The Newtown bee., 1899-10-20

slOu tO IoHoW HIS prOpOsal. Clfldca no longer placed confidence in gypsy for tune-tellers. In order to make her for tune she resolved to have recourse to those sOnthesayers who make no use of caged birds in plying their calling.
 You, who are so delicaGe and neat" she said to Carmen. s'do not know any thing about those people who take their stand in the streets and public squares of Madrid with collectioA uf owls and oth- er birds. On paying the required fee you receive from one of the biras slip of pa- per which is drawn from a basket; and this paper is an exec lent guide in buy ing lottery ticket. It ia said that anil | mals know B1ore than human beings in | these matters, and 1t must be so." One morning Clriaca and Carmen en- l tered provision shop to ,pur chase their | supplies for Lert. The proprietor, ,think- | ing that little fl attery On his part would | hep along his business, began to pay Carmen al sorts of compliments.
 You ar 6 j. king," returned the latter to his atten pts st politeness; "show us wbat we are looking for-some good codfish."
 After examining number she turned away. "Fhose Ill not dO," she said. II see we cannot come to sn agreement today"
 "Oh," murmured the ahopkeeper, ID a low voice, ''whaG would I not give to bring about an agreement between you and mel"
 "You men are all csiolers," returned Cermen," with gracious smile. "Have- n't you any better codfi h than thatP"
 "Pardon me-" replied the man, 'I have some fish fit for wedding"
 Keep it for your own," rejoined Car. men.
 ''I have resolved never to marrv," said the shopkeeper tenderly, but I would
 orlo too gladly marry you
 s'Do you really mean it?" asked Car
 men, with a gratiied expression.
 The man now feared he might be talk
 en at his word and be arewered her quee-
 tion with an evasive reply.
 "Come,' said Cirisct, "your codfish
 are too dear. We cannot strike a bar
 gain to-day"
 "Nu," sssented Carmen, in i'll humor,
 s'let us be going" And she went out
 with the bousekeeper.
 One year, two years passed, aud no
 sutton for Garments hand presented him.
 self. One day, however, she noticed that
 a young shoemaker, who lived opposite
 often turned to look at her; and che re
 called the time when she could not enter
 his shop without his addressing he
 some compliment or other. She persuad
 ed herself it wss for her that he came ou
 so often on to tbe sidewalk. She tool
 her cl )ak, and, under pretext of going t.
 church, went down into the street. Blu
 the young man did not come near her
 She thought it was tini6ity that pre-
 vented his declaring h's love, and sh
 hoped that he would write to her. Blu f.. several days passed and no letter came
 One morning her uncle said to her n i've are going to have wedding in ou ,a neighborhood soon." ,S "Who, pray, is going to be married ,' s asked Carmen.
 'u "The tailor's daughter" was the reply y "And whom does she marry?" IT. "Our neighbor, the shoemaker" U. U. Carmen passed an hour in bitter fl 4e N tiop.
 5h Long months passed. Ciriaca emI loy o' " ed he~~, by the curate's orde r., in n sl r ing a Jbe for an image of the virgin ~ ~ For the past 30 years she had fr' quentl ,4. executed similar tasks, and she had s1 rived at the conclusion that she was de. a tined 10 make such robes to the end ( uul u her life, unless & lucky number shoul .. .a enrich her. Herce her passion for th .s lottery.
 se One day the curste, on returning froI 0h church, said to his niece: IA new rot II. muet be made for our image of tt .li mourning virgin. As C!riaca is yer a su Dusy, you might attend to it," Ill "What!" cried Carmen in anger, "yo
 also insult ne?"
 as The aood curate then under tood th'
 he had Cffanded his niece by imposin
 upon her task commonly assigned
 1ld maids, and he tried to appesSe he "0 but in vain. She went out and by chapG 4o entered little hardware shop kept by 'te young man who had been choir boy o' he church of St Sebastian, but, by re; . aon of his increasing years and size, hs h. been obliged to give up the position. FC
 of hott ho had fe ke ~ this little hardware business, and, as iS- heartily disIiked it, he sought distractio :. in paying compliments to l the womel It. young or old, handsome or ugly, wh :, chaneed to enter his shop. u, "May heaven bl ss the beautiful rose ot ' he exclaimed on seeing Car nen. "For " rose like you I would willingly go , 1 prison"
 no IA truce to your nonsense i'' returne so Carmen. ''Give me box of salphu ou matches-those u at have the stronge ne odor."
 c' "Do you want to poison yourself wit . them ?" a. ked the young man. to ''I don't know" she replied. a- "If you are unhappy" he continued ,n II " il COT sole you" oo "HoN?'
 1E Carmen began to talk with the youni re man, and becsue so engrossed that sh
 forgot all about her sulphur matches. On the next day Rufo-for that ws e. the name of the ex-choir Doy-ciosed h ee shop, and Carmen amour ced to he r uncl oI that she had lover, fine young man en we'll known in the parish of St Sebastian
 The curate made inquiries about Rufo 'R and as he heard onlJ good concernin e' him, he readily acquieaced in his niece s. matrimonisl plans "The young man, ," be said, has no occupation, but we shs nt succeed in finding him one. hope" Id Soon after this the wedding took place
 and Carmen had the satisfaction of wall oI ing the streets of Madrid on the arm o 'u her husband.
 ls' On the following day the cursts rt
 turned from church radiant. u ''I bring you glad newa," he called t ne Rufo, The bell-rirger of Santa Cruz re a a signs his place, and you shall be his sut ne cessor."
 ut sBlessed Virgin" erred Cirisca, '' m very exalted position the prediction
 fulfilled"
 ne The next instant she went out to fin ,, the old gypsey fortune-teller, in order t ,.. ask her pardon for having mistrusted he lt science, and to get lucky number fo ry the lottery at the same time.