The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-19
lSENORITAS OF SOUTHLAND AND THEIR HARD LOT
and Ignorance Until Marriage They Lose Their
Hearts sutos Who Are Unworthy-To Marry Is for Them
to Leap in the Dark-An American Who Marres Latin
Girl Practically Adopts Child to Educate
By FREDERIC j. HAsKIN.

I was home again, and letter was
waiting for me. which told all there
was left to tell of that affair Of Lou
isa's. 1t said: "He took her against
the will Of her father and her mother.
He used up her youth and then he left
her. She cried her heart out for love
of him. When her baby came, she left
and while do not know how she did
1t, there has been a funeral. The
house across the way is very dark and
solemn. 1t Is very, very sad because
Louisa was good and sweet and pref
ty. She trusted him too much with
out knowing him. Many Of our girls
love too we'll and not wisely"
The Love OF Antonio.
Antonio drove a cab for hire. His
rig had rubber tires and his horse was
high-stepper. Antonio himself was
a handsome fellow, who sat upon his
box as jauntily as a toreador, and who
could deity roll cigarette even as
he f1ourished his beribboned whip.
With such Importance did Antonio
conduct himself that one might easily
sary Of state or courier to king. That
was his way with men, and it made
him business. Also did he have his
way with women, and that made him
sweethearts. Antonio did not know
how to read or write, but he was no
novice at making fine speeches. He
could make love like an actor.
One night when he had been en-
gagged to me, he came to beg off. say
ing that his aunt was Ill, and that
prayers were to be said for the pre-
servation of her body and the safety
of her soul. I knew the lying scamp
was deceiving me- but let him 60.
It being a fiesta night no other cabs
were for hire. and T went to walk.
Just before turning a corner stopped
to light cigar, and as the match
hared into my fists, I heard Antonio's
voice saying: Come, my love. the
moon is rising. Let us behold the
glory of the night" There in the bal
cony above him was plump little
senorita, laughing at him and teasing
him, but showing in her flashing eyes
that she loved him all the while. And
how that fellow talked to her! They
were hitting it off as splendidly as
they do on the stage. It was very
plain that the body Of Antonio's aunt
had been preserved, for there was
nothing on his mind except getting
that girl down from her balcony. I
did not turn the corner, and as went
back the other way, the gay young de-
ceiver was beseeching her to go with
him to the house of the dance, where
there was light and laughter and song;
where they might dance to the jing-
ling music Of the sprightly tarantelle;
where they might be as merry as be-
comes the young.
Antonio got the girl, but he had to
stop at the priests on the way to the
dance, and get married. He was ever
so proud Of her. He showed this
plainly. He put extra ribbons in the
name Of his horse. and every day
smoked cigars that formerly he had
bought only on Sundays and feast
days. He put her in a little nest away
out by the drive Of palms, and my
laundress told me that in the begin
ming she sang thru the days as blithe-
ly as a canary. But 1t soon ended
miserably. Antonio wasn't the sort to
appreciate the love Of a good girl
long. He went his jaunty way and
numerous other conquests were his
I got so understood whenever there