Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-06-21

orita ?" he said. Il have the pleas
ure of knowing your father.
Yes, sir, said Manuela.
It was but few hundred yards to
Ter home, but he made the most of
his time. Manuela answered his mon
osyllables and raised her eyes but
twice. Hurlburt's iHfatuation was
complete. Senior Lopez was angry.
He was very civil to the officer, but
he sent the girl to her room at once.
81 met the senorita at mass, Hurl-
burt exclaimed.
"Are you, then, Catholic ?" in
quired the Mexican.
No." said Hurlbust-and deter
mined to pursue the policy that sages
who know nothing of mankind tell us
is invariably the best-"I went to the
church on purpose to meet your
daughter. I saw her on the street the
other day y"-he refrained in mo-
ment of diplomacy from speaking Of
the dropped beads-"and l admired
her very much. That is why | came
to call upon you. thought I would
see her openly under her own roof.
AS l did not, l encountered her else
where. Now" said Hurlburt, lean
ing back in his chair in an easy pose
that did not meet with the punctil-
ious Mexican's approval. 81 should
like to ask you to be allowed to pay
my court to your daughter
Senior Lopez had no objection to
the officers suit, but he did object to
his fashion of advancing it. He en-
cased himself in perversity.
"My daughter, sir, is too young.
He rose to his feet by way Of sug-
gesting that Hurlburt would do well
to take his leave. Hurlburt rose, but
not to go.
MAY I ask her age, senor?"
"She is sixteen years old.
You have told me that you mar
ried the sonora when she was but ff-
teen"
That was in the old times. We
do not do so any more
But I will be willing to wait for a
year, if Senorita Manuela will love
me.
my daughter is too young to be mar
ried, and I do not wish to give her to
an American which was not in the
least true. Up to then it had been
his plan to do so, but his obstinacy
was reused.
The result was what any one, most
of all Mexican, should have fore
seen. Hullburt embarked upon an
intrigue. He sent notes to Manu'la,
and got them from her in return.
The notes led to meetings by night
The meetings led to infatuation.
Warm southern nights and soft
eyed, soft-voiced girl can work mis-
chief within the mind of a man. And
tall, blonde officer saying the first
words of love she has ever heard can
turn the head Of any woman.
The clandestine interviews contin-
ued for several months. Then Hurl-
burt made one last attempt at frank
ness. He went to Senior Lopez again
and renewed his request to be per-
mitted to pay his daughter court.
The senior had conceived an unreas-
enable and great dislike for him and
refused.
Whereupon Hurlburt arranged
another meeting with Manuela. He
began to realize that they were both
running terrible risks. Senor Lopez
was quite equal to killing one OF them
if they should be discovered. But he
did not suggest that to Manuela. In
stead, he asked;
"Do you love me, chiquita p
Yes, yes. Must l tell you so al
ways?'
do you love me enough to leave
your home for me?'
81 do not understand" l." The gen.
tie eyes looked into his perplszed.
"Will you marry me"
u would, but how can II" she
said. my father will not consent to
it.
"Do you love me enough to run
away from your father, to disObey
him, and go over to Mexico, across
the border, with me? We can be
married there, and then come back"
Hurlburt was an impassiye, unemo-
tional man, but his nerves were upon
fearful tention as he waited for the
answer of an irresponsible child. She
appeared to consider, and ended by
agreeing. Hurlburt was beside him