Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1897-01-28
A QUEER ELOPEMENT.

to-a peon hut However, Augustinita
will always give you a cup Of excellent
coffee. And when the trains are late III
either direction, you have no alternative
but to accept the hospitality Of odd
mamma, as the railroad 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 n hill. There were birdcages filled
with variety of beautiful birds and
such other evidences Of civilization as a
goat, turkey and jardinieres of flow
ers, yet the ha5itatlon belonged to the
age of tho cave jewellers, decided, as
CROPPED my way apparently into the bow
els OF the earth
After few moments my eyes grew
accustomed to the half light, and ! could
see quite well.
"Wow- WOW wowr' growled % heavy
bass voice from tho inner room The
words were indistinguiShable
"What deep voice that man has''
said innocently. Mexican men, as a
rule, have such light voices!"
CHATS not man; it's Augusta
nita, replied my friend.
/ am acquainted with that pleasant
little custom of Mexico which holds to
childhood 5 tender diminutives long aft
er old age has fallen on one Still,
confess Augustinita--which would be
"dear little Gussie' in English-was a
slight shock. She was of hlge 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 most
shrewd expression.
Augustinita delivered our orders to
some one III the farther cave-I cannot
call it a room-in her rumbling bass,
put her long, brown cheroot back in her
mouth and wadded behind mat made
from reeds hung from the ceiling.
She brought out clean, white cloth,
which she spread with care, and on that
put some American plates and cups and
Guadalajara water bottle. / sat on
long bench drawn close TO the table,
watching the old woman
II want you to take good look al
Manuela when she comes in She is
quite belle with the men who eat
here, said my friend, who had told me
his name was Stacey.
Manuela came in and went out again
that moment. | was almost startled by
her face. why, she's beauty" l
said.
''She has good figure, " said my
I
but you get q straight look at her, and
you won't think her such beauty
If 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 her
red mouth and So hard and bold her ex-
preston.
She switched her skirts and put her
hands on her hips and her head to one
side, after fashion l had known but
not loved we'll in time gone by
II could weep for very home sick
ness, she is so like the waiter girls in
the frontier towns, if she had more bang
and hustle, - | said.
Mr.. Stacey smiled.
. mean more slap and dash. She is
so quiet, exclaimed hurriedly. seeing |
the construction he was putting on
bang and hustle"
After looking at his watch my com
panion said: I'VE have yet an hour to |
wait. III tell You about Manuela's .
slopement. "
So, while eating calabassas. chile con /
oarne and frijoles fritos with "old !
mamma sitting in the corner, her gilt !
tering eyes tho only live thing about her, /
with Manaela lirting in and out, bring
ing the highly seasoned Mexican dishes
and besto ing soft, furtive smiles on
my comr. lie, / heard of the elopement
f Manulla.
BrauSooni'. one Of the men who
used TO eat h fell in love with Man
uela's req hr I. aud buxom figure. It
was rcciiroc by her, but old NAM
MA haitI hi and never winked her
little rattle e eyes when be was
round Re a rough sort of fellow,
and &c was had wife or so and a
LOT Of chLa p in the States, but az
that cuts uc here in Me5iuO be kept
night cu II love to Munuela lie
was grsat!. loyed by Augustinita,
VIM was the fore and would not
ei'-. hars SO one night he got the
Bfl 20 Teu with him on soU,h
pound tee Qlcar vehicle for az
l1ai uHt. light trainl
Augusta. reached the station
In7i as the n pulled out. She was
Almost ttrte s With rage and went
",s E aga tht platform alling on
-ads tlE iztauca
Ir.a 5e@l tIme aut
E4. operator advice, aua
~ ...a EF lnt tae uusy way 10 catch