in with .rubbIe. Above the
door was an armorial shield sculptured
in stone, with the nearly effaced de-
sign of crane bearing a blade of
wheat in his beak. Like the casas
solares of similar spots, lack of re-
pair and the ravages of years were
clearly discernible in the structure.
which had not attained any height, as
if an original project of building had
been checked before the completion,
of parapet Who had designed the
tower-Moor, Spaniard, Sicilian or
French conqueror? Why had the
task been abandoned? The girl
Dolores lived here, as q rose
blooms where grim sentinels should
keep watch for an invading foe.
A dog, resembling a ball of white
floss silk, and scarcely larger than the
toy animals mounted on wheels of shop
windows, announced the new arrivals
with shrill barking, then prudently re-
treated behind his mistress, and peered
forth from the folds of her dress with q
miniature countenance full of canine
wisdom and absurdly shaved in the
emblance of a military mustache.
Dolores turned her head quickly,
with rapid change of expression to
one of surprise, and sprang to the side
of the old man.
"Grandpa! How pale you are! Has
an accident happened?" she inquired in
English, and speaking with affection.
ate concern.
l4AcuL OuIIOu lllJtu us Cup COuTb
eously, thereby revealing his golden
curls, and apologized for the intrusion
of his presence.
Dolores regarded him with her dark
eyes dilating and her color ebbing and
deepening with rapid pulsstions of
emotion.
She reminded the sailor of a pome-
granate blossom. such as he had seen
ripening to perfection on the terraces
of Grenada and Seville.
He accepted her faltered thanks
with the more complacencY that the
opportunity was afforded him of
studying the purity of her profile, the
piquant curves Of red lips and dimpled
chin, the symmetry of slender hands
and feet He asked himself with
awakening interest how this Spanish
maiden happened to be dwelling with
an English grandfather in the mixed
population of Malta.
Dolores urged the stranger to accept
q chair and be served with fruit and
wine Was the girl inspired by the
innate instincts of gratitude and hospf
tally. or mere coquetryl At the same