Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-04-07

or course the post knew OF the en-
SaSement before either of the two
most Interested parties did, That was
because this happened in the good old
days, For the Salae reason though
1t can occur sometimes even now
opinions ON the match flew thick and
fast and ohScurcd the sky Of charity
They said that the second lieutenant
was making fool OF himself, which
was the only unkind remark he fell
heir to, But Rctty Jared worse She
came OF n bad strain, There were
things in the histories of both her
parents that every CNe knew and no
ono was supposed to know, Her
father was EnElish and had been n
Jockey He was the son of concert
hall singer and ma0 whose only no
hilty was his birth,
Miss Mandeville- who was more
Mexican than Spanish bore good
Castilian name which covered
multitude OF sins,
There were any 0umhor OF Manac~
villa children Younger than Betty, and
all Enthusiastically favoring their
swarthy mother. They were so dirty
that they were disgrace to the post
Rut BETTY was tidy AS to dress and
was blonde, with n fine skin and In
nocent blue eyes and rosebud mouth
II was said she looked like an Eng
fish professional beauty; but there
was 40 one to recognize the startling
likeness to the concert-hall grand
mother, She had taste for lacos,
and hosiery, and high-heeled slippers
that may have been either Spanish
or theatrical Inheritance, And she
WIS beautiful beyond a question, with
a beauty that was only skin-deep
After she had promised to marry
the second lieutenant, Betty we0t
down To Lowell to visit her aunt, who
was her mothers sister and was the
wife of Captain Locke Betty knew
that SHE would eNjoy herself more
Il the engagement were kept secret,
She could keep It quiet. because II was
in tho good old days and news travel
ed slowly and distances were great
Mrs. Locke was nothing to DO proud
of, but Betty, who detested her mother
and all of her mothers family, liked
her uncle well enough and got along
famously with him despite his tenn
per. She could herself understand
how life with O0e Of the Frnnquelos
might change naturally placid dis
position,
On the second day of her stay her
aunt took her to stay over night with
Sonora Franquelo In Tucson, Which
was the beginning.
The Franquelo family was large,
and most of Il dwelt in the one house
aG adobe with the external white
wash broken OFF In oddly shaped
pieces, and built as all adobes were
built In the good old days-one story
around II courtyard. There was moth
ing In the courtyard but chickens
and olas--brokcn and otherwise
the soil of Tucson Is not fertile. Out
side. where the narrow doorway faced
upon the street, hardly less white UNI
der the burning sun than the whitcn-
ed walls that lined II, n mocking-bird
cage OF willow hung against tho
house, with red chile stuck between
It's bars. 1t was the first time Betty
had been under the ancestral roof
Beside her grandmother, who was
more unpleasant than the aunts, there
were many cousins, male and female.
or these. two second cousins were
In love. They were Carlos and Ines
In less than ten minutes Carlos had
deserted black -browed Ines and was
languishing at Betty with his two
soft eyes. Ines was opealy wretched
Carlos openly infatuated. Betty open
ly flirting, But Carlos did not know
that.
Betty and her aunt went back Il
Lowell the next day, and the same
evening Carlos rode over to the post
to see her
There were six officers calling on
Miss Vaudeville. 80 Carlos sat npar,
and sulked. but he outstayed them all
When they had gone, after n supper
OF canned oyster stew and tamales
he drew his chair close beside thu
sofa upon which Betty was half re
clining.
IVY do you like doze ooffeeceri
better dan me?' he asked her
- don't" said Betty, they're q
bore
DO you moot, truly?"
"Of course ! don't; how could II"
Carlos was not accustomed to Bet.
TVS like. and as even those who
should have known better had be-
lleyed her because Of her round, blue
eyes, he was not to be blamed for
his faith. Would you raider talk Ia
me?"
"A great deal rather.
But dey hat staid 80 late dat !
must soon 60"
ITS not late. It's only half past
twelve. II would he too bad of you