The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-02-26

kSSA was coming down
IF +: &: E; :: :; :: !; !; +: i:
carone ball, kthat
her per6dy was discovered.
A dog of barber, and an Ameri-
can! That he was barber out at the
grand new Hotel del Monte mat
tered not to Por6rio. Enough that
he was barber-and an American.
Por6rio remembered too we'll the ef-
feet Of his remonstrances with 'Chona.
1t was in a moment when she was not
dancing like mad-for 'Chona was a
belle. More eggshells than she could
count had been broken upon her
head, and her ink-black braids were
fairly crushed with the red and gold
and green tinsel. But Porfrio had
spoken to her kindly. Olga, she
must not dance again with that pig
and posterity Of pigs. And 'Chona
had merely smiled and shrugged, lift
ing to her lap one Of her heavy braids
from where it trailed foot on the
floor. Even as he talked the band
struck up swinging Mexican air,
and the barber came up to claim
'Chona for the dance. Porfrio threw
his coat on the floor. II keel him
now!' he burst forth in English for
the barber's benefit. eyes, you kill
him now, before you forget" Knocked
'Chona, who knew her PorArio we'll
and off they whirled. Doubtless she
had danced with this beast the rest Of
the evening. At any rate Porfrio had
come away; and now, to-day, he saw
on the edge of the wharf, looking
down at the restful green depths and
then over yonder to that trim figure
picking its dainty way along the
broken and gulled street. 'Chona had
round, olive cheeks, great velvet eyes,
soft red mouth and braids of jet
hair that hung below her knees. There
were those who said that it was
coarse. Dis milo! Can one have ev-
erything?
She was not going back to the house
of Senorita Ortiz till evening. Her
way led now to her own home, lit.
tie old adobe near the beach. There
with the mother and the old grand.
mother she would sit upon the adobe
floor all day, chattering in soft Span.
ish Of what had been and what was
to be, and she did not even once look
toward the wharf.
A February evening in Monterey
is usually chilly, though too soon for
the fogs; but tonight was soft to the
cheek as bats wing. 'Chona, fit
ting across the plaza to her employ
er's house, was startled by q touch
upon her shoulder. It was Mr..
Cadgers, the barber, on nolseless feet
but not less noiseless than Por6rio's,
little way behind.
The barber's little black mustache
was waxed, his hair was parted al
most between his ,brows; and about
him hung that wonderful perfume
which is native to barber shops. On
his little white hands were gloves
and 'Chona sighed rapturously. Who
in Monterey wore gloves? It was
true that Vicente Machado had white
cotton pair; but they were for tuner.
oils. These were beautiful-such as
the grand ladies wore who drove over
from Del Monte.
In the plaza surrounded by heavy
syringas and laurestma, was a we'll
worn bench. There the two found a
seat; and not far away Por6rio took
shelter behind Towering shrub.
'Chona was telling "Meester b.
chois" Of the glories of the Senorita 8
jewels. "The Senorita Ortiz-rich?
Well, do I believe it! A chest so big,
full with diamonds and pearls and the
lofely red and green stones"
Mr.. Badgers could not be impolite
if he tried; little question at least to
show interest. "Isn't she afraid she
will be robbed?"
But 'Chona scorned the idea.
"None of us would" she said, con-
clusiveiy. "And as for the Ameri.
cans, they can not know where she
keep thees chest--it ees of q smart
place she hat it hid"
Mr.. Badgers amiably ignored the
chance to feel hurt; but he doubted if
Miss 'Chona knew this "smart place
any better than the Americans did.
1t was some time before she could
convince him that the trusted maid OF
Senorita Ortiz knew as much about
the house as the lady herself.
But time waits not even to hear Of
chests of treasure, and 'Chona must be
going. Adds! As they came in sight
OF the long, gray adobe, 'Chona gave a
little cry. ''she has gone herself to