Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1905-02-09
A FAIR SENORITA.
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L
q place, nalf way up the narrow
Mexican street on the hillside. sat the
two Americans. dusty, tired and travel
worn generally. They were in bicycle
suits, and neax.,y against the wall leaned
their wheels. Everything was oppres'
sively quiet. Newell was smoking a
cigarette. his hands in his pockets, his
cap set well back on his crisp, curly hair,
his eyes lazily watching the sunbeams
CLINT through the leaves overhead, and
ell the time he was wondering what the
other had brought him there for.
why don't you say something's he
asked at last.
Truesdale made an impatient gesture,
and the slumbering fires in his deep black
eyes seemed to leap to life.
Why he repeated in a low voice.
do you mean why l have brought you
to this dead and alive hole? Because
she lives here"
ooh" murmured Newell, sympathet-
ically, flecking the ash from the tip OF
the cigarette lightly. That's the idea,
is it? Fire ahead, old boy, give us the
details. Who is she?'
81 don't know" answered Truesdale
gloomily. Il never saw her but once,
never spoke to her then, but that's all
right 1 got it bad, and now I'm going
to see her You know that day on the
San Luis road down the mountains, and
the old CONVENT
Newell nodded.
''Well, it was there I saw her. Just a
look as she passed with the nuns and
a lot of girls.
"And you don't know thing about
her?'
Nothing, save that she lives here at
La Gina"
Newell looked meditatively at Pietro's
round brown face in the doorway, and
finally he beckoned to him.
''What is the young lady's name who
is so beautiful and goes to the convent
beyond San Luis?' he asked, while
Truesdale frowned and pocketed his note.
Pietro's broad visage beamed with
kindly interest.
"There can be but one, senors," he an
swered genially. In all La Gina there
are many go to the convent. but only one
the srnile in her eyes. IT'S Senorita Do
lores, daughter of old Ruiz. and he keeps
her close, senors, oh, yes, for no one
knows better than Ruiz Of the devil in
her eyes. He who seeks her favor must
needs be q bold wooer.'
Truesdale bent forward with eager
eyes.
"Where does she live?" he asked.
"Yonder, near the church.
Newell tapped idly on the table and
pulled thoughtfully.
"What shall do?" asked his compan-
ion.
\ sudden flash of mischief shone in the
others blue eyes.
Send her valentine"
ooh, quit your fooling," said Trues-
dale surlily.
Not bit of it." protested Newell,
rising. ''Send her valentine to tell
your love- Nothing easier. It's st. Val
entines day, don't you know"
''But where shall 1 get one?" and
Truesdale's dark, earnest face looked
nightly perplexed.
Right here" answered Newell,
promptly, drawing himself up to his full
height. Don't l make a good convinc
Ing NalenIlHe 10 Iell your true love ali
the happy newsT
Truesdale gave a quick glance at the
tall, well-knit, stalwart figure in the
white sweater and knickerbockers, the
handsome boyish face with a dash of
recklessness in the sleepy blue eyes.
"Altogether too convincing" he said.
Nonsense" laughed Newell. "Losk
here, Bob, you're not the only one, you
know" and he snapped open the back
of his watch. 1t was a pretty wel-bred
girl who smiled out at Truesdale and
lie felt satisfied in a way. I'm going,
and if l don't bring you back token
that will exceed your widest hopes, then
you can make a Mexican mule Of me-"
Honest, are You going, Rex?'
Honest. By-by. Won't you even say
good luck to your valentine?"
But Trucsdale never answered.
Rex Newell strobe down the hot, steep
streets, past the church, and paused
where is Senior Ruiz's house?" he
asked Of soft-eyed girl on the church
steps.
"Yonder," she said. ''Yonder where
the rose trees are"
When little Tita opened the door. she
vowed her heart sank at the splendid
bow of the tall young stranger, and his
air Of Difference