Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-01-05
CHAPTER ".

Senorita PalaOoS asked me at
breakfast if 1 could play aceompani-
ments on the piano, explaining that
she had brought number of songs
and wished to try them. This seemed
a favorable opportunity for putting
my plan into execution, so we two
made a forenoon of it, much to Hal
stead's disgust, for he was more than
c little interested in the senorita him
self.
After lunch we had our chairs taken
10 a secluded corner of the after deck,
under the awning, and when our ac-
quaintance had reached sufficiently
confidential point-friendships ripen
very rapidly in the tropics, particular
" at seal told her of the costume af
fair, showing her the photograph as l
did so. She was Immediately inter
csted and sympathetic. But presently
her manner changed little. She asked
me, curiously, if l were very fond of
Senorita Dorotea.
Fond of her!" I exclaimed. in sur
prise; "why. I've never even seen the
lady. This picture was given to Capt.
Halstead by the colonel, last voyage.
never saw that until last night. But
lust put yourself in her place, Senorita
Gracia; wouldn't you think it rather
mean, when you had sent your money
to buy nice new gowns, if relatives
palmed off lot of dowdy old things
on you, four years out of style"
Neither my Spanish nor her English
was perfect, but we managed to get
along very well indeed.
Indeed yes, Senior Stefans; but did
think that men never understood how
women feel about such matters. L
I've almost an idea"
eyes; go on. l 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
only known about the matter before
we left Manila"
"Yes-?"
I'D have purchased n couple of the
finest gowns 1 could find, and-er-"
"Given to the senorita them, your
self? Santisma! Senior Stefans, that
most too kind of you would be, would
it not?"
"Good Lord, no! I've got more sense
than that, l hope. I meant that I'd
Lave substituted the new gowns for
the old ones in the box; and then, don't
you see. she'd probably never discover
how it happened"
lya
that for girl you did never see! A
woman's vestida cost much, senior. l
did alway hear that los Americanos
were of money made, but I 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 a 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 1 might; but-but what do
you-er-|"
81 wish to put it on, of course, estu-
pido! How may the size know un-
less l do see it? Cuantos said you
there were in el caja?"
"Three-of the-er-'m-well-er-
outside clothes. You see, there were
quite lot Of" My face must have
teen as red as beet; it certainly felt
so.
"Sap+iSimo Marioi And you-you
looked! Not at all of them q"
IL believe so. You see-er-the
rest of the--er-things weren't quite
so BAD rs the gowns. In fact, the
lace" BY this time the senorita's
face and neck were delicate pink,
but, to my relief, she laughed until the
tears came in ner eyes. Your Spanish