Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1904-10-06

uncer her red skirt, her hair Hesniy
amounted with ~cocoanut oil, and her
eyes dancing with an unEoly JOY. l
could not help feeling that she was at
the bottom of the whole AFFAIR.
Two days before l left for Japan,
Fortuna came to me and said that she
was unable to go with us. She in
formed me that nothing but the fact
that she was 20 be a matrimonial
would have induced her to leave the
children and myself.
Whom are GU going to marry, Por-
lunar" / asked, wondering whether
Juan or Domingo were to carry on the
prize.
"A man muy rico, sonora" she de-
clared. proudly. He give me jewels
and fine casa. You see him often on
the Luneta-Simon Sebastiano." \
L gave a start of surprise. Sebas-
tiano was one of the most influential
Filipinos in Manila l simply could
not believe that ugly, understood Por-
| una could have captured his fancy.
He was good looking. too; there
was a strain of the best Spanish
| blood in his veins; he had been well
educated, and was high in the ranks
| of the Federal party. 1t was as much
| of a misalliance for him to marry Por-
tuna as for the scion of IN a%ristocrat-
ie New York family to seek in mar
riage a Bowery f~actory-girl of the
most humble antecedents. The more
l thought of it, the most unlikely it
seemed; and when she informed me
that she had been brought up in his
house as the daughter of his cochero,
the news was more incomprehensible
than ever, knowing as did the class
distinctions of these people.
For the next two months the chill
dren and l reyeled in the beauties OF
Japan. By October we returned to
the head of the family, who was hard
at work in Manila.
| was greeted with the pleasing news
that orders were on the way for us
to go home. So I determined to en-
joy as fully as possible the last weeks
of our s%ojourn in the East. When
we were hidden, then, by one of the
various political parties to a great
banquet, / decided to go, as it was to
be nearly the last of my Filipino
entertainments.
All the American civil officials and
many officers of the army and navy
were there. l felt quite lost among
so many %personages of rank. I was
taken out to the repast by a nice In
fantry major, and we sat far down
below the notables.
Some distance from where l sat,
/ saw my late cotillion partner talk
ing to a Filipino woman; on look
), ing more closely l perceived that he
was engaged in an animated CONVEX
sation with-could it be? Yes, it GER
y tainly was-Portuna! Fortuna, quite
2 as %unbeautiful as ever, but ~gorgeously
arrayed; her camisa stiff with en-
broidery, a spray Of diamond roses
four inches long in her hair, and about
her neck a string of pearls for which
, l would have given ten years OF my
8 existence. She seemed to find the re-
. marks of the high official interesting;
y indeed, she laughed in a coquettisf
n manner; and as for him, he did MOI
~ seem to find the banquet the perfume
tory bore these affairs usually are t.
y men of his kind-he really appeared
to be enjoying himself.
s. When the banquet was over, Por
ia tuna came up and greeted me witt
IS effusion. She was not proud. Sh'
ed asked about the children with tears il
her eyes, and promised to come an
see. them. She introduced her hus
as band. who regarded her with adorint
eyes. I found him to be very intelll
gent, and we talked together of tn
traffic question and Of the future Q
D! the Malay race while We were sittin
20. out a dance Il sat out several tina
EVENING"
er The high official rushed up to III
re Not having seen him for two months
re | supposed that he had come to pa
ne his respects. He barely nodded to MT
OF "Oh. how do you do, Mrs.-er-
Crane" Then, where is that attract
r. i've little wife Of yours. Sebastiano
l want to see if she will dance th
ed Rigodon with me-"
- With that he darted off, and / 500
ny saw him standing, with. Fortuna q
VI a partner.
~. The next time | saw Fortuna We
~ on the transport Sheridan. We lie
ne for home on very short notice, and
some way she heard of it, and al
peared just before the vessel sale
80 bearing gifts of pima and just an
~ Canton linen for me and the childrel
y She wa the very same Fortuna, b
. the evident affection she had for n
'n had awakened quite a warm feelir
'ce for her in my heart. so / submittt
to her embrace, while the childrt
~ chung to her with tears.
~ The last gong had sounded, al
when half way down the gangwi
,e1 Fortuna turned and waved her han
The sun fell upon her costly ring
NY and among the diamonds and pearl
ers I noticed upon her little finger Il
~ CLINT of a blue moonstone.
Leaning over the side Of the shi
Tom and I saw her entering a col
saS Portable little private launch, al
= steam off in state.
What a promotion for Fortuna
| remarked. GLOW do you suppo
Nv 1t ever happened?"
no TT is rather remarkable" said \
better-half, as he lazily fiicked
The ashes from a Germinal cigar, "but tn
you know, for a Filipino, Fortuna
no really a very pretty woman. IS
n Francisco Argonaut.
the