Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1901-09-07
SOMETHING
BETWEEN US
How Spanish Girls Presence Of
Mind Saved Trouble.

"Oh, no; Fancy motor an Amerl
can, a stranger. And yet the mer'
presence Of a man at my window anC
at this hour Is compromising"
"But no one has seen me. The grove
Is as silent as at midnight"
"Ah, yes," she sighed. ''It is always
| Silent only the whispering of the
wind in the branches, only the wall Of
the storm through the limbs or a bird
voice, but no human sound comes te
my ears. All day long sit here and
sometimes all the night, while my
heart goes out, out, and long fol
wings to fly away after it."
"But would you fly with meY
She regarded me q moment curiously
| silently, with what seemed to me q
melting tenderness IN her melancholy
eyes, the leveled glances shooting
straight at me over the tips Of her fan
AT last: ----,..r.az&sse,-..-~
"YoG are stranger in SpainT
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 infict
the one that she may bestow the other?
Eyes, a comparative stranger, but l
have lived here long enough to like
your people, and love your language"
"Only the language2 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 ladiesY
"Alas, / have met so few. Like your
self, they are so closely immured in
their inaccessible dwellings that
know less Of them than 1 could wish.
But from the glimpses have caught,
from the fair faces have seen, have
concluded that it is well for me do
not know them better"
"Ah, then you must be woman
hater. Ny 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 impassioned Of your country
men. But those cruel walls, these iron
bars-these barriers to freedom-be-
hind which you are imprisoned appaN
us. In America women are Free"
''It is quite different here" she sigh
ed again. eve are never trusted out
Of sight. Even now, have no doubt,
some one is watching. you, here at my
window, so close to me. l can see my
aunt's eyes now peeping at us through
the jalousies, and as for Felipe, why,
he will be mad with jealousy!''
'But what will they do to your I de-
manded.
"Do? To me? Nothing. They win
not dare. But you-are you afraid?'
Il do not know why should be; do
your
eyes"
"Wen, then, do not tell me, for If you
do''-
"WhatT"
ooh, my brain might be filed with
visions Of outraged relatives demand
ing satisfaction, Of Toledo blades WELD
ed by practiced hands, Of myself lying
wounded, PROSTATE, and all for brief
moments taste Of transitory bliss"
The black eyes dilated, the red 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 practiced
with the Toledo; he could cut you to
pieces!
Bother Cousin Felipe and his Tole-
do! I can care for him, If he doesn't
sneak up behind and stick me in the
back with Spanish cuchillo. But why
why? Ay de mi! / told you to go
long minutes past. Why did you not7" |
There was but one reason-your-
SELF"
''Then"-she leaned forward and
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 fingers
with my own. The trace of smile
dickered across her. face, but in her
eyes was a suggestion Of troubled
thoughts.
"rhere is something between us, !" l
nurmured lyon do not deny tit"
"No, cannot" she replied, "but yet
t is something that will serve to keep
rs forever apart. Adios. Go nowg'
do not send me away" pleaded.
And with half glance over my shout
Ter / added, ION the other side Of the
grove, at the window of the house near
he foot Of the hill, have often seen
7oung man standing, clinging to the
,ars for hours and conversing with a
'oung woman within"
! Eyes, true" she admitted. with a
'retty shake of her head and a fash Of
he fan as at an imaginary enemy.
But he is her lover. Our customs
auction his presence there, because
because he has declared his intentions.
lie is her novio, you see."
Then let me be yours exclaimed,
ushing headlong to whatever fate was
o be mine; ''at least for the time be-
ng, Cannot we play at love? can