Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-06

they are TO consider myself and my for
'une entirely at their service.
father. CARTos sANCuFz '.''
ANITA, what will occur?" cried Pamela.
aespairingly. when she read the letter.
HOW can | go home and let them see
that am not changed,
ANITA had the knack Of smoothing away
everything but facts: over even the stern
features Of the inevitable she frequently
contriVed 10 diffuse soften.ng haze OF
probability. you have still the dress. "
she argued. Now. YOU must learn to
90 your hair OF which you have enough
LOT any purpose. We will send imme-
diately for Maria. who learned great
zeal IN her time at the hair-dresser's."
But. Ernesto" moaned Pamela: "he
was IN love with Josefa Rodriguez, and
she is beautiful"
But also poor" promptly. "Now that
Ernesto has taken the plantation. he viii
see the dcslrab!lty Of joining II to your
father's-no? Then. consider: he has prac-
tically proposed for you, and to retreat
would cost him your fathers friendship.
possibly his own life. We have all heard
Of the courage and pride Of Senior San
chez"
So Pancha was consoled Until the
steamer sailed she filed I'm her time with
the hair-dresser's assistant and various
experiments in face lotions. At Last
steamer-day arrived. and she went aboard,
after an aftectionate farewell to- Anita
and credulous little cry over the norid
letter just received from Ernesto.
Meanwhile, Ernesto had both hands full.
or-to preserve the metaphor-both shout
ders occupied in the difficult attempt to
On l.,~f,..
right-hand receDtacle were Pancha's in
herltaiNe. Pancha's father, and Pancha--
last but also least. Either of the first
two was, perhaps. weiGhty enough to
maintain the equilibrium by itself, had
il not been in danger Of notification BY
the thlfi. ErnestO was a Mexican com
pound or passion, sensuous alteration OF
physical beauty, uncomfortable jealousy
and universal Mexican greed for gain
From the left-hand pail pecped the
warm, dark eyes Of Josefa. They would
nave TO 20 over the brim very shortly.
When the plantation passed into En-
nestos hands the accommodating instinct
began 10 arouse. Day after day he rode
by tde bread lands OF his neighbor; with
every ride the thirst for possession
waXed stronger while with Josefa it
was deadened by the soft narcotism Of
her arms, 10 awaken later the stronger
for its haf-v9luntary repose.
50 the balance had swung vacillating
until the fateful photograph of Pamela
arrived. and was submitted for his in
spectiOn. Impossible, lie looked more
closely. Surely that was Pancha. Her
stubby nose was unnOticed against the
chastencd oval OF what he remembered
10 be an undeniably fiat check; her small
eyes softcned by delicate arrangement
Of lisht. and shading around their heavy
lashes her bunchy waist grown slim; her
stopping shoulders rising firmly from an
eTstWhle hollow chest. row filled In with
a wavy mass Of indetermirate silk and
daintily embroidered chiffon.
Ernesto studied the picture for several
consecutive evenings. and finally took his
resolve No such gown had ever appeared
at Chapitoula.
"Thcn see. my son." his mother OK
claimed (she was fat and brown. and
Wrinklcd, who had once been the belle OF
wrinkled. who had once been the b He
Of Mexican bathrooms and the reigning
beauty Of all the bul-Gghts for a day :
journey in every direction), we are elike
after thirty Would YOU give the richest
plantation In the State for ten years Of
prettiness? Your father fought five ducs
Josefa? And who now believes / was
married for beauty? Black eyes and scar
let lips are plentiful, but you will not
come across another plantation 10 be had
for the asking"
The madre was right. and Ernesto pro
ated to the extent of staying away for {
week from the one-storied abode Of the
widow Rodriguez and dismount.ns instead
at the Casa Sanchez. where he talked po-
lite ulatltudes TO ScnOr Carlos. and gazef
at the pensive features of Panchita Or
reproduction. During one OF these visits
Of prudence and commercially inclination
he uttered the significant phrases quoted
in the letter Of recall, which were the i'm
mediate cause Of the PRONUNCIATION of that
edct.
Worldly interest being appeased by thes'
concessions. passion put forth her claims
and temporarily resumed sway that very
night, resulting in a melting serenade be
meath the old lovers window.
"'Nesto MIC" Josefa whispered the next
day, when the rigorous but world-wise
duenna gave them a few moments 10
themselves. why hast thou stayed SO
long from me?"
OF course. he could not say he was per,
suading himself to marry Pancha, bur
she was shrewd enough TO connect the
fact of his sudden recalcitrancy with that
Of his sssiduous visits TO the Sanchez
plantation. In the veNety sheath of her
eyes a close observer might have detected
glittering points as of sharply -retracted
claws Ernesio was not n close observer.
lie had but a few more weeks to enjoy.
and ne gazed down into those siumbrous
depths with an abandon Of reckless ardor.
So fled the weeks, the days and lastly
the hours preceding Pancha's return.
Her father went to meet the vessel:
Pancha heard his voice aId shook. When
the last conceivable moment Of delay had
hitto6 by she appeared before Senior San
chez trembling in every limb-not crying.
for she was too badly frightened TO fall
back upon her customary resource.
Senior Sanchez gave a glance Of digni-
fed expectation, followed by mortiiica-
ton and polite displeasure. He kissed her
formally, addressed to the captain an
abundance of effusiye compliments, which
did not in the least detract from the 20
tency Of the wealthy sugar-planter's ex-
Orbitant standard OF self-valuation, and
bore Pamela from the shin.
Her mother was less restrained. Holy
mother OF God, Pancha. what hast thou
done 10 myself on tiny way hcme?' she
as soon as they met.
This being an appropriate tuncture,
Pancha's tears flowed promptly. and she
hurried into her room, followed by the
anxious and enraged parent.
Here we have invited a party for to-
night and our neighbors talk OF nothing
but Panchas beauty. and how thou hast
In San Francisco. The enyious
cats, They will come to admire and stay
10 pick thee TO pieces. Santa Maria.
They viii have little trouble in doing
that?'
ut was not my fault" sobbed Pamela,
,,ihnV said the MIXTURE WAS very Ike me.