The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-19
HER
TRANSFORMATION

streets were not much more than cow
paths. and its houses were mostly of
the good old pattern-adobes, one story
high, and built around a patio
In such house as this lived Manue-
la Lopez, and in one of the cowpath
streets Hurburt first met her.
Hurlburt had just come from inspec-
ton, and was on his way to take din
ner with his friends in town. He still
wore his regimentals and was a very
gorgeous sight, indeed.
Inspiration struck full upon Manue-
las brain and she dropped her rosary
From which it may be inferred that
the love of the fathers and the wisdom
of ages have taught women nothing
new in affairs of the heart.
Hurlburt, of course, was close to
Manuela when the rosary dropped. He
returned II to her. If she had not been
with a servant he might have spoken.
Then he raised his helmet and passed
on.
You expect men Of Latin and Slav
races to make fools of themselves. But
the Anglo-Saxon is such a thoroughly
logical, reasonable, headed per-
son that the bottom of the universe
drops out when he deviates from the
path of common sense. And when he
does, it is never a mere depression.
The last thing any one would have
expected of a big, quiet, rational youth,
such as was Hurlburt, was that he
should wax romantic over a street
meeting with an immature ruse to at
tract his attention. Nevertheless that
same day after luncheon he said to his
host as they sat smoking under the
ramada: who lives in the house on
the next street, where the two mock
ing bird cages hang on the wall?"
81 saw you meet her." the civilian
told him; "her name is Lopez, Manuela,
think.
1t took him two weeks, but he got
himself introduced to Senor Lopez, and
then taken to call upon him. The
senor was a we'll educated man and the
most hospitable of his hospitable race.
He made Hur1burt free of the house at
once and showed him everything it
contained save only Manuela.
You must come again, often" he
said, as they parted. Hurlburt replied
that he would, and went again in three
days. He addressed himself to Sonora
Lopez, who was handsome and well
preserved.
You have a daughter, have you not,
senora?'
Sonora Lopez understood only just so
much English as she chose. She did
not choose to understand this. She
turned her soft eyes upon her husband
and he answered for her.
1--WE have a daughter" he said, but
she is very young"
1t having thus been made obvious to
him that Manuela would not be pro-
duced by her parents. he went to an
early mass at the church, met her and
introduced himself. 1t chanced that
she was alone.
1t was but a few hundred yards to
her home, but he made the most of his
time. Manuela answered in monosyl-
tables and raised her eyes but twice.
Hurlburt's infatuation was complete.
Senor Lopez was angry. He was very
civil to the officer, but he sent the girl
to her room at once.
''I met the senorita at mass" Hurl-
. burt exclaimed.
Are you then a Catholic?" inquired
the Mexican.
NO" said Hurlburt-and determined
to pursue the policy that sages who
knew nothing of mankind tell us is in
Variably the best-'I went to the
church on purpose to meet your daugh-
ter I saw her on the street the other
day and l admired her very much.
That is why ! came to call upon you.
I thought l would see her openly under
her own roof. AS l did not l encoun-
tered her elsewhere. Now" said Hur-
burt, leaning back in his chair in an
easy pose that did not meet with the
punctilious Mexican's approval, "I
should life to ask you to be allowed to
pay my court to your daughter"
MY daughter, sir, is too young"
May I ask her age, senor?"
'She is sixteen years old"
you have told me that you married
the sonora when she was but fifteen"
THAT was in the old times. We do
not do so any more"
But I will be willing to wait for a
year, If Senorita Manuela will love
me-"
"Sir, we will talk no more concern
Ing this. My daughter is too young to
be married, and / do not wish to give
her to an American"-which was not
in the least true. Up to then it had
been his plan to do so, but his obstina-
cy was reused.
The result was one that any one,
most of all a Mexican, should have
foreseen. He sent notes to Manuela
and got them from her in return. The
notes led to meeting by night The
meetings led to infatuation. Warm.
southern nights and a soft eyed. soft
voiced girl can work mischief within
the mind of man. And q tall blond
officer, saying the first words of love
she has ever heard, can turn the head
OF any woman.
The clandestine interviews continued
for several months Then Hurlburt
made one last attempt at frankness.
He went to Senor Lopez again and re-
newed his request to be permitted to
pay his daughter court. The senior
had conceived an unreasonable and
great dislike to him and refused.
A week later they went across the
line and were married. They returned
Immediately, and had an interview
with Senior Lopez.
The Mexican was enraged. Hurlburt,
having obtained what he wanted, was
not inclined to be conciliatOry, but
Manueia and her mother patched up a
rehce. Manuela behaved beautifully,
and Hurlburt was more enamored than
ever He took her back to his home.
and for three days dreamed of life
time Of bliss.
Then Manuela decided that she had
had enough Of living on honeycomh
end that she had tired OF scented time.
With no explanation and no reason
save that she wanted to go, she went.
Her father, charmed with Hurlburt's
discontinue, refused to make her re-
turn to him, apd guarded her closely.
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