Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1900-05-25
SOMETHING
BETWEEN Us
How a Spanish Girls Prcsenco Of
Mind Saved Trouble.


"Oh. no: | fancy not-for m Ameri.
can. a stranger. And yet the mere
presence OF a man at my window and
dt this hour Is compromising"
But no Que has seen me. The grove
IL "a silent as at midnight"
"Ah. yes" she sighed. 1T Is always
siicut-Only the whispering OF the
wind In the branches. only the wall Of
the storm through the limbs or n bird
voice. but no human sound comes to
my ears. All day long | sit here and
sometimes all the night. while my
Leart goes out. out. and | long for
wings to hy away after IT,"
But would you by with mef'
She regarded me a moment curlously,
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 SpalnT'
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 inflict
the one that she may bestow the other1
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 commendY'
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 ladiesT'
"Alas. I have met so few. Like your
self. they are so closely lmmured In
their inaccessible dwellings that l
know less Of them than | could wish.
But from the gllmpses ! have caught.
from the fair faces | have seen, ! have
concluded that 1t Is well for me | do
not know them better"
"Ah. then you must be a woman
hater. My aunt has told me that the
Americans are cold and indifferent.
She has been In Cuba"
"Not so. lady; not so. They are more
truly lovers OF your sex than perhaps
the most lmpassloned Of your country
men. But those cruel walls. these iror
bars-thesc barriers to ~freedom-be
hind which You are imprisoned appaG
as. In America women are free"
at Is quite different here" she sigh
ed again. 1--WE are never trusted on
~ sight Even now. I have no doubt
Some one is watching you. here at IN
window. so close to mr.. | can see my
aunt's eyes now pPeplng at us through
the jalous!es. and as for Felipe. why
he will be mad With jealousy"
"But what will they do to your ! de
manded.
dor To met Nothing. They will
not dare. But you-are you afraidr'
Il do not know why | should be; do
yOnY
YES"
well. then. do not tell me. for If you
do
"WhatYr
"Oh. NY brain might be filled with
Visions OF outraged relatives demand
ing satisfaction. of Toledo blades WELD
ed by practiced hands. Of myself lyini
wounded. PROSTATE. and al for a brief
moments taste OF ~transitory bliss"
The black yes dllated. the rcd lips
parted. showing pearly teeth. from be
tween which she breathed a crisp ex
clamation: 'Dios! But that is what
should have said. Beware Of Felipe
my cousin. He Is Indeed practlced
with the Toledo; he could cut you e
pieceE!'
Bother Cousin Felipe and his Toie
dol ! can care for him. II he doesn't
sneak up behind and stick me In the
back with a Spanish cuchillo. But why
'bewareY"
"Yhy7 Ay de mi! told you to q
long minutes past. Why did you notT
There was but one reason-your
self"
'Then"-she leaned forward an'
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 finger
with my own. The trace or a smilt
flckered across her face. but In he
eyes was a suggestion OF troubles
thoughts.
There is something between u.s."
murmured. "You do not deny itT
"No. | cannot" she replied, but ye
Il is something that will serve to keel
Us forever apart. AdiOs. Go nowP'
"Do not send me away" ! pleaded
And With a half glance over my shout
der I added. ION the other side Of thu
grove. az the window OF the house nea
the foot VI the hill. ! have often seen
young man standing. clInglng TO tn
bars for hours aud con gersing with
young woman within"
Eyes. true" she admitted. With
pretty shake OF her head and a dash o
the fan as at an Imaginary enemy
But be Is her lover. Our custom
sanction his presence there. because
because be has declared his intentions
He Is her novio. you see"
Then let me be yours" ! exclaimed
rushing headlong TO whatever fate wa
to be mine: 'at least for the time be
ing. Cannot we play at love? ! cal
6iI Sigh lie o. furnace can Sal
soft noihIngs."
"oh. 20. DO. DO: That would not b
ngbL"