The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1904-05-26
The Road Mia
Choce
By SARAH CoMSTOCK
Copyright, 1903. by T. C. Mcclure

YES" 1t was entirely good tenn
pered. Therefore the other voice be.
came crosser.
whats the use primping two hours
| for that mere nobody of a Filiberto2'
ITO be sure, what is the user Can
| dida's good temper was maddening.
Her mother WAS at the remote end Of
the house, but she could see mentally
the smiling, tantaliZing face that she
knew SO we'll
Candida's mirror smiled back at her.
| 1t was a tiny mirror with a shabby
frame, but it held the lovellest and
most famous picture in all Alta Cali
fornia. The portrait was that of a
sixteen-year-old girl strongly built and
exquisitely rounded, as those Castilian
girls of old California Were-the com
pleXion pure Castilian olive without
vivid black; the hair as black as the
eyes splendid mass coiled high and
caught with a comb.
"Ah, but 1t is of use, even if Filiber-
to is mere nobody. What do you
think, lovely senorita?' she said to the
face in the mirror. The face laughed
back at her
Candles were fastened to the wall on
each side of the mirror, so that
strong light was thrown on the face
therein. Candida could watch 1t to
good advantage as it grew lovelier I'M
der her skilful touch.
A lock of hair did not suit her. She
brushed 1t, pulled it, unfastened It. re-
fastened It, finally pulled down the
whole mass of hair in a heap and be
gan coiing it all over from the begin
ming.
you're the slowest of all my girls"
fretted ler mother in the dining room.
1t made no difference to her whether
Candida was slow or not on this occa-
sion, but she was out of sorts with all
the world. She had expected that the
comandante would invite her daugh-
ter to accompany him to the fandango
tonight. She had watched in vain for
the message. She saw her match
making blighted after being brought to
n critical point
where's the girl?" growled a ter
rife voice 1t WAS that of her husband.
She's dressing"
what for, when she's going with
nobody but Yorba? She had as well
wear her working gown
"Ah, Dlos-after all our hopes!
Sonora BARRACKS wrung her fat hands.
ITS of no avail TO whimper about it.
The girls been a fool, you may count
on that, no matter what She says.
She's done something to annoy the
comandante - it's like her. stubborn
as her mother. She will reap as she
sows"
MY stubbOrnness made me marry
you" put in the sonora.
And you got better than you ever
deserved" He strobe out Of the room
grumbling like a thunderstorm.
Candida, adjusting her comb, heard
it all and smiled.
"Ah, madre mia, how blind you are
in spite Of your lynx eyes" she said
and took q note from her BOSOM
Contrary to custom, send this to
}
reread with satisfaction. For Ii Is
your answer / desire. VIII you accom-
pany me to the fandango? If not
shall go to Santa Barbara on business,
for the fandango without you would
hold no charms"
Below was what any girl in Califor-
MIA would have given her black eyes
~, o Ga Low M
mandante.
No member of the family had seen
the messenger ride up and deliver this
note to Candida. Nor had any one
seen her send back her answer which
read:
81 must beg to be excused from this
fandango, for my ankle is still weak
since Pero threw me, and l dare not
risk a dance"
Nor did any one know that she sent
another message to a certain nobody
The coast is clear. The CONAN
dante is going to Santa Barbara, 40 he
will never know that l go to the dance.
Father will let me go with you for the
once, for he thinks / have no other in
VltatlOD.
Candldas conscience shook off fibs
as n duck shakes off water. There was
not a cloud on her brow as she made
herself lovely for the ball. Her father
had given grumbling yes TO FIJI
berto's invitation. He had refused
over and over to let the girl accompany
this young man, whose fault was poy-
erty, but now pique played its part
and as he realized that the CONAN
dante was not inviting Candida after
all his promising attentions he re
solved that she shosld not be left at
home.
II don't care; take her to the dance
II you want to-" lie said to Hitherto
Yorba. Then he Went off mutteriDg
curses on the head of the CONAN
dante. They had gambled together
many time, and they had lain side