The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-02-13
IN ARGENTINA.


The visiSor or new resident In the Argen-
tine Republic will, very soon after arrival,
become inconvcniently aware that one Of
the customs of the Spanish inhabitants Is
to reverse well known proverb and rem
der 1t thus, "On no account do anything
today that can possibly be put of until to-
morrow" With natural politeness, or per-
haps to save the trouble Of discussion, they
promise anything and everything for "to-
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 hurrys
Oh, these Ingles; they cannot wait. They
have no patiencei
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 shoemaking
and repairing. All these qualifications
raised him to the position of an eligible
young man, and one looked up to as de-
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
riguez had a portion of the patio well COW
cred in, and there he lounged in loose at
tire, drinking matc-the tea of the coun-
try-before taking his usual siesta. He
would take a long rest; true, there were
those shoes of the senora's promised for to-
day, and still nfinishcd--but-there would
be tomorrow manana"-his eyes closed,
his head fell back-and Manuel Rodriguez
was In the land of dreams.
He was net allowed to remain there
long. Scarcely had he begun nice corr
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 clappine
producing no effect, the man, muttering
impatiently, alighted and knocked on the
closed shutters. A voice was heard within,
and presently there appeared, from behind
the house, youth, who inquired of the
newcomer what he wanted.
"The master" was the reply.
"But the master Is asleep, senior, F" said
the boy.
"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 "Bue.
nos tardes" Responding In like manner,
the stranger held out foot to show the
plight he was in, the sole of his shoe hav.
ing parted company from the upper leather,
revealing a considerable portion of the
wearer's sock. He requested Rodriguez to
repair the shoe while he rested and dined
at the nearest restaurant, promising to
send for it toward sunset before resuming
his journey.
"This is small order to be reused from
ones necessary rest for" Rodriguez
thought, but he was too sleepy for any.
thing but an asserting "buenOs." SO the
stranger, placing his now shoeless foot in
the stirrup, thanked him and rode away.
Rodriguez closed the doors, threw the
shoe into an inner workroom, returned to
his chair, resumed his slumbers, and this
time enjoyed them undisturbed.
The strange senior was kindly enter
tained at the restaurant, supplied with
slippers, refreshed with a bath, and his
dusty clothes shaken and brushed. After
partaking of the inevitable mate and en-
joying 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 be
done"
"Not done!" he exclaimed "But it
must be done, or what shall do?''
"Quien sabct' said the woman, with
her soft lisp and a sympathizing shake of
her head The boy returned without the
shoe, reporting Rodriguez would do it to-
morrow. This made the senior very angry,
and the boy was sent 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
senior had better stay all night
"It Is impossible" said the senior, who
was now i'm great rage, and, ordering his
horse to be brought, he rode off to see what
he could do in the matter. Rodriguez took
il very coolly when asked the reason of the
delay saying he had been "indisposed,
which was perfectly true in one sense, and
he was now going to ride out in the camp.
1t was too late to work.
but, said the stranger i'm n desmiring
voice, cit Is time started. What am tn
do?"
"Quien sabe!' said Rodriguez uncon-
cernedly, with shrug Of his shoulders
The stranger took good look at hi. .,
and without another word rode away, NUT
tering tn himself, however: I'm make you
pay for this, my fine fellow. Youll sec
me again before many 'mananas' IL all
goes well. :"
The mistress of the restaurant found n
half worn pcir of shoes which fitted the
senor, and for which--his good temper be-
ing rcstored--she received ample rcmuncr-
alton. Then after paying for his own re
freshmcnt and not forgetting that of tn
horse, nc left the place. Outside the little
town he drew in rein, turning round,