Connecticut western news., 1897-03-04
HIS SPANISH GIRL.

l1lO Ol h1NIDll ulllL.
 wondered why Barry should be sit ting alone in the garden at 10 o'clock on a fine midwinter night. AS remem- bered him, he had been a sociable sort of fellow, fond of gayety and pretty girls, and there was a cotillon going on indoors in the ballroom. wondered, 100, where his wife was, for he had told me he was married.
 It was six years since I had last seen him. We had been boys together, just out of college, and I had visited him for summer in the southern part of he state, where his home had always ,een and where his family was one of he few "old" ones which could right y lay claim to gentility of other than mushroom growth.
 After that visit I had gone back to San Francisco and to truly San Fran ,isco system of work, with the result hat my health and spirits had steadily decreased, and at the end of these half oxen years was obliged to come south or long rest.
 I had chosen this delightful and luiet hotel in the hope that might not rave my peace disturbed by any of my numerous acquaintances, but here, the irst thing, came down upon us in our etreat a crowd of workings from town ,ent on dancing a cotillon. Barry had ome with them. Why, then, I repeat d, was he not in the ballroom, and where was his wifer Perhaps she did rot dance. But, in that case, why was ither of them with the frivolous party hat was turning our secluded spot into pedlam?
 For a moment longer I let my gaze ollow a girl in white satin, who had ascinated me. She was very young and rilliant and erect, with the face a ,ainter would have chosen for Olym- ,ia's, wreathed in vines and serpents.
 A high, unnaturally white forehead, with very black and very straight, thin ,rows, eyes long and flashing and cruel, large nose, suggestive of the Hebrew, hin, red lips, continually parted in wild sort of smile over wonderful teeth; brilliant color, long face, black hair, ,arted and twisted low on one of the most columnar necks I had ever seen.
 It was not beautiful face. In repose t was far from beautiful, but it was arely in repose, and her laugh was the nost bewildering thing imaginable If he had been the heroine of romance, nen would have loved and hated her to he extent of the shedding of great leal of blood, but in life today it is lard cash, not women's faces, that &C., omplish that. 1 took one last look at he demoniacal young face and then vent to hunt up Barry.
 We had already met i'll the office, but lad not had time to exchange dozen words wanted to talk over old times md new times, so, when I drew near Jim, 1 scraped my feet and coughed, s being the approved method of break ng in upon tetes- a. tetes and meditation, md when he started I said: "Hello! That you, BarTy" and took a seat be- tide him on the bench. He offered me a igar and gave me light, from which
 inferred was not unwelcome.
 What are you doing, incoming un- fer pepper tree? It seems to me danc- tng's more in your line, or doesn't the madam dancer"
 "Yes; she dances "
 "Oh" I said, and feeling slippery ground. proceeded to avoid it.. Game Town from town tonight with the par y, didn't you?" asked.
 "Yes"
 Heaps of pretty women" Do you think so? l admire your northern women more. They have more distinction too. Ours fade early, ta- sides"
 Well, there's one girl there, by love, that makes up for country of mediocrity-thatw witch of a f1irt with the black hair and the very bare shoul- iers who is dancing with Thornton. If 1 didn't happen to have some one I like better in the city, think I'd go in for her."
 But she's married, my friend"
 No? Who's the proud possessor?" "I am.''
 You don't say? Since whenp" Since five years ago nearly" l Well, it's little late, but permit ne to congratulate you. She is superb. "
 Thanks. And then we lapsed into silence. and reflected upon the facility with which well meaning man may put his foot in it.
 | You wonder at my not dancing, don't you?" he said abruptly. "Well, used to like it. like it now, but found Mrs Barry was already engaged, 30 there was nothing for me to do but to order flowers gracefully and step out hereto reflect and recall.
 Do you know" he went on, II ha6 a romantic meeting and parting on this spot once, right under this very tree It was just after I left you, six year. ago-the meeting. I had ridden ou from town on Nocturne You remember her, the little black mare? was walk ing her along road which ran about sil feet from here, just about where tha Bon Silene bush is Git was before tht days of the hotel), when all of a sud den she shied at W hat looked like a bun dle of old clothes under this tree. No no; l wasn't thSown, and 1 wasn't res cued by the heroine. It was not mucl of a shy, just enough to make me lool again at the bundle and wonder wha 1t was-it was dusk, you know-an then to notice that the bundle moved.
 "Wherefore I concluded it was woman, probably Mexican. It was woman, or a very young girl, rather and deuced pretty one-a Mexican toe I could see that, even in the twilight for her eyes gleamed in the dark as or ly Q pair of Mexican eyes can gleam and there was an added brightness, fc the eyes were wet with tears. How d