The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-03-21

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 these cruel walls, these iron 1 bars-these barriers to freedom behind
 which you arc imprisoned, appal us.
 In America women are free" Tt is quite different here," she sighed [ again. We are never trusted out of
 sight Even now, have no doubt, some
 one is watching you, here at my win-
 dow, So close to me- I can see my
 aunts eyes now peeping at us through
 the jealousies, and as for Felipe, why, he will be mad with jealousy!"
 But what will they do to you?" | demanded.
 Do? To me? Nothing. They will
 not dare. But you-are you afraid?" q do not know why I should be; do
 you?"
 | Yes
 Well, then, do not tell me, for if you | do"
 "What?"
 "Oh. my brains might be filled with NiolOlIS OL OutIdSGQ IGldllNtS dtllittiu- | ing satisfaction. of Toledo blades wied
 ed by practiced hands, of myself lying wounded, prostrate, and all for brief moments taste of transltory bliss" | The black eyes dilated, the red lips parted, showing pearly teeth, from be- tween which she breathed a crisp ex-
 clamation: "Dios! But this is what I should have said, Beware of Felipe, my cousin. He is indeed practiced with the Toledo; he could cut you to pieces''
 Bother Cousin Felipe and his Toledo! can care for him, if he doesn't sneak up behind and stick me in the back with a Spanish cuchillo. But why be- ware?'
 Why? Ay de ni! I told you to go long minutes past. Why did you not?"
 There was but one eason--your- self"
 "Then'-she leaned forward and whispered, her breath upon my check there shall be no reason: I will with draw it." She thrust forth her hand. white slender, jeweled, and allowed me to touch the tips of her fingers with my own. The trace of smile fiickered across her face, but fin her eyes was a suggestion of troubled thoughts
 There Is something between us" I murmured You do not deny it?"
 No, I cannot" she replied. but yet it is something apart. Adios Go now!"
 DO not send me away,"I pleaded. And with a half glance over my shoul- der I added "On the other side of the grove, at the window of the house near the foot of the hill, have often seen young man standing, clnging to the hars for hours and conversing with a young woman within"
 'Yes, true" she admitted, with a pretty shake of her head and a flash of the fan as at an imaginary enemy. But he is her lover. Our customs sanction his presence there, because because he has declared his intentions. He is her novio, you see"
 Then let me be yours" I exclaimed, rushing headlong to whatever fate was to be mine; 'at least for the time being. Cannot we play at love? I can still sigh like a furnace I can say soft nothings."
 "Oh, no. no no! That would not be right
 Then there is that nameless some- thing between us as you admitted"
 Something yes" she rejoined, "but not namelessi' A sparkle of fun gleamed in her eyes: then they grow somber again. "Ah, me, but why will you not understand? I was about to tell you-to ask you-but now 1t is too late. Maria sanctissima! Look There Gut there beneath the trees is some ore lurking And it is Felipe! He has seen all. perhaps heard all or enough to compromise me. And can never ex- plain. He will never believe. Go, go, go!"
 I went. The eyes were dimmed by tears now, and their depths were not | quite unfathomable, SO I extricated my self. I bowed, as haughtily as I could under the circumstances, and re treat ed
 And it was Feli2e, out there under | the cypress trees, for ais I got abreast | him he told me so in loud voice. '"I | am Felipe!' he shouted and with one | hand humping his breast.
 "Ah," said I: glad to meet you. But you are Felipe what?"
 "Senor Don Felipe Maria Pomberoso y Garlandoso at your service, sir!"
 Glad to meet you" I again rejoined But I did not advance to shake him by | the hand, because in his right he held a long and evil-looking knife.
 T am going to kill you!' he yelled. working himself into quite respecta- ble fury. 'I might have stabbed you when you were at the window convers- ing with my fiancee, for I was just around the corner. But I forbore, sir, 
 ''So l see. And you did wrong. However, let Us argue the question. Why are you so anxious to slay me?"
 Why? Diablo! Did not hear with my own ears?'
 He did not tell me what he heard, but eaped savagely toward me.
 Halt" I shouted Stop right there!" A shrill cry issued from the window ass pulled a revolver out of ny pocket and held it in line with Don Felipe's heart. But the young. man halted in his tracks, with glittering knife upraised. "Coward!" he hissed.
 Well, no natter 1 said T care nore for my life than for your opinion. Throw away that knife. Now tell me what it was you heard that incensed ,Ou so. Perhaps 1 can explain it