The Negro world., 1900-03-31

separated, much the worse for wear.
but neyertheless still breathing forth
defiance and sIaughterings. Carlos
had most unaccountably disappeared
after the first two rounds and could
not now be found; pitying neighbors
escorted homeward the battered and
wailing Panehita, 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. II, 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 10 grow
very uneasy. Something must have
happened, for. no matter what was
wrong, he always came for his meals
At IL he was still missing; so, at ~,
the poor woman put on her tapalo and
went forth In search Of him.
At the Cantina del Tio Pepe she
found him, weeping bitterly in the
midst of sympathetic comrades, who
repronched 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 hearti
Two comrades carried hOmeward the
incnpacitated Carlos, with Dona An
topia 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
IL 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 bullhghter
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 adorcd Antonia. Had he not
sworn IL 10 them many n time and
oft? And was II his fault II infatuated
girls would make unwanted love TO
him?
Before the noisy departure Of the
toreros, Dona Antonia's plans for ven
Reanee had been completed. When she
went TO sleep that night she said sew
eral padre nuehtros 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
~ 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 n consideration, what she
should do with that graceless Panchita.
Madre Maria lived in n small, dark,
smelly tenement far out. Here Dona
Antonia found her at dawn, and into
the sympathetic ear OF the shriyeled
old woman she unfolded her tale Of
woe, while Mudre Maria smoked away
steadily at her cigar stub, nodding her
white head at intervals as she listened.
Goodi Thea what the nina wanted
was cosita--a small charm. that is
To say-~for the shameless panchitn?
Something not dangerous, the nina un-
derstood; merely n little thing that
would. after taking IL, cause her TO
lose any love for Don Carlos7 Ale, but
II would be easy! And only a matter
OF Ave days at that; II the nina would
listen, paying 20 her pobre madre first.
the small number of eight reales, she
would tell her what to do.
Half an hour later. with a wee bot
tie of black iuid In her pocket, and
a thin, black chicken mufiied up in
her rebozo, nona Antonla 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 Made Maria had cost $3.50.
Most assuredly II was old Maria's
day" Hardly was the broad back
OF DonA Antonia turned than another
client appeared upon the scene, also
bcspeakinR Adtice aud mild charm
that would destroy the love of rival
woman. In the same manner did
Madre Maria advise the second appli-
cant less a person than Panehita
selling her. in turn. some white fluid
and an attenuated white chicken. the
mate OF the Hack one sold 10 Dona
Antonia. "0f a truth did the chicken
come somewhat high" the old witch
had stated TO each applicant. "but fig
ure TO yourself, nina mia. that II is
n charmed one. wherein great power
lies, and II has moreover eaten for
weeks only charmed food given Il by
the hand Of YOUR Madre Marial" Az
a fact, both chickens had been stolen
by mendacious Maria In the dark of
last nights moon--bat no matter!
So panchita. her mind at ease. and
also believing that all of her SORROWS
were now soon To be ended. hurried
joyfully home. with bottle and chicken
hidden safely in the depths OF her blue
reboxo. Meanwhile, at intervals dur
ing that entire day. ehuckles Of hearty
saA .a..st 80, 49,, :, a -. .k,.tH ;....l -.