The sun., 1900-12-28
INTERRUPTED BLISS.


I'm thinking of how happy we shall
be when we're married"
Isolina looks down at the floor and |
bushes.
"Do you love me?" he inquiries.
"More than my own life," replies she. !.
Dosa Severiana contemplates the low
ers, with tears of joy in her eyes.
Glow good your mother isp' whispers
Juanito to Isolina.
Mamma is an angel" whispers Isoli-
ma.
Il should like to clasp her to my
heart" says Juanito. 81 should like her
to regard me as her true and loving son."
Dona Seyeriana, who has overheard the
conversation, rises to her feet, and,
throwing the stockings aside, with emo
tion precipitates herself into Juanito's
arms, saying:
"Do not think of me as your mother
in-law. Look upon me as a loving friend,
as an affectionate sister, as
Isolina, Juanito and Dona Severiana
remain locked in each others arms, she'd
ding tears of joy.
Juanito and Isolina are eating fried
eggs out of the same plate. Each gives
the other mouthfuls alternately as though
they were babies. Dona Severiana sits
at the other side of the table and watches
them out of the corner of her eye.
do you love me?' cooes 1solina.
"With all my heart" replies Juanito.
"And you are happy?"
"Oh, ever SO happyw
"And you will never cease to care for
meF'
"N-e-v-e-rv'
Dona Severiana shifts about uneasily
| in her chair.
"Juanito," she says, suddenly address
| ing her son-in-law, Il must speak to you
in very plain terms. am her mother"
Juanito opens his eyes in alarm, and
Dona Severiana continues severely:
"These loving demonstrations are do
ing harm to Isolina. She is young and
doesn't realize what she is doing. The
neighbors have begun to criticise her un-
| favoraby."
the courage to inquire.
Admitting the fact" replies Dona Se-
veriana, with decision; admitting the
fact, it isn't at all proper for you to make
an exhibition of yourselves in the balco-
ny. Why, only this morning / watched
you kiss her % times in five minutes,
while the policeman on the corner stood
in n kind of trance and never took his
eyes off you!"
"Well?"
81 repeat, you are abusing your prerog-
atives rs husband of my daughter"
Juanito frowns. Then he eats a hot
potato in silence
Isolina whispers in his ear:
Don't be yeXed, Juanito, dear. Poor
mamma! It's only because she is so fond
of me-"
Juanito savagely takes a mouthful OF
bread and in doing so bites his finger,
Snatching his hand away in pain, it hap
pens to strike his mother-in-law's cheek.
VILLAIN" she cries, ''you have struck
mel"
Isolina tries to calm her mother. Juan
ito protests his innocence of any wrong
intention.
"He has raised his hand against me,
declares Dona Severiana.
mo, mamma, dear, it was an acci
dent" Isolina assures her.
Dona Severiana at length permits her
self to be tranquilized and seats hersel
at the table, carefully and ostentatiousl.
wrapping up her cheek in handkerchief
"Poor mammal whispers Isolina t.
her husband. "She is so good. Dom
, you think so, Juanito?"
And Juanito murmurs:
"Humw
Juanito enters in bad humor, throws
his hat and cane on the sofa and, seating
himself, takes a newspaper out Of hi
d. pocket and begins to read.
| =. e.,
herself with a lamp shade, so great is he
! absence of mind.
e "Are we going to have lunch or aren'
q we going to have lunch in this house to
! day." inquiries Juanito.
8 "Lunch will be ready in due time" an
6 nounces Dona Severiana.
= 81 wasn't talking to you"
"Juanto! Please" says Isolina in
e pleading tone.
"Let him alone. Let him alone" say
Y her mother majestically. LET him insul
: me. Let him strike me-. / shall say moth
4 ing.'
e Juanito mutters something and escape
It into the dining room, shutting the doc
s With violence after him.
: The Maid (entering)-Lunch is on til
!. table.
g Dona Severiana-Come, Isolina. Com
v and take lunch and don't worry yoursel
v about that man. He isn't worthy of an
n consideration whatever.
h Isolna-Oh, dearl
d They pass into the dining room an
u seat themselves at the table.
d Juanito (pushing back his chair)-Thi
y is unbearable!
,s Isolina-What?
Juanito-Fried eggs every day-notl
ing but fried eggs! I'll not have an
lunch at all.
Dona Severiana-So much the better.
Juanito-Hold your tongue!
Dona Severiana-I don't choose to.
te Isolina-Oh, dear, how unhappy | an
g. But, Juanito, love, stay and take lunc
0 with us, won't you?
re Juanito-No, | won't. I'm full OF frie
eggs up to my neck.
n- A minute later the slamming Of Il
&c front door announces the departure
Of Juanito.
nt Juanito makes his way to the Engli>
as cafe, and, seating himself at one of Il
tables, calls the waiter.
lh "What have you for lunch today"
le "Anything you may wish, sir" repli
ic the waiter. "Here is the bill of fare"
* Juanito looks over the bill of fare car
lt fully, and then, turning to the waite
IL says:
il Bring me first of all couple of fri,
le eggs"
Il "Withour potatoes~
is eyes, and without mother-in-lawW
"a } ErorY, tbo Cnoinch