The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-19
A GENTLEMAN
OF CUBA. S#&


Dresent century, when tue quaint to
mantle town was still u part OF the
mother country. Spain, with the warm
dreamy, lndolent, yet passionate. char
acteristIc OF the parent land. The
close. narrow streets, with the gray
eooulna-walled houses" were crowded
with masks. domlnos, harleduins.
punchlneIlos and great variety of
gr5tesque DISCUSSES. ION horseback, in
cars, gigs and on foot" Guitars, man
dollns and violins made merry music
for dancing feet or voices lifted in song.
while shouts and cries and sounds less
sweet added to the general noise and
CONFUSION. All the town was out OF
doors, presenting a gay picture, bright
eyed senorltas in silk basquinas. with
lace mantllas over their graceful heads;
soldiers from the garrison with their
bright military costumes; Indian war
riors wrapped about with skins Of deer
and bear, their cars and noses decorate
ed with rings of silver and OF brass;
monks, and even the padre. Father
Crosby, in his clerical dress, talking
with Governor Copinger. tall, amIa-
BILE looking man Of some 1--WE and forty
years, who stood smiling upon the
sports of his people as a father might
look upon the pranks of his children.
Out into the plaza the maskers stream
ed, followed by a crowd Of laughing,
shouting sIght-seers.
Conspicuous among the merry-mak-
ers was a tall, mllItary-lOoklng figure
in long cloak OF the brightest red,
whose features were concealed by a
mask OF the brightest hue. The mask
seemed not so much to be taking part
IN the rioting about him as to be search
ing for some one, not yet discovered in
the crowd. Presently he halted, as
his eyes rested upon two figures seated
upon n bench at one end of the plaza,
those OF man and a woman. The
man, dark almost to swarthlness, short
and thick-set, with heavy, but good
natured, face. was putting away at a
''cigarrito," laughing and applauding
now and then as he watched the sports
before him. The woman, young, beau
4lful and dark-eyed, with plump white
shoulders that CLEANED through the
folds of the lace mantllla, which had
dropped from her shRpely head, sat be-
side him, llstless and inert. She did
not seem to enjoy the picture before
her as did her companion. for her face
wore look of discomfort, and even con-
tempt. But presently a close. observer
might have seen the Indifferent look
change to one Of keen excitement. The
small hands lying idly upon the yellow
silk pettIcoat clasped one another con-
vulslvely, and a red flush spread from
the white bosom up to the dark hair
but she spoke not a word.
The red mask caught hold Of the
sleeve Of clown who stood near him.
my good punchInello, do you not see
Pedro yonder?" pointing to the man
upon the bench. who sat laughing and
clappIng his brown hands together.
He seems to be vastly enjoying your
sport? WIN you not ask him to join
you7"
The clown turned quickly. an Iaid his
finger aside his nose. "senO. i.odrigo
concerns himself much about poor Ie-
dro's amusement" he said. with mock
humility, bowling to the ground and
domng his cap.
The red mask looked about hastily.
Speak not so loud, knave. Here Is
something for your Itching palm.' put
ting a piece Of money In the clowns
hand. See to It that Pedro is
amused.
The fellow bowed again, and presently
with a registering companion they had
their uususpectipg victim between
them.
The young woman. who had watched
the proceeding with a quickly beating
heart, scarcely turned as she heard a
passionate voice in her ear. Mariana,
mia. Come with me"
slowly she arose to her feet, and, af-
ter gIancIng hurriedly about her, fol-
lowed the red mask down dark, quiet
street, not unobseryed, however, for
pair Of very bright eyes had taken. In
the little drama 50 quietly enacted. and
a Jealous heart beat with angry, sufio-
eating throbs.
What right had AIariana to take the
man she loved from her? Was she
not betrothed to Pedro? Then why was
-, - -. ,,,tthout