The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-07-31
A YucATAN GIRL.

II was a warm day in Izamal (Yuea-
| tam, an old city that was famous for
| its temples and miraculous images long
| before the birth OF Columbus. The guitar
Isl was stili delighting d group of ad-
hiring friends when the solemn tones OF
a church bell brought her suddenly TO her
feet. Trusting the instrument into the
| first hand extended. she exclaimed:
i Come along. Let US ali go to mass"
! A harefeoted Indian maid clad in white
| muslin hurried forward, bringing back
| lace mantillas. Lolita, her hostess, and
various other guests draped these grace
/ fully about their heads. but AZ ance
| started for the great temple near by.
! Crowds had fiockcd thither from al d.
rectiOns since o'clock in the morning.
| Tor the annual fair was being held n
| honor of that highly veneTated image,
| Our Lady OF Izamal No sooner was the
last mass over than every one-the upper
| classes IN gay attire and the Indians in
/ the immaculate white raiment always
worn by them-thronged TO the bull ring,
a temporary structure occupying the cen
| tral part Of the great plaza
The entertainment was by no means
| exciting, much less savage, for no man
or horse was injured end the bulls came
to their end less painfully than would
have been the case in the slaughter house.
Lolita cheeks were flushed TO q rosy
tint as she futtered her fan or white
ostrich feathers and shouted braves in
chorus with the audience.
II was at this moment that Pablo first
| caught sight of her pink dress. black
hair and white feathers, and decided
without hesitation that she was the most
adorable OF her sex Nor did he change
his opinion when she passed close TO him
on her way cut, where he had carefully
chosen his post of observation. But, of
course, she did not see or know of him,
and it happened that he lived in Merida,
west of Izamal, while she resided at
Nalladolid, to the east. Then, too, Pablo
learned upon inquiry that the girl he had
admired was the daughter Of d rich plan
| ter while he himself was nothing but a
poor mechanic, so with a sigh he endeav-
ored TO dismiss her image from his mind.
That afternoon several guests were enjoy
ing tropical fruits in the large parlor
of their hospitaole host when Lolita
danced into the room, her hands extend
ed to display some SIC gold pieces, gilt
tering in her small palms.
Just Look she exclaimed, with child
ish delight, papa has given these to me
to play with
DO you gamble, senorita?" some one
ventured TO ask, having been assured that
| her father was an incorrigible game
ster.
Not l." she laughed 81 shall keep
these, although he told me to try my luck.
| Papa squandeTs more than enough every
fair time. One gambler is all our family
can afford
This remark was characteristic of Lo-
lita, who was a somewhat practical lit
tie body, for it was notorious that every
year Don Carlos lost in few nights the
profits of his finest hacienda, where hemp
and sugarcane grew abundantIy. Each
time this happened, and friends expressed
-
his shoulders, raised his eyebrows and
petulantly exclaimed: ''WeIl. well. San
Jose viii give me as much again" San
Jose was his estate where hundreds Of
Indians toiled TO amass the gold he
scattered. The fair was not yet over
when Lolita, quite unconscious that she
was enshrined in Pablo's heart, started
for home with her father.
81 always sit by the driver" Lolita
announced as she took that place.
Having bidden goodbye TO his friends.
Don Carlos stretched himself at full
length on the mattress, explaining as he
did so, 4 always sleep while on the
road"
Il prefer being here" Lolita wrote to
her friends in the city of Valladolid I'VE
have two carriages of our own TO drive
about the city, and 1 have a new piano
and the very best teacher; we can have
boy at the theater, and when carnival
comes round won't it be delightful
Furthermore, an excellent band of mu-
sic played every Thursday and Sunday
evening in the great square, and many
festas were celebrated during each year
This was how the susceptible Pablo again
| discovered the one he had been unable 10
forget,
For while Lolita was a very enthu-
siastic student of music, spending many
hours each day at her piano, but by and
by the Senorita became noticeably pen
sive, neglected her studies. and spent
much OF her time swinging in the ham
mock Of silky pita, frequently lighting
one of those small cigarettes that We're
burnt out after three whiffs, and never
INDUCED in outside OF her private apart
ments. Pablo had somehow managed to
find an opportunity, and had boldly ven
tured TO plead his cause; the attraction
proved to be mutual, and now Lolita was
really in love.
| But alas, she had bestowed her heart
upon an impossible party, according 10
/ her father, who said, with more frmness
than ne had ever used in addressing his
( idolized daughter, $40, Lolita, I viii not
hear Of it; you shah not marry this car
| penter with my consent, and if ] learn
| Of any meeting between you / shall be
| obliged to send you back to Valladolid.'
Carpenter, indeed the young lady had
( exclaimed with some indignation. Well.
/ the poor sutton was in fact only a cabinet
maker, entirely dependent upon the work
I Of his hands. To her bosom friend Lolita
| uRburdened her heart.
Papa has always gTatifed nay whims,
/ so I VIII not Go anything 10 veN him; yet
! it is very cruel TO forbid me to see Pablo
at all 1 must send word 70 him that
J he is not even 10 approach the windows.
for papa made me promise this; but 1
] III
| other man"
She was tremulous with agitation. and
a ring she was trihing with slipped of
| and dropped at her feet as she sat there
/ in the hammock. As she leaned forward
( 10 regain this j single blossom Of tube
rose fen from her hair; this too, she
picked up and replaced, for il was fancy
/ of hers 10 always have one little bios
/ som of that flower pertaining her dark
! tresses. There was Q slight GuiveTllg Of
me pretty mouth. but further emotion
/ was suppressed and = cigarette called 10
/ the rescue. Through her open door she
1 saw the Coachman crossing the interior
/ court. which was shaded by tropical fruit
( trees. Ramon" she called. you viii
/ have my carriage ready az O clock
/ send Petroua 70 me
Petrona aided her mistress to prepare
! for the outing ard wondered how anyone,
/ as fortunate a. she. could be 50 - tulanJ
During tire drive Lolita caught sight ~
/ Pablo seated in the doorway q his hum
| he doraf-He She loked straight before
1 her. remarking 20 her coHp anton, Il
ana keeping ms aord to papa IS = be
/ were here with me- Pablo ought not u
I mind. Tor he must know ] an seeing and
{ thinking II hl1l-
/ As I.olita-s term ~ probation proved 70
/ BE- a long enc she found e WeT - the
second ear 10 notify nef csrDe ltsr that
I her ancetfor was unchansad. athoGEh