Smyrna times., 1900-03-28
SOMETHING
BETWEEN US
How a Spanish Girls Presence of
Mind Saved Trouble.
s@-s-'i..s..'.s@..'.s.-t'-s..s.-s.-s..s-.s-...-.


too much?"
"Oh, no; fancy not-for an Ameri- |
can, a stranger. And yet the mere |
presence of a man at my window and |
at this hour is compromising"
But no one has seen me. The grove
is as silent as at midnight"
"Ah, yes" she sighed. 1T is always |
silent-only the whispering of the |
wind in the branches, only the wall of |
the storm through the limbs or bird
voice, but no human sound comes to
my ears. All day long l sit here and
sometimes all the night, while my
heart goes out, out. and l long for
wings to fly away after it,"
But would you fly with meY'
She regarded me a moment curiOusly,
silently, with what seemed to me a
melting tenderness in her melancholy
eyes, the leveled glances shooting
straight at me over the tips of her fan.
At last:
'YOu are a stranger in SpainY
The voice was .lOw, but clear and
vibrant. The question might imply re-
proof or pardon. perhaps both, for
what woman does not delight to inflict
the one that she may bestow the other?
'Yes, a comparative stranger, but !
have lived here long enough to like
your people, and love your language"
"Only the language? Have you found
nothing else to commendY
Indeed, yes; the climate, the
churches, the glorious ruins"
But the climate is from God; the
ruins were left us by the Moors. What
what do you think of the ladiesY
"Alas, have met so few. Like your
self, they are so closely immured in
their inaccessible dwellings that
know less of them than / could wish.
But from the glimpses l have caught,
from the fair faces l have seen. have
concluded that it is well for me | do
not know them better"
''Ah. then you must be a woman
hater My aunt has told me that the
Americans are cold and Indifferent.
She has been in Cuba"
Not so, lady; not so. They are more
truly lovers of your sex than perhaps
the most impassioned of your country
men. But those cruel walls, these iron
bars-these barriers to freedom-be-
hind which you are imprisoned appal
US. In America women are free"
'It is quite different here" she sigh
ed again. 1--WE are never trusted out
of sight. Even now. have no doubt,
some one is watching you, here at my
window. so close to me. l can see my
aunt's eyes now peeplng at us through
the jalousies, and as for Felipe, why,
he will be mad with jealousyw
"But what will they do to you?" de-
manded.
do? To me? Nothing. They will
not dare But you-are you afraid"
Il do not know why | should be; do
you?"
"Yes."
"Well. then. do not tell me, for if you
do
"What?"
"Oh. my brain might be filed with
visions of outraged relatives demand
ing satisfaction. of Toledo blades WELD
ed by practiced hands. of myself lying
wounded, PROSTATE. and all for Il brief
moments taste of transitory bliss"
The black eyes dilated. the red lips
parted. showing pearly teeth. from be
tween which she breathed n crisp eX
clamation: "DiOs. But that is what
should have said. Beware of Felipe
my cousin. He is indeed practiced
with the Toledo: he could cut you tC
pieces
Bother Cousin Felipe and his Tole
do. can care for him. if he dOesn
sneak up behind and stick me in the
back with n Spanish cuchillO. But why
'bewareT"
"Why? Ay de mi! | told you to &C
long minutes past. Why did you not?
There was but one reasOn-your
self"
"Then"-she leaned forward anC
whispered. her breath upon my cheek
there shall be no reason; will with
draw it." She thrust forth her hand
white, slender. jeweled. and allowed
me to touch the tips of her finger
with my own. The trace of smil
fickered across her face. but in he
eyes was n suggestion of troubles
thoughts.
There is something between us"
murmured. You do not deny itT'
mo, | cannot" she replied, "but ye
it is something that will serve to kee
us forever apart. Adios. Go now!'
do not send me away" ! pleaded
And with half glance over my shoul
der added, "On the other side of th
grove, at the window of the house nea
the foot of the hill, have often seen
young man standing, clinging to tn
bars for hours and conversing with
young woman within"
''Yes. true" she admitted, with
pretty shake of her head and fash 9
the fan as at an imaginary enemI
But he is her lover Our custom
y sanction his presence there, because
because he has declared his intention
He is her novio, you see."
Then let me be yours" exclaime'
rushing headlong to whatever fate wa
to be mine; "at least for the time b
ing. Cannot we play at love? | ca