The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-03-27
SOMETHING
BETWEEN US
How a Spanish Girls Presence
Mind Saved Trouble.

too muchw
ooh, no; fancy not-for an Ameri-
can, stranger. And yet the mere
presence of a man at my window and
at this hour is compromising"
"But no one has seen me. The grove
is as silent as at midnight"
"Ah, yes" she sighed. 1T is always
silent-only the whispering Of the
wind in the branches, only the wall Of
the storm through the limbs or a 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 l 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 leveled glances shooting
straight at me over the tips of her fan.
At last:
"You are a stranger in Spain?'
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 infict
the one that she may bestow the other?
Eyes, a comparative stranger, but
have lived here long enough to like
your people, and love your language"
"Only the language? Have you found
nothing else to commendT'
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 ladies?'
"Alas. l have met so few. Like your
self, they are so closely immured In
their inaccessible dwellings that
know less Of them than l could wish.
But from the glimpses l have caught,
from the fair faces l have seen, have
concluded that it is well for me 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"
mot so, lady; not SO. They are more
truly lovers Of your sex than perhaps
the most impassioned Of your country
men, But those cruel walls. these iron
bars-these barriers to freedom-be-
hind which you are imprisoned appaH
u.s. In America women are free"
at 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 jealousyl"
"But what will they do to your de-
manded.
"Do? To me? Nothing They win
not dare But you-are you afraidT'
Il do not know why / should be; do
your
eyes"
'Wen, then, do not tell me, for If you
do''-
"WhatY'
ooh, 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 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
should have said Beware Of Felipe,
my cousin. He is indeed practiced
with the Toledo; he could cut you to
piecesw
Bother Cousin Felipe and his Tole-
do! can care for him. if he doesn't
sneak up behind and stick me in the
back with Spanish cuchillo. But why
'bewareY"
"Why? Ay de mi! l 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; 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
fickered across her face, but in her
eyes was q suggestion of troubled
thoughts.
"There is something between u.s."
murmured You do not deny it?"
mo. cannot" she replied, "but yet
it is something that will serve to keep
us forever apart. Adios. Go now"
do not send me away" pleaded
l. 81, CHI
der added. ION the other side Of the
grove. at the window of the house near
the foot of the hill. have often seen a
young man standing. clinging to the
bars for hours and conversing with a
young woman within"
Yes. true she admitted. with
pretty shake of her head and flash of
the fan rs 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; lat least for the time be-
ing Cannot we play at love? can
still sigh like a furnace. 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 nameless!' A sparkle Of fun gleam-
ed in her eyes; then they grew somber
again. "Ah, me, but why will you not
understand? l was about to tell you
to ask you-but now it is too late.
Maria sanctissima! Look! There! Out
there beneath the trees is some one
lurking. And 1t is FelipeI He has seen
all, perhaps heard all or enough to
compromise me. And l can never ex-
plain. He will never believe. Go, go,
goy
l went. The eyes were dimmed by
tears now, and their depths were not
quite unfathomable, SO extricated
myself. | bowed, as haughtily as l
could under the circumstances, and
retreated.
And 1t was Felipe. out there under
the cypress trees, for as | got abreast
him he told me SO In loud voice. Il
am Feliper' he shouted and with one
hand humping his breast.
"Ah," said I; glad to meet you. But
v-u ana EaIina whatT