Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-04-23
Zoe's Hussar.

that pearl of Venezulean cities,
and already the bells Of the Cathe
aral and convent were calling peo
pie to Mass.
i AS leaned out Of the easement /
sound of Gathering hoofs. smackins
whips and swearing voices made me
crane my neck to look u the road
while the barber stopped nd stared
TOO. Two riders. approaehing at .
gallop, were driving before them 9
baggage-laden mule, whilesurmount
ing the luggage lay the. muleteer,
strapped 10 the topuaost trunk.
Good heavens l., I So giving
way TO mirth; it's HalEilt56
He gave the reins to my servant,
Juan, whom / had sent down. and
dismounted. saying to his ownserv-
ant; Pitch that fellow onto the
straw here and let him sleep il of.
Our muleteer had too much liquid
refreshments on the way" he added
looking up to me, so we had to do
his work for him. You must put me
up, Eastlake. can't ride back till
tomorrow.
By this time was Fastening down
to welcome him and order breakfast
for US both.
L heard you were in the service, +"
| said, but never expected to see
you out here. What's your regi-
ment 2"
Fifth Hussars, he answered.
I'm on leave, and my brother Geor-
gle, you know, is consul at La Guai-
IA, SO | came TO have a look at him
here. Deuced lucky finding you |
What are all the bells making such
a clatter for 2"
| explained that il was the fiesta
of a saint, and that presently we
must go out and watch the process
sion to church.
There are some pretty girls in
Valencia, | assured him, and they
will be all going to Mass-'church
parade in Hyde Park isn't in it.
The senoritas wear their best and
look their best. You will lose YOUR
heart. Hamilton. There is nothing
to beat a Venezuelan belle.
| took him out presently up the
Grand Plaza. where noisy process
sion, accompanied by music and the
letting off of holy squibs, was filing
toward the Cathedral.
Following it were little knots of
Venezulean ladies, and, as we passed
them and waited just outside the
big door to see them enter, said
to Hamilton Have you any fault
to find, you captious critic ?"
l looked to see what impression
the vision was making on Hamilton,
and was struck by the intensity of
his fixed regard. though l felt no
surprise when l followed his gaze
and saw that it rested on Zoe Ribe-
ra.
Just as she passed in she glanced
round, looked hurriedly toward her
elder sister, Mercedes, rho was
walking with her, and finally drop
ped her handkerchief, vanishing
into the Cathedral before Hamilton
had time to pick it up and present
it to her. He slipped it up his coat
sleeve and reioined me with a look
OF elated triumph on his face.
Come home" he said; II don I
want to see any more. You know
that girl, Eastlake p
Certainly. She is not only the
best-looking, but the cleverest girl
in the place, and she inherits a small
fortune from her father, who is dead.
| am going to party at Madame Ri
bera's tonight.
Then l 60, too, and you intro.
duce me-"
When / walked up to her with
Hamilton and asked permission tc
present him, | was amazed at the
transformation. Thecolor that fash.
ed into her cheeks was like the pink
that tinges the inward curve of q
seashell, and she lifted her dropping
eyelids and looked him straight in
the face.
| III she had looked at me like tha,
but that would have been another
story.
Once only that evening, when
had engaged Mercedes in earnesi
conversation and so covered whis
pered colloquy between the two, they
talked for each other and not for the
whole room.
You went to church this morn
ing 2" she said, interrogatively. at
was the feast OF my sisters pasror
saint, and we were there"
II know" he said, in low tone
II saw you enter, and longed TO en-
er, too. but felt unworthy. My onl,
consolation was this-whichd droppe,
from Paradise for my benefit. /"
| He evidently showed her the edg