Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-12-04
HIS SPANISH GIRL.

ting alone iD the garden at 10 O'Clock
on a fno nidwiuter might. AsIremcn-
bsrcd him. he had been a eociablc sort
OF fellow, fond Of gayety and pretty
girls. and there was a cotillcn going
on indoors ia the ballroom. IWondercd,
too, where ,iswifo was, for he had told
nc he was married.
1t was six years since I bad last eacn
hila. we had been boys together, just
ont Of college, and I had visited him
for n summer in tho southern part Of
the state, where his home had always
been and where his fumily Vas one Of
tie few ''old" ones which could right.
" lay claim to gentility Of other than
mushroom growth.
After that visit I bad gone back 70
San Francisco and to o I San Iran
cisco system Of work, wiz. the result
that my health and spirits bad stcudily
decreased, and at the end Cf these half
dozen years vas obliged to come south
for a long rest.
1 had chosen this delightral and
quiet hctol in tho hope that / might not
have my peace disturbed by any Of my
numerous acquaintance, but here, tho
first thing, cam6 down upon Us in our
retreat q crowd Of wordlings from town,
bent on dancing q cotillon. Barry had
como with them. Why, then, I repeat
cd, was he not in the ballroom, and
where was his wife? Perhaps she did
not dance. But, in that case, why was
either Of thom with the frivolous party
that wa turning u secluded spot into
bcdlmn?
For a moment longer I let my razc
follow q girl in white satin, who had
fascinated me. She was very young and
brilliant and erect, with tho face a
painter would have chosen for Olyn-
pia's, wreathed il vines and serpants.
A high, unuaturally white forehead,
with very black and very straight, thin
brovs, eyes long and flashing and cruel,
n large uosc, suggestive Of the Ecbrcw,
thin, RCD lips, continually parted in a
wild sort Of smile over wonderful tooth;
y brilliant color, a long face, black hair,
parted and twisted low On one Of the
most columnur uCclzs had ever seen.
Ii was not o beautiful face. II rcpoeo
it was far from beautiful, but it was
rarely in rcpoSc, and her laugh was tho
mott bcwildoriug thing imaginable. Ii
she had bccn the heroine OK q romance,
men would have loved and hated her to
the extent of the shedding Of a great
deal Of blood, but in lie today it is
hard cash, not woman's faces, that ac-
coinplish that. I took ono last look at
the |demouiaoal young face and then
weut to hunt up Barry.
We bad already met in the Office, but
had not had time to exchange a dozen
words. wanted to talk over old times
and new times, so, when 1 drew near
him, l scrapod my feet and coughod,
as being the approved method Of break
ing in upon tctes-a-tetes and meditation,
and when he started 1 said: "Gello!
That you, Barry?' and took a seat be-
side him on tho bench. lie offered INC q
cigar and gave me "a light, from which
! inferred 1 was not unwelcomc.
"What are you doing, incoming IN
der n pepper tree? 1t seems TO INC dane
ing's more in your line, or doesn't tho
madam dance?'
Eyes; sho dances"
"Ohr" / said, and feeling slippery
EAhlAlhf DlhAANNHNA ~ AhhAA ne 1ttsaAk
down from town tonight with the par
ty, didn't your" l asked.
Yes"
Heaps Of pretty women.
"Do o think soy ! admire your
northern women more. They have more
distinction too. Ours fade carly, be-
sides.
"Well, there's ono girl there, BY
Jove, that makes up for a country of
mediocrity-that witch Of a flirt with
the black hair and the very bare shout
ders who is dancing with Thornton. IL
l didn't happen Do have s0mo u / like
better in the city. 1 think I'd 80 IN for
her.
but she's married, my friend.
"No? Who's the proud EossesiorY'
Il am"
"You don't say2 Since when?"
"Since five years ago nearly. "
well, it's a little Late, but permit
lne to congratulate you. She issupcrh >"
"Thanks. And then we laps.d into
silence, and 1 reelected upon the facility
with which a wcll meaning man may
put his foot in &c.
You wonder 70 my not dancing,
don't you;" he said abruptly. "Well, /
used TO like it. / like itnow, bot !
found Mrs. Barry was already engaged,
50 there was nothing for mo 90 do but
10 order flowers gracefully and step out
hereto rcfect and recall.
DO you kDOw, he went on, 81 had
. romantic meeting and parting On this
spot once. right under this very tree.
II was just after / loft you. six years
ago-the meeting. had ridden out
from town on Nocturne. You remcmher
her. the little black mare? 4 was walk
ing her along a road which ran about six
feet from here, just about whore that
Bon SileDe bush is Gt was before the
days Of the hotei), when al Of o sud-
den she SHE'D at what loorod like abun-
die u old clothes under tins tree No,
no. ] WasD't thrown, aud l wasn't res.
eued by the heroipe II was not much
of . shy, Just enough 70 mako me lcok