The Washington times., 1895-04-28

in the air tillit whizzed again he spanked
the Marquist fiery steed across the flank
with such vigor that the said fiery steed
gave one tremendous plunge and such
wild kick with his hind legs in the air that
the Marquis went heels over head in the
dirt, where he lay with his head going
around SO fast that he did not know
which direction was up.
Then the stranger rode around and
poked him gently in the ribs and asked
softly; Fair sir, would you be pleased
TO have some more OF this pleasing game?"
But the Marquis rolled over on his face
and crawIcd away OH his hands and knees
as fast as he could, evidently laboring
under the impression that there had been
an earthquake and that the mountains
in the vicinity were turning handsprings
at his expense.
Then the stranger turning to the great
pavilion. cried: "Sir Don, il you have any
other able bodied victims to a delusion that
they are the only people on earth, please
bring them aiong!"
There was a dead silence.
''Thcre don't seem to be any," said lie,
ironically.
"No." replied the Don, looking carefully
over the programme and then about the
camp in some ehagriD, there don't"
Then" said the stranger lit appears
that | am the victor in this tournament
--, .rlrti E04 ovar on iH e. -
and the winner of tie fair Franceila Do
lores."
uont know" said the Don, looking
dolbtrully at the donkey and the bakers
paddle, Il have never seen anything like
this laid down in the books or chivalric eti-
quette, and ii doesn't seem quite-that is,
not exactly-er-proper, y'know.
''Nonsense. cried the stranger; ''you
know as well as l. sir Don, that all is fair
iii love and war"
"Yes," said the Don, obviously, but
this isn't war"
at is love- though" cried the stranger,
at which Franceila gigged hystercally.
"And you can see FOR yourself that love is
given the first place in the proverb"
Yes" rej' med the Don reluctantly.
But before we begin talking of love or of
giving you my daughter, who are you?
~ cried the stranger, in a ringing
voice, snatching off his mask as he spoke,
''am-Pedro Perez
What" roared the Don, leaping TO his
feet, crimson with fury, and drawing his
sword half out of It's sheath. "A base born
pie peddler?"
Base born?" cried Pedro stoutiy. NO.
Sir Don-my family is as old as yours, and
my ancestry as good"
'What?" cried the Don-''what" being
a favorite word of his-''do you dare TO
compare your lineage with mine?"
well, should say / didi' replied Pedro,
cody. Il am direct descendant OF Adam
and Eve Does your family run any
further back than that or begin any
higher"
Ihe Don's sword dropped back into its
sheath with clank. H bit his lip. mo, 3"
said he sourly, II can't say that it does.
But he went on, snceringly, If you are
so well born, Sir Piepeddier, where are
your estates?'
II have nome" answered. Pedro.
''b3t''- IL ~
"But, catsfootl Pc Off, you beggar, you
pennilesS fraud, or I'Ii''--
Not sofast ,SirDon," cried Pedro quietly,
81 may have no estates OF my own, but
AM no beggar, nor am i penniless. l
hold"- q
"Hoid? j don't care what you holdi"
'Don't be, too sure OF that, Sir Don"
said Pedro, once more, ''for what hold
happens to be a mortgage upon your castle
and your landslp
The Don dropped into his chair as If
some one had knocked his legs out from
under him. ''How-how"-he gasped,
''h0w did you get it,"
Il was the cook who furnished your
supper last. highland the mortgage was
my payi"
The Don collapsed
And row, my dear Don," said Pedro.
affably, cooking one leg across the pommeI
of his saddle ald locking his hands about
his knee. IF you prefer, you may keep your
daughter, ia spite of the fact that love
her aud she loves me, and-I win foreclose
the mortgage tomorrow morning"
'Oh, my dear fellow" cried the Don,
changing expression like q kaleidoscope,
Il was Just joking, indeed / was. Fran
celia is yours-take her. take her, my boy
and may you be happy"
With a glad cry Pedro leaped from his
donkey's back and sprang TO Francella's
side.
"Oh, myl" she gasped, ecstatically.
"Oh, my! Now l can have all the lemon
custard pastry that l want!"
And as Pedro continued 10 hold the mort
gage they lived happily forever after.