Ellsworth American., 1904-06-01
The Road Mia
Choce
BY SARAH coMsTocK
copyright, 1905. by TIC. Mcclure

whats the use primping two hours
,or that mere nobody Of Filiberto?"
80 be sure, what is the use?" Cam
dIda's good temper was maddeuing.
uer mother was at the remote end OF
che house, but she could see mentally
the smiling. tantalizing face that she
knew so well.
Candlda's mirror smiled back Mt her.
n was try mirror with 81 shabby
frame. but II held the loveliest and
most famous picture In all Alta Call
fornia. The portrait was that of
sixteen-year-old girl. strongly built and
exauisstesy rounded, MS those Castilian
girls OF old California were-the com
nlexlon a pure Castillan olive without
a tinge Of rose: the eyes a sparkling,
vivid black; the hair as black as the
ewes. splendid mass eoIled high and
caught with comb.
"Ah. but Il Is OF use, even II Filiber-
70 is a mere nobody. What do you
think. lovely senorita p 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 n
strong light was thrown on the face
therein Candida could watch II to
good advantage ms il grew lovelier In-
der her skillfui touch.
A lock OF hair did not suit her She
brushed II. pulled 1t. unfastened II. re-
fastened IL, finally pulled down the
a. 4 -
gan coilIng 1t all over from the begin
ming
You're the slowest Of all my girls,"
fretted her mother In the dining room.
Ii 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
a critical point.
Where's the giriy" growled ter
rifle voice. 1t was that OF her husband.
She's dressing"
w hHA ibt. Nufn sht SDluE WIN
nobody but Yorba? She had as well
wear her working gown"
"Ah, Dios-after all our hopesr'
Sonora Barrnjas wrung her fat hands.
"It's OF no avail TO whimper about It.
The girls been fool. You may count
on that, no matter what she says.
She's done something to annoy the
cemandante - it's Ike her. Stubborn
as her mother She win 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 thunderstorm.
Candida. adjusting her comb, heard
Ii all and smiled,
"Ah. madre mia, how blind you are
in spite of your lynx eyes" she said
and took note from her bosom.
Contrary to custom, | send this to
you instead OF to your mother" she
reread with satisfaction. For 1t is
your answer desire. VIII you accom-
pany me TO the fandango? IL not I
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
for-the signature OF the popular co
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:
Il must beg to be excused from this
fandango. for my ankle is still weak
since Pero threw me, and dare not
risk dance"
Nor did any one know that she sent
another message TO certain nobody"
The coast is clear. The CONAN
dante is going to Santa Barbara, so be
will never know that go TO the dance.
Father will let me go with you for the
once, for he thinks | have no other in
vitation."
Candlda's conscience shook of fibs
as duck shakes on water. There was
not a cloud on her brow as she made
herself lovely for the ball. Her father
had given a grumbling yes" to Fill
berto's invitation. He had refused
over and over to let the girl accompany
TINS young man. whose fault was pov-
erfy, but now pique played its part.
ana as he realized that the CONAN
dante was not inviting Candida after
all his promising attentions he re-
solved that she should not he left at