The Van Buren press., 1900-04-07

separated, much the worse for wear,
but nevertheless still breathing forth
defiance and slaughterings. Carlos
had most unaccountably disappeared
after the first two rounds and could
not now be found pitying neighbors
escorted homeward the battered and
wailing Panchita, while the equally
wailing Dona Antonia barred her shop
door in the very face of gaping GUS
| toners and locked the kitchen door
upon herself. No, not even that grace
less Carlos should enter, il, as was al
ways his custom, he came home peni-
tent and entreating at supper time.
| For once Carlos should be severely
handled and taught sense and decent
behavior.
That was at eight o'clock. At nine
| Carlos had not yet returned; at ten
there was still no sign of him, and
Dona Antonia was beginning to grow
very uneasy. Something must have
happened, for, no matter what was
wrong, he always came for his meals.
At II he was still missing; so. at IL,
| the poor woman put on her tapalo and
| went forth in search of him.
At the Cantina del Tic Pepe she
found him, weeping bitterly in the
midst of sympathetic comrades, who
reproached the lady for her cruel
treatment of poor Carlos. Truly, she
had not seen what everyone else well
knew-that Carlos loved no one but
her. "All the world" knew that the
shameless Panchita pursued him with
| her coquetries. Fie upon Dona An
tonia to so ill-treat poor, faithful Car
los. who had been driven to drink and
threatened suicide through her hard
ness of heart!
Two comrades carried homeward the
incapacitated Carlos, with Dona An
tonia weeping remorsefully behind
| them, and sundry other toreros wink
ing and chuckling in turn behind her
back. For, while in luck, Carlos was
as generous torero as ever lived, and
II would not do, for their own sakes,
| to have Dona Antonia cut off his sup
plies. And so, as the cortege wended
| its way toward the little shop of Dona
Antonia, one shameless bullfghter
after another poured into her ear
tales of poor Carlos persecution at the
hands of Panchita. Well knew the
Virgin, they declared solemnly, that
Carlos cared for no woman but his
own adored Antonia. Had he not
sworn it to them many time ana
oft? And was it his fault if infatuated
girls would make unwanted love to
him?
Before the noisy departure of the
| toreros, Dona Antonia's plans for ven
geance had been completed. When she
went to sleep that night she said sew
eral padre nuestros before the image
of Ia Virgen and promised to burn
long and costly candles before her pic
ture every day Of the year II certain
prayers were granted. And then, wise
ly believing that God land also the Vir-
gin) helps those who help themselves,
the willy shop-keeper made her plans
for an early visit next morning to old
Madre Maria, the witch, who would
tell her. for consideration, what she
should do with that graceless Panchita.
Madre Maria lived In small, dark,
smelly tenement far out. Here Dona
| Antonia found her at dawn, and into
the sympathetic eur of the shriveled
old woman she untolded her tale OF
woe, while Madre Maria smoked away
steadily AT her cigar stub, nodding her
white head at intervals as she listened,
Good. Thea what the nina wanted
was Il cosita-a small charm, that is
to say-for the shameless Panchitn?
Something not dangerous, the nina un-
ders.ood; merely n little thing that
would, after taking IT, cause her to
lose any love for Don Carlos? Ale, but
il would be easy! And only matter
Of five days at that; II the nina would
listen, paying TO her pobre madre first
the small number of eight reales, she
would tell her what to do.
Half an hour later, with wee bot
tie of black fluid in her pocket, and
thin, blacl: chicken muflled up in
her rebozo, Dona Antonia turned to-
ward the Street of the Little White
Fish, Joy and hope once more shone
in her eyes and beamed from her fat,
red face, even though the advice and
charm of Madre Maria had cost $l,so.
Most assure3ly IL was old Mara's
day Hardly was the broad back
of Dona Antonia turned than another
client appeared upon the scene, also
bespeaking advice and n mild charm
that would destroy the love Of rival
woman. In the same manner did
Mndre Maria advise the second nppli-
cant-no less n person than PaGchita
selling her in turn, some white fluid
and an attenuated white chicken, the
mate of the llack one sold to Dona
Antonia. "Of n truth did the chicken
come somewhat high" the old witch
had stated TO each applicant, but fig
Nlf w NbulN' i''lu hi'hi 'h"' ~ ~
n charmed one, wherein great power
lies, and II has moreover eaten for
weeks only charmed food given II by
the hand OF YOUR Mudre MNrla!" As
fact, both chickens had been stolen
by mendncous Maria in the dark Of
last nights moon-bu, no matter!
So Panchta, her mind at ease, and
also believing that all of her SORROWS
were now soon TO be ended, hurried
ioyfully home, with bottle and chicken
hidden safely IN the depths of her blue
rebozo. Meanwhile, at intervals dur.
my that entire day. chuckles of hearty
and most unwonted mrth issued from
the dark room Of Madre Maria, who,
Nyhilr NOT ordinarily "A merry uprson.