Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-02
DAILY SHORT STORY
NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENT PRICE
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peasant : cottage Inv the DelSnDOfnOOQ
of Seville and asked for a nights lOdg-
ing. \ young girl SOpened the door and
babe him enter The stranger was so
struck with her beauty that he scarcely
heard her say:
such as we have ITO offer. senior, we
will give cheerfully, but it is very lit
tie
With his eyes stiln fixed on the <girl
the stranger entered the living Ubom.
where sat an old woman. her mother
who brought to bear on him ,pair of
cunning eyes. as if to learn whether
he had means to pay for his entertain
ment The stranger was we'll dressed.
and the old woman, Judging that he
had money, said:
I'VE are very poor. senior. but judg-
ing that you will not let us suffer for
the nights entertainment'we'w will take
you in. Teresa so and pD.pare the
room for guests
Teresa went 0It looking very much
mortified. She had understood the
stranger to ask for the treatment of Il
guest and had wished SO to grant his
request The stranger understood the
old woman's avarice. but said nothing.
He did not even promise to,pay'for his
entertainment. Teresa got up good
supper. of which the stranger partook
heartily and after it was overland she
was washing the dishes he-sattwith the
mother.
Your daughter has rare beauty"
he said
DO you think so? WesalI consider
hnr haanfiflII Shn ShnnIJf r,aa 10 fya
match with such beauty. Yet all the
money she is to get is SOOO philips
She is engaged TO merchant of Sc
vile. and that is all he will give He
should give twice as much, especially
since he is fifty years Old. while she is
but seventeen"
During the evening while the stran-
ger was sitting with the mother and
daughter, there was a timid knock at
the door. and a young man but few
years older than Teresa came in. The
stranger noted the expressions on all
three faces and read II story in them.
The old woman scOwled furiously. The
daughter cast pathetic glances at the
newcomer and appealing chances at
her mother The young man was the
picture of despair. The story told was
that the young people loved. but the
man having no money to give the
mother would not grant her consent.
The rest had been given by the moth
err when she said that Teresa had been
sold for 1000 philips.
The stranger sat quietly watching
all this. The mother vainly tried To
freeze out the young man. but he hung
on in spite of her scowIs for an hour,
when lie arose and took his leave.
Teresa went to the door with him.
and the stranger. who had sharp cars.
heard their parting words:
Carlos. we must be resigned. Moth
or will never consent To my marrying
without money
II cannot be resigned to,Such a fate
| shall seek death either in the bull
ring or as II soldier"
Then there was n long silence. and
the stranger knew that Teresa was in
Carlos arms. The next heard was
Teresa's footstep on the stairs going to
her room.
In the morning before rising from the
breakfast table the stranger said:
Sonora, | am sorry to say that |
have not sufficient funds with me to
my Indebtedness. but think
that | can suggest way by which you
can he paid. / am an artist of Seville
If your daughter will sit for me for
her portrait ! will pay n philip for
each sitting
And how many sittings will you re-
quireE" asked the cid woman greedily.
Twenty 10 thirty"
The old wOman's features that had
taken on a severe expression when the
stranger said he could not pay relaxed
Even 20 philips would be far in ex
cess of his Indebtedness. So ii was
greed that Teresa should 90 into the
city every day when hidden till the
picture should be finished Before the
stranger departed he said that if Tere-
81 should choose the portrait instead of
her pay as Il model it should he hers
This threw the old woman into pas
sion, and she accused the stranger of
Intending TO pay nothing in the end.
Teresa was punctual at the sittings.
and quite often the artist summoned |
Carlos as WELL saying that he desired |
to call out her best expression. When |
the work was finished Teresa. advised |
by the artist without consulting her |
mother. chose it instead of her pay as |
model. The artist put the portrait up |
for her at auction
1t happened that Don Miguel de Re |
bera, to whom Teresa was to be sold. |
saw the picture on exhibition. on the |
day OF the sale he went TO the auction.
where a throng of bidders were col |
lected. and when the sale commenced |
be bid as high as a thousand philips. |
But the bidding went far above this.
and the picture was at last Knocked
Town for 10000 philips
The lovers, who had no idea that the
would bring much more than
was due Teresa as model. could not
what all this furore meant !
Indeed. Teresa was SO confused that
she did not know at what price the por-
Trait had been sold. Carlos knew and
stood with singular expression on his
lace. Teresa was now rich for n meas