The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-26
In ARGENTINA.

The visitor or new resident In the Argen-
| tine Republic will, very soon after arrival,
become inconyeniently aware that one of
the customs OF the Spanish inhabitants Is
to reverse well known proverb and rem
dor 1t thus, son no account do anything
today that can possibly be put off until to.
morrow. With natural politeness, or per-
haps to save the trouble of discussion, they
promise anything and everything for ito
day." II SO required, but the sun will set
and rise and set again before the promise
is fulfilled. He who promises thinks
"manana" spanish for "tomorrow'') will
do equally well. Why be In such hurry
Oh, these Ingles; they cannot wait. They
have no patience!
In a small camp town In the province of
Sante Fe there dwelt one Manuel Rod
riguez, a good looking fellow, according to
his kind, with sleepy, black eyes, thick
masses Of dark hair, and well built
frame He owned the principal panaderia
in the place, and, besides being baker,
carried on a small trade In shoenaking
and repairing. All these qualifications
raised him to the position of an eligible
young man, and one looked up to as de-
sirable beau by the senoritas of his own
class.
1t was the hottest hour of a very hot
day, 100 degrees in the shade, and not very
much shade either to be found in that fiat
and treeless part of the country. But Rod
rigucz had a portion of the patio well coy
cred in, and there he lounged in loose at
tire, drinking mate-the tea of the coun-
try-before taking his usual siesta. He
would take long rest; true, there were
those shoes Of the senora's promised for to-
day, and still nfnished-but-there would
be tomorrow-"m anana''-hi eyes closed,
his head fell back-and Manuel Rodriguez
was In the land Of dreams.
He was not allowed to remain there
long. Scarcely had he begun nice com
Portable snore when there resounded in
the still air loud clapping of hands. A
man on horseback thus announced himself
in the usual fashion at the door. Both he
and his horse were jaded with the heat
and covered with dust. A second clGpping
producing no effect, the man, mnttering
impatiently, alightcd and knocked on the
closed shutters. A voice WINS heard within,
and presently there appeared, from behind
the house, youth, who inquired of the
newcomer what he wanted.
"1be MASTER" was the reply.
But the master is asleep, senior, said
the hoy,
"Then wake him." exclaimed the
stranger "and tell him to come quickly"
Rodriguez, already awakened by the
noise, rose from his chair, stretched him
self, yawned and very leisurely opened the
doors, greeting his customer with a 'Bue-
nos tardes" Responding in like manner,
the stranger held out a foot to show the
plight he was in, the sole of his shoe hay
ing parted company from the upper leather,
revealing considerable portion of the
wearer's sock. He requested Rodriguez to
repair the shoe while he rested and tlined
at the nearest restaurant, promising to
send for it toward sunset before resuming
his journey.
'This is q small order to be reused from
ones necessary rest for" Rodriguez
thought but he was too sleepy for any
thing but IN asserting "buenos." So tho
stranger, placing his now shoeless foot in
the stirrup, thanked him and rode away.
Rodriguez closed the doors, threw the
shoe into On inner wOrkrOom, returned to
his chair, resumed his slumbers, and this
time enjoyed them undisturbed.
The strange senior was kindly enter
tanned at the restaurant, supplied with
slippers, refreshed with bath, and his
dusty clothes shaken and brushed After
partaking of the inevitable mate and en-
joying q short siesta he was now dining,
previous to resuming his journey. A boy
was now dispatched for the shoe, with gen.
erous payment for the repair
"Ah, senor," said the mistress of the
house, "if it is that lazy Rodriguez you
have left your shoe with, it will not yet DO |
done"
mot doner' he exclaimed. "But it |
must be done, or what shall do?"
"Quien sabes" said the woman, with |
her soft lisp and sympathizing shake of |
her head. The Roy returned without the |
shoe, reporting Rodriguez would do it to-
morrow. This made the senior very angry,
and the boy was sent q second time to say
he must have it, however roughly stitched,
and he would wait one hour longer for it. !
But the answer came that Rodriguez was
going to dine, his man was drunk and un-
able to work, and therefore the shoe could
not be repaired until the morrow. Tho
senior had better stay all night.
1t is impossible" said the senior, who
was now in great rago, and, ordering his
horse to be brought, he rode off to see what
ne could do in the matter. Rodriguez took
It very coolly when asked the reason of the
lelay, saying he had been "indisposed,
which was perfectly true In one sense and
he was now going to ride out in the camp
It was too late to work.
But, said the stranger in despairing
'oice, "it is time started. What am to
loP'
"Quien sabe?" said Rodriguez uncon-
ernedly, with shrug of his shoulders.
The stranger took a good look at him,
md without another word rode away, NUT
ering to himself, however: IN make you
'ay for this, my fine fellow You'll see
ne again before many 'mananas' if all
.oes we'll"
The mistress of the restaurant found q
alf worn pair of shoes which fitted the
enor, and for which-his good temper be-
ng restored-she received ample remuner-
ton. Then, after paying for his own re-
reshment and not forgetting that of the
orse, he left the place. Outside the little
OWN he drew In rein, turning round,
Used his hand in the direction from which
@ had come, saying: A good omen. 9th
r mems shoesl Aha, it Is very good
dios hasta luego" (until we meet again.
The last train passing through this little
'wn the same night brought the resident
ldge, who had been absent few days.
70 was somewhat agitated and made in :
ant inquiries concerning man whose
'scription answered exactly to that of the
'oeless stranger, and whom he was most
lxious to seize and imprison. He sent
gilantes to all the restaurants, and on
eir return, hearing that such a person