The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1904-01-08
NINiTA---
A TRAGEDY OF ARIZONA


OoOoCCCoooooO ooo0oooo0OOoo
NkI4EN Philip Delmar exchanged the
Wv hard. uncongenial climate of his
native New England states for the
semi-tropical ATTITUDES of Arizona he
hoped only for q temporary respite
from the sentence Of death which his
doctors had imposed upon him. He
settled up his few affairs and babe
good-by to his friends and relatives.
thankful that he had never married,
and would leave none bearing his name
to mourn for him.
That was 16 years ago. Here he was
alive and well, the fortunate owner of
a rich mine, living in a handsome
home, and married-aye, there is the
rub-married to little half-Spanish,
half-Mexican concert singer, with
whom he was madly in love, people
said. Otherwise why did he marry her,
girl who could have been had for the
asking, so the American contingent de-
clared. And he had taken her away
from Apache Jim, the handsome half
breed who had been educated by the
government and had more rich min
ing claims than he could count on the
beringed fingers of his two hands.
When he took fancy to Ninita-Span-
ish for "baby girl"-he built her a
concert hall In the worst town in the
region of Prescott, and made money
from her musical notes. He dressed
her like high-horn Mexican lady, beat
her, and burned her finery in his
tantrums, and swore that some day he
would kill her.
This girl was now the wife of Philip
Delmar Sweet-tempered and obedient,
she sat at home and waited for her
and yawned YEARLY most of the time
when she was not praying her thanks
to the virgin for giving her such a
good home and husband.
Ninita would have been glad to talk
with old Terese, their one servant, but
her position as mistress debarred her
from that privilege. and she found
refuge in her musical occupations, her
piano and guitar, and the practice of
her rare contralto voice.
81 sing for my Felipe" she would
say sweetly. the little brown thing,
dressed by Philip in American clothes,
such as he remembered that his mother
and sister wore. and looking SO In
consruous amidst her surroundings.
eyes, my Nina"-to him she was al
ways Nina-"sing to your Philip and
charm away his mood, as David
soothed Saul"
$50? He was Americana. You lofe
him too?"
Then this grave, elderly man would
laugh at her. he who had snatched her
as brand from the burlington her
souls salvation was 1t. or for her ma
tive charm and beauty?
She yawned again and looked at the
watch at her belt To old Terese
lettering near, he said:
"Tree O'Clock and he come not-my
Felipe. Oh. If he hurt-die-my hyart
go broke-I lofe him So"
With that she gave great start
Coming out between the walls OF the
Williams canyon was man on horse
back, and 1t was not her husband. PHILIP
Delmar. He was far handsomer man
and he sat his fiery Mexican mare with
a grace that Tailed well with his pic
! turesque outfit. There was riot Of
color In his ensemble. Ninita's eyes
flashed with the old half-wicked light
that had been quenched for a year. Thi!
was cavalier. grand, superb. and once
he had beaten her. but that was nothing;
she had not hated him. Yes, it wa.
Apache Jim. He had been incarce ratet
| In fail in Albuquerque for year. Nov
he was free and looking for Nina, ant
| 10Y at seeing him made her forget he
husband.
$50 you run on with the seno
Americano?" he said after scant sal
utation. "You come back now with M
-yes?"
mo. no. He marry me; he give m,
dose" She held UP a slender brown
hand and showed him the-plain band o
gold, her wedding ring. guarded by |
superb diamond. Me wife now"
$50! But you come to me-my Mint,
that make no difference-you hear?
II He graspsd her shoulder rudely an,
| turned her about to face him. Hi
teeth clicked savagely. and the force o
that cruel hand was crushing her arm
But the violence was dearer to her thai
| q caress-the Americana lover was to-
| tame She often longed for blow.
! me go with you leetle of the way.
abe said. temporfzing. How splendid +
/ her eye the rude bearing. the barbara
pDuIsnes of his dress. while she was no