Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-12-31

cave 10 alternative but 10 accept the
hospitality of old Mamma, as the rail-
road men call her." And my pleasant
acquaintance of an hour or so led me to
the small entrance of hut matched
with tules. The little mud structure
was built against the face of hill.
There were birdcages, filed with va
riety OF beautiful birds, and such other
evidences Of civilization az goat. n
aarbcy and jardinieres of flowers; yet
the habitation belonged to the age Of
the cave dwellers, decided, as 7
CROPPED my way apparently into the
bowels of the earth.
After few moments my eyes grew
accustomed to the half-lght, and /
could see quite well.
"Wow-wow-wow," growled a heavy
bass voice from the inner room. The
words are indistinguishable.
"What deep bass voice that man
has," said, innocently. mexican men
as n rule have such light voices"
"That's not man, it's Augustinita,"
replied my friend.
1 am acquainted with that pleasant
little custom of Mexico which holds
to childhood's tender diminutives long
nfter old age has fallen on one. Still, ]
confess, Augustinita-which would be
"dear little Gussie" in English--was a
slight shock. She was of huge bulk,
and her old face was like withered
brown apple for wrinkles, but her eyes
were as bright as stars in tropic sky
and she had on that old countenance
a most shrewd expression.
Augustlnita delivered our orders to
some one in the further cave-I cannot
call 1t room-in her rumbling bass
pu. her long brown cheroot back in her
mouth, and waddled behind mat made
from reeds and hung from the ceiling
She brought out clean, white cloth
which she spread with care, and on tina,
put some American plates and cups
and Guadalaiara water-bottle l sal
on long bench, drawn close to the
table, watching the old woman.
II want you to take good look n,
Manuela when she comes in; she is
lutte a belle with the men who ca!
here" said my friend, who had told me
his name was Stacy.
Manucla came in and went out again
ut that moment. was almost startled
by her face. "Why, she's a beauty" ]
said.
she has good figure" said my com.
panion, with assumed indifference
but you get straight look at her and
you won't think her such beauty"
III long, red braids, soft, brown skin
and limpid, gray eyes can make beauty
then was Manuela beautiful. On closer
examination, however, her face lost
much of its beauty, so coarse was heI
red mouth and so hard and bold hei
expression.
She switched her skirts and put her
hands on her hips and her head to one
side, after fashion / had known but
not loved well in time gone by.
u could weep for very Inconsistencies
she is so like the waiter-girls in the
frontier towns, If she had more bang
and bustle," said.
After looking at his watch, my com
panion said: 1--WE have yet an hour tc
wait. I'll tell you about Manuela's
elopement."
So, while eating calabassas, chile cor
carne, and frijoles fritos with "Olt
Mamma" sitting in the corner, her gilt
tering eyes the only live thing about
her, with Manuela flirting in and out
bringing the highly-seasoned Mexican
dishes and bestowing soft, furtivt
smiles on my comrade, heard of the
clopement of Manuela.
"Branscombe, one of the men wht
used to eat here, fell in love with Manu-
elias red brnids and buxom figure. II
was reciprocated by her; but Oldham