The Irish standard., 1898-12-10

to buy nice new gowns, if relatives
palmed off a lot of dowdy old things
on you, four years out of style?"
4 Neither my Spanish nor her English
was perfect, but we managed to get
along very we'll indeed.
"Indeed yes, Senior Stefans; but did
tthink that men never understood how
] women feel about such matters. L
I've almost an idea"
"Yes; go on. was quite sure you
would have"
"Ah, you were quite sure?"-sus-
piciously.
eyes; that you er-would be able
to suggest something. Now, If had
we left Manila"
"Yes-?"
ED have purchased couple of the
4 finest gowns could find, and-er-"
4 '"Giyen to the senorita them, your
self7 santismal Senior Stefans, that
4 most too kind of you would be, would
II It not?"
"Good Lord, no! I've got more sense
than that, hope. I meant that I'd
Lave substituted the new gowns for
the old ones in the box; and then, don't
j you see. she'd probably never discover
how it happened"
sand you would money spend like
that for girl you did never sect A
4 woman's vestida cost much, senior. I
did Away hear that los Americanos
i were of money made, but did never
know that they were generoso."
(Here, for the first time, I thought Of
\ my $500, and began to wonder how
far they would go.) "Are all los
Americanos like that? Senior Captain
would he such thing do? Well. you
shall see that the Spanish people are
as yourselves! Could you one of the
dresses get from the box and to me
bring without being observed?"
"What! II beg your pardon. I
suppose I might; but-but what do
you-er-?"
l II wish to put It on, of course, estu-
1 pido! How may the size know I'M
less do see it? Cuantos said you
J there were in ell caja?"
4 outside clothes. You see, there were
/ quite lot Of" My face must have
teen as red as beet; it certainly felt
so.
"santisima Maria! And you-you
looked! Not at all of them?"
IL believe so. You see-er-the
rest Of the-er-things weren't quite
so bad as the gowns. In fact, the
4 lace" by this time the senorita's
g.face and neck were a delicate pink,
Z but, to my relief, she laughed until the
4 tears came in ner eyes. Your Spanish
y girl, of any class, is possessed of con-
siderable sense; she doesn't believe, for
i. Instance, that modesty consists in
thinking evil and blushing at her
thoughts.
"And ell Senior Captain, also, no
doubt? What of wretches pair you
ore, to be sure! Let me you both give
little warning. Never the senorita
let know what you have just told me;
4 If those things mine had been, you
would never forgive. Now do you at
down to my door. I will there wait
for you.''
hurried up to our quarters, where
/ Halstead was deep in the North Pa
cific Directory again, and somewhat
out of humor.
you're q nice sort Of partner to
have, must say" he growled; "leave
me to dig out dry facts for your bene-
At while you calmly appropriate the
| only available girl on the ship. But
I'll have the cinch after you go
oh ~
20 her before you leave. You wouldn't
play mean trick like that on me,
would your"
g "No, I wouldn't. Dick; honest In
Jun. You shall have her all to your
!, self for the rest of the voyage, and I'll
make her believe you're the finest man
on salt water. I've been cultivating
1.-The senorita with an object. told
her all about the box Of clothes, and
| think she'll help us; she wants me
| to bring one of the dresses below, SO
1 that she can tell some thing about the
1 eize."
''The devil she does! Between you,
you'll get me into deuce of scrape
before you're through. You'll tear
the blamed things, or smut 'em with
dDger-marks, or get EN- mixed SOS
" they won't go on regular, or some
fool thing: see II you don't"
Nonsense! She's woman, amt
she? Don't you s'pose she's ever ham
died 'em before? I'm trying to figure
The matter out SOS that pretty De
Garma girl II get something nice next
trip, If she don't this one. Besides,
the senorita only wants to look at
one of the dresses; abe didn't ask for
the rest Of the things"
"You didn't tell her we'd been 60
ing through them, did you? Oh, the
good Lord! And she didn't go below?
/ What did che sny?"
"she laughed until thought she'd
= choke. Then believe she said some
/ thing about your being q wretch;
yes, that was the word she used,
wretch You'll have TO be mighty
careful what you say to her, but it'll
probably come out oil right. I had
to got out Of 1t somehow. you see."
ooh. yes, you had to get out Of 1t. Of
\ course, and. as I was the nearest VIC
tim. my reputation suffered. Just
wait Till have my inning. with the
young lady; II don't serve you outl
BY gravy. 1ll-1'll marry you, to keep
4 you out OF further mischief"
Marry mol"
I "nxactiy; tell her you're bsne-