New-York tribune., 1903-03-15
Zoe's Hz1ssar--A Venezuelan Story



round. looked hurrediy toward her elder sister.
Aercedes who was walking with her and finally
dropped her handkerchief, vanishing into the
Cathecrai before Hamilton hal time to pick it
/ UP and present it to her He slipped il up his
! coat sleeve and rejoned me with look Of
! elated triumph on his face.
Come home' he said. Il don't want to see
! any more You know that girl, Eastl2ke?"
Certainly. She is not only the best-looking
but the cleverest girl in the place. and she in
heriis a small fortune from her father, who is
! dead l am going to d party at Madame Ri
! b"ra's tonight"
! Then so. too. and you introduce me-
: With the Sehorita's permission l said.
doubtfuly Miss Zee is not always approach
! able. Size has refused half the men in VaIen-
cia, and il is said she may take the veil in
three years. when she is twenty one.
'Neycr.' he said. wrathfully. Don't be an
! ass. Eaccy" A sll like that in convent.
My dear old chap" l demonstrated, its
r"thrG TO do with me-or you
| But l felt that the scrap of lace and muslin
Ie.IilS from his sleeve giving the lie
! dir"ct even as said it And. if had had any
d0utts they would have been dspeed that
evening.
! Doe was all in white, with wide ribbon bow
! In her hair; and. usual, every man in the
room was paying homage to her, which she
3
! queen bored with her coUrtiers
| Eut when l walked up to her with Hamilton
and asked permission L" present him. was
a!nslz.! at the transformation. The color that
flashed into her cheeks Was like the pink that
tns''s the inward curve O d seaSheIl, and she
lifted her dropping eyelids and looked him
straight i'll the face.
, II she had looked at me like that-but that
would have been another story.
1t a Of mutual love first sight
t.. ; living editions of the prince and
: iii = in a fairy tale. and the only draw back
, to th immediate and orthodox conclusion Of
| living happy after wa5-want Of time For
tl'- I,rince was bound to start for England in
; fle days. and Venezuelan etiquette precluded
tn vhance OF his seeing Zoe except III the pres
e!Ive OF others.
once only that evening, when l had engaged
Mercedes in earnest conversation and Gov
cred d WhisIered colIoIuy between tha two. they
talked Tor each other and not for the whole
room.
You went to church this rornin=?' she said.
intcrrogaiively. 1t the feast OF my SISTER
patron saint, ans were there.
Il krow.' he said. in low tone. Il Si"
YOU enter. and l"ne~h 20 enter too hut felt un-
worthy. Ny OILY coisu.a1iun this-w hivh
CROPPED from ParaGS.. for my benefit
H. evidently showed h,r tn. e-" of The hand
/ rt-rct.l.f f- Stl' TlurilIE"tl, Ou t'h'-L IL W
May have il l:irk:''
May keep il until io-InorroW?' he pleaded.
| heard her say "Hush.' softly. Na,!anIe
EiE.c-l crossed thu and separated them
Tn. next morning, Hamilton insisted on go
inc IL a school where lace made and pay
ing an enormous sum for handkerchief which
was certainly I miracle OF art. l could guess
F.! its >tiil;
Late III the afternoon he announced his inten-
! ton Of staying a second night with me.
How about catching your bOat?" said.
'Ch. l shall manage that" he answered, care
lessly. He really the least bit changed
on some esca pade il Windsor. he contrived that
the fire bell OF his house" at Eton should DE
ru1.s ard Il false alarm created that covered his
detection, 50 that he got of scot free.
We rode down the Nagua road before dinner
that being the recognized time in Valencia for
seeing your friends.
At every window Of the large villas were the
fairest daughters Of the house. While to and
fro in the road beneath rode and saunt"red their
admirers l introduced Hamilton to many OF
the prettitst Ealenci4as and We went into some
os the houses and had chat and cigarette; hut
he had no eyes or thoughts for anyone but Zoe,
and when We rode past Los Angeles the Ri
t,-:as' house and she not at the window, he
WAS in despair
AS We PASSED back, however. Zoe, followed ly