The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-30
THE SENORITA.
BY CHARLES ". CUNO.

, Copyright, 1905, by Daily Story Pub Col
 Inez opened her eyes languidly to another day, but suddenly her listless- ness gave way to an excellent exnibi- | tion of activity. With a wild shriek she sprang from the couch, for there on the snowy covers, magnified to twice it's size by her imagination, crouched a dreaded Mexican tarantula.
 She rushed from the room of the low hacienda, all of whose apartments opened on the wide veranda that eX- tended all the way around it. and rushed unwittingly into the arms of the tall American officer that hap pened 10 be passing. She was be- nightgowned, it is true, but not a whit needed the officer. He strode hastily into the room, crushed the huge spider beneath his heel, and then, willy -nilly, raised the still trembling bit of humanity and kissed her on the cheek, saying Nina ,my chiid)- there, little girl, do not be frightened" and walked unceremoniously away.
 Inez's cheek burned, not because he mad kissed her, for, truth to tell, she had been kissed before, but at his words
 Child, little girl. am T." She ex- claimed. and her black eyes flashed. The idea of calling her little girl, who had but yesterday refused the heart and hand of Don Juan Dorado, the richest ranchero in Santa Cruz! Little girl, indeed! She would show him! And in that moment she re- solved to bring the tall handsome American to her feet
 The American offi1ar Iaaua oP absence. was visiting Santa Crus with the object, so. at least. 1t was noised about. of buying a silver mine. Oh yes! When 1t came to buying silver mines, they all had one to sell in Santa Crus. He was feasted and entertained to his hearts content. Even the uncle of Inez. the prosperous Don Alvaro, invited him to dinner in the bosom of his family.
 He came. with his gold epaulets, Juggling spurs and glitter1ng sword a very Apollo in regimcntals The Donna Alvaro was dressed in her best herself in the chic, telling manner in which she displayed her charms.
 Clh. yes! The captain was impressed. He admired openly and almost over- stepped even Spanish bounds in the manner in which he complimented her from head to foot. The American could make love No donbt of It! He sat listening, enraptured. while Inez twanged her mandolin ana sang plain tive Spaish songs of love to him. And he sighed deeply when she had fin- ished.
 "Ah," he marmured softly. If you oniY meant 1t when you sang"
 Decidely the American was already hnSnarnd fnpz'S triumph She would bring him to her feet yet.
 But at that moment non Alvaro came to talk mine" and Inez had to. be content with languishing and coquet- tish looks.
 After that he came many days for Don Alvaro still wished to talk .'silvef mine" to the captain. Inez and her af- fair began to progress finely. Each day he grew more sentimental and she felt that every visit enmeshed him more and more in her tolls. Poor girl, she could not play with fire with out burning her own fingers-or, to be more correct, scoring her own heart. One day her captain, as she began to call him, came with news.
 The government is going to station a company of cavalry at Santa Crus," he said. ''and have requested that I be stationed here with my command" !"
 1nez was delighted. She almost threw herself into his arms there and then, but she restrained herself and gave vent to her joy in variously in tonated. "Ohs" and "Ahs."
 Would she walk in the garden by moonlight? Oh. yes! Although, in- deed. 1t was against Spanish custom to be so familiar with man. But the captain! He was such a dear fel- low" she told herself and perhaps An. Yes, he might declare his love-
 She would make him. Yes. she would pluck for him rose from the