The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-06-08
SOMETHING
BETWEEN US
How q Spanish Girls Presence Of
Mind Saved Trouble.

AT tnlS n0ur is compromising.
"But no one has seen me. The grove
Ia as silent as at midnight"
"Ah, yes" she sighed. "It 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 long for
wings to fly away after it."
"But would you fly with meT
She regarded me moment curiously,
silently, with what seemed to me a
melting tenderness In her melancholy
eyes, the leUeled glances shooting
straight ut me over the tips of her fan.
At last:
"You are a stranger IN Spainw
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 other2
Eyes, comparative stranger, but
have lived here long enough to like
"Only the language? Have you found
nothing else to commendw
"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 ladiesT
"Alas, have met SO few. Like your
ole I'm, in
their inaccessible dwellings that
know less OF them than 1 could wish.
But from the gllmpses I have caught
from the fair faces / have seen, have
concluded that 1t is well for me I do
not know them better"
"Ah, then you must be woman
hater. Ny 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 imprisoned of your country
men. But those cruel walls, these iron
bars-these barriers to freedom-be-
hind which you are imprisoned appall
us. In America women are free"
1T 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. can see my
aunt's eyes now peeping at us through
the jalousies, and as for Felipe, why.
he will be mad with jealousy"
"But what will they do to your de-
manded.
"Do? To me? Nothing. They will
not dare. But you-are you afraidY
II do not know why should be; do
your"
Eyes"
swell, 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 a brief
moments taste of transitory bliss"
The black eyes dilated, the red lips
parted, showing pearly teeth, from be-
tween which she breathed crisp ex-
clamation: "Dios! But that is what I
should have said. Beware Of Felipe,
my cousin. He Is indeed practiced
with the Toledo; he could cut you to
piecesv'
Bother Cousin Felipe and his Tole-
do! 1 can care for him, If he doesn't
sneak up behind and stick me in the
back with Spanish cuchillo. But why
'bewarep"
"Why? Ay de mi! I told you to go
long minutes past. Why did you not?"
"There was but one reason-your-
SELF"
"Then"--she leaned forward and
whispered, her breath upon my cheek
"there shall be no reason; l 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
flckered across her face, but in her
eyes was a suggestion of troubled
thoughts.
"There is something between u.s."
murmured "You do not deny itY
"No, cannot" she replied, "but yet
IL is SOluelulllS ludL Will SeINc W hccp
us forever apart. Adios. Go noww
"Do not send me away" / pleaded.
And with half glance over my Shout
der l added, "On the other side of the
grove, at the window of the house near
the foot of the hill, l have often seen a
young man standing, cllnging to the
bars for hours and conversing with a
young woman within"
Eyes, true" she admitted, with a
pretty shake of her head and 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" exclaimed,
rushing headlong to whatever fate was
to be mine; "at least for the time be-
ing. Cannot we play at love? / can
still sigh like furnace l 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, "bus
not namelessv' A sparkle Of fun gleam-
ed In her eyes; then they grew somber
again. ~Ah, me, but why will you not