The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-05-29

to her cheek.
Il wonder if that man is bringing
tear asked the mother, apparently,
of nobody in particular
began to talk to Mariquitta and
was glad when mother and daugh-
ter vanished, one after the other.
evidently in quest of the untidy
man and tea.
Then Mariquitta rose and walked
to the open door that led to the flat
roof I knew so well.
'It is hot here" she said.
We both stepped out and sat in
low chairs on the roof.
She was dressed in a neat white
dress and wore no ornaments, save
a large plainly set sapphire at her
throat. Her beauty was of the finest
Spanish type.
II am glad to have an opportuni-
ty of wishing you goodby," she
said.
Are you leaving us SO soon3"
"Yes, / do not think l like town
life, after all.
"Do you not find it lonely up
country You do not live by your
self2"
"An old friend of my mother lives
with me. She and l have no time
to be lonely, for l like to see to
everything myself. Besides, am
not always there | have been to
Europe twice since my parents died.
I went to Spain, but my fathers re-
lations are all dead"
Miss Gonzalo, D." said rather alb
ruptly, your friends will return
directly, and have a message to
deliver to you.
"Yesf' with questioning glance.
From my friend He has left me; /;
he was very sorry you-overheard; /;
he was grieved to have hurt you.
looked at her, but withdrew my
glance, amazed, for the quiet girl
beside me seemed of sudden to be
inspired with all the fire and dignity
of her fathers race.
"Grieved to have hurt me!' she
repeated slowly. "If had believed
his ardent words, if ever I could
have believed him, he might have
hurt me. But knew that he could
not mean such protestations for
more than few hours. / knew, for
1 had learned. Listen. / have had
a good education, and my father
was one of the most refined men
have ever met. / knew long ago
that was rich and thought l had
advantages even above other girls.
Ah, but did not understand My
father never brought me to this
town. was educated in a convent
at home
Then my parents died, and grad
ually l began to understand. un-
derstood that what was for others
was not for me. l might have adj
vantages, be educated and rich, but
l there would ever be one barrier that
no mans hand could raise-the bar.
rier of prejudice, of race. And l do
not blame them. But it is hard some
times, and l thought there might be
4 exceptions.
She faltered, despite the proud
curve of the lip, and l felt dimly
what my friend had won and-lost.
''There are exceptions, Miss Con
zalo!" exclaimed.
gave her my hand. She pressed
it lightly, but gently shook her
head. Mother and daughter return
ed. The father and brother, too, ap-
peared, both very dark, both very
talkative. We conversed, we drank
tea out of oddly assorted cups, and
then the untidy man escorted me
through the gaudy sitting and bare
landing, down the dark staircase,
out into the street, with it's gayly
robed homeward bound natives.
| Before leaving l had turned to
Mariquitta. "Goodby," said
"Goodby," " she had answered.
still pass the house at the corner
and look up at the roof, but have
never been inside it again. The
mother sometimes mods to me from
the top, but they claim no other ac-
quaintanceship
often remember Mariquitta and
her strange fate and think angrily
of my friend, whom have not seen
since and wonderingly of her words,
And ] do not blame them" But
when l recollect the untidy man, the
gaudy room, the white robed moth
er, Flora, the i'll assorted cups, the
Objectionable father and brother
in fact, the whole establishment-I
leave off wondering, and l, too, un-
derstand and do not blame But,
understanding with my head, there
is feeling which is still foolish
enough to whisper:
Poor girl; poor Mariquitta r..
Sketch.