The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-05-09
MADRE MAR|A'S MAGIC
Tho Black and White Charms
That Reconciled Two Rivals.
Bye CUNNINGHAM TERRY.

rcscaditos Blancos Street of the Little
White FISH just where. 1t juts into the
little Plaza de San Pablo Is the shop of
Dona Antona. 1t is clean, tidy little
place, and iii it YOU can buy the best
cigarettes to be found in all Mexico,
you can sbe served ut all hours Of the
day with thick Spanish chocolate, hot
and pasty-for Donn Antonia is Span
ish and therefore knows how to make
delicious chocolate-also you can buy
there pins, needles, lottery tickets, ma
tive Mexican sugar in tall brown cones,
macaroni fresh from Italy, sardines,
olives, Spanish wine and many other
things, for, while the shop is small
one, 1t contains what the proprietor
proudly calls "an assortment of the
most complete and finished"
Dona Antonia herself waits on her
varied customers. All Of the common
folk in that part Of the city patronize
her, and SO she is kept very busy, with
hardly time enough to attend to her
yellow headed parrot OF to keep the
-'marlposa" light burning under the
picture of Ia Virgen which hangs on
the wall.
Things were different when Carlos,
the torero, was there-good looking,
staggering Carlos in his gaudy bull
fighters shirt and tight trousers, With
his pigtailed head surmounted by the
fiat torerO hat-but Carlos has most
cruelty been banished; not that he ever
did any work in the shop-the gods of
bullhghters forbid!-but lie ut least
was always willing to lounge in the
door or against the counter, thereby
soaring away robbers, and even on
some occasions SO far unbent his digni-
ty as to serve the chocolate to custom
ers Of his own fraternity while Dona
Antonia beamed from afar, for she
worshiped Carlos with the alteration
that only fat and homely woman of
40 can feel for n young and handsome
man.
Ever since bullaghting had gone out
In Mexico, three years before, she had
waited on Carlos hand and foot, giving
him cheerfully and lovingly from her
savings and working doubly hard in
order that he might appear gorgeous
on feast days and Sundays. His clothes
were Of the best that money could buy;
his pointed Mexican shnes were &c the
finest yellow leather; his vivid scarlet
neckties were always of satin or soft
est silk, None Of the bullfighters who
lolled on San Francisco street or In
front Of the Cantinh del Ito Pepe
smoked such long, fine, black cigars as
DID Carlos, aild Zone OF them could
boast the silver and copper coins which
always Jlngled in the pockets Of his
braided torero JACKET. In short, Carlos
was In the greatest Of luck, the very
highest Of clover, and did not realize
his blessings until 1t was too late, for
all this magniflcence and luxury were
taken away from him through his own
fault and that of Panchita.
Not that Carlos cared for pretty, CO.
quettish Panchita; not a bit, of 1t!
Carlos loved no one but his own lazy,
good looking self and nothing but his
own ease and comfort. For Dona An
tonia, WHO furnished him with the
good things of life which he SO much
cared for and appreciated, he had
kindly, fraternal regard. Being, more
over, aware of the furious temper
which lurked beneath Dom Antonia's
good nntured exterior. he had always
been careful to avoid entanglements
with younger and handsomer women,
or, at least, to keep such affairs from
her sharp and very Suspicious ears.
In the case Of Panchita, however, 1t
was q difficult matter, for she was ei-
ther foo careless or too much In love to
dis1emble. She could not or would not
refrain from casting coquettish glances
at tic buli1gnter. even when Dona An
tonia was by, and finally even took to
purchasing her thread and needles and
other supplies from Dcnn Antonia's
shop refusing there to be served by
any ona but Carlos himself.
Naturally this state OF affairs could
not last for long, and things came to q
crisis one day, when Dona Antenia
overheard Panchita addressing some
coquetttsh remarks to the torero and,
moreover, caught him In the very act
of kissing her pretty though needle
worn hands; after which there was q
scene, and very nearly battle, murder
aHd sudden death. Dona Antonia, be-
Ing q very powerful woman and, more.
over. greatly neuriated, Ecrup1ed not to
fall upon the luckiess couple tooth and
nail. Carlos managed to escape with
mis- life md d blackened eye, sghi,e
Panchita, at the end of the fray, was
minus one tooth and what seemed at
Sirst sight to be fully half OF her pretty
black hair. .S..3 is.s,
The noise Of the fight naturally at
fracted attention md si... so:.s,,.axtaaatt5
=. ere -s-s aSlSs.I EifuCn Ine worse
for wear but nevertheless still breath
fus forth defiance and slanghterings.
CarJcB hnd most unae ably disaps
peared after the first tWo rounds and |
could mot now be found. Plying neigh
oors escortad homewarii the battered
and ,wailsng RaIcnita while the equal
W. yVailing DonA Aatonia barred her
ahop door in the very face sof gaping |
customers and locked the Kitchen door |
upon herself No; not even that grace
lee Gales ah a..la , =. va. -. -. =.
ways his custom, he came homo peni- |
tent ngid entrent tsng ut supper time. |
For once Carlos should be severely |
handled and taugh sense and decent