The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-02


resignation to Washington and had turned over his
office to his viceconsuI. When read that letter 1
could in every line of 1t happy the scoundrel
was at having put me in a hole, and 1 could have
Wrung his neck with pleasure
"For the next three weeks those thirty-two women
came to my office every morning, and wanted to
know when they would receive their railway tickets
couldn't prevent them from entering the office,
they were American citizens and could not turn
them out, for they were women. 1 tried smoking the
worst tobacco could buy, but they didn't seem to
mind it a particle although it made half sick.
made a show of writing letters while they were In
the room, but they would keep talking about my
heartess and brutal conduct just the if they
knew that I listening to them. They worried
me so much that 1 could neither work by day nor
sleep by night They said that the hotel very
comfortable one though they rather thought that 1t
was expensive, and that they ready to stay In
Aragua all the winter in case l DELAYED to furnish
them with railway tickets to Paris There was not
the least doubt that they would keep their words and
IoresaW that unless the cholera should break out
among them, they would ruin financially, and
compel me to sneak out of Spain in disguise
"Of course, had already gone to my friend the
chief of police. and begged him to send the
out of the country He said that he would do so with
all the pleasure in the world if would certify that
they were rogues and vagabonds. Without this GER
tfcate from me- however. he said that he was power
less to act for inasmuch as the women living
at the best hotel in the town. and had every appear
ance of being perfectly respectable he could
them out Of the country without involving Spain In
a quarrel with the United States and bringing
tain ruin and disgrace upon himself L had to admit
that, although the thirty-two were worse than
the plaques of Egypt, 1 could not conscientiousy
certify that they rogues and vagabonds ana
thereupon the chief assured me that he was desc
lated but that he really could not his way to help
me- l had permitted myself to count his services
in the matter and when found that he could give
me assistance went home feeling about as a
does who is condemned to death and has been
refused pardon.
''The next night, as 1 was passing the hotel,
heard singing ought to say that by this time had
pretty well given up going out of the house in the
daytime for fear Of meeting either Of the thirytwO
women or some one Of their creditors and only
tured into the street at night stopped to listen to
the singing, and then brilliant idea struck me-
women singing the most violent sort Of revival
hymns, and when the singing stopped for bit
could hear one Of them reading aloud. 1t clear
that they were having sort Of Protestant relig
ious service, which, as 1 knew contrary to law
and eyerlastngly contrary the prejudices of the
inhabitants of Aragua. l lost time in going to
Don Diego. the good old priest 1 have mentioned.
and in telling him that thirty-two American female
heritics of the deepest dye holding Protestant
service at the hotel and unless they arrested
would probably attempt to convert every man.
woman and child In the town. But there wasn't a
grain Of comfort to be got out of Don Diego His
good old face frightened up the moment he heard
about the herecs and he said that this was the OPP
portunity he had dreamed Of for years. He had al
ways longed to convert some English American
women to the true faith, and this glorious OPP
portunity had been sent to him. He would not hear
for moment the suggestion that the women ought
to be arrested and sent out of Spain but he insisted
going instantly to the hotel and converting the en-
tire gang. And he did make the attempt; for the
next week he was with those women about half the
time and they all said he an old dear. Natural
y he didn't make the least progress in converting
them but they were so friendly with him that he
felt sure he would gather them in before very long
The next time saw him he full of gratitude to
me for having given him the opportunity to do SUCH
glorious work for his church. and he expressed the
hope that would not let the leave town until
he had baptized every of them.
Meanwhile the landlord had begun to send me
polite notes asking for small payment ON account
1 answered the first by reterating my assurance
that would never pay a single peseta but the
ceedng notes just polite and cool as ever.
The chief of police of opinion that inasmuch
as had not given the landlord, the day when he
received the women, formal notice in writing that l
would not be responsible for them 1 might be held
legally liable At any rate it the chiefs opinion
that the landlord would swear that I had verbally
promised to pay him. and that the court would prob
ably give him verdict for the full amount. besides
damages and costs. When 1 complained to the chief
that the women openly violating the law by
holding Protestant meetings at the hotel and thar
the chances that they would convert Don Diego
which would be a terrible scandal, he agreed with
that this constituted state of things which ought
to justify the expulsion of the from the
try but he said that he could take action in such
a matter except at the request of the church. and
that nasmuch Don Diego the particular pet
of the archbishop the latter would of course look
the affair through Don DegO's spectaces I tell YOU
just lOnged for the good old days of the Spanish
inqusition, and would have been willing to subscribe
literally for stakes and rewood for the benefit OF
those terrible
Towards the end of a fortnight there was a fresh
complication. One Of the women began to make love
to She said that if 1 would escort her to Paris
she would cable for enough money to pay both our
fares and to against any loss that the
of the women might put to. OF course couldn't
10 cha