The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-02-09
A FAIR SENORTTA.


CO HE dSy was a scorcher. In the
I'll shady courtyard Of old Pietro's
- place, half 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 nearby against the wall leaned
their wheels. Everything was oppres-
sivcly 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
all the time he was wondering what the
other had brought him there for.
"why don't you say somethingT' he
asked NJ last.
Truesdale made an impatient gesture,
and the ~slumbering fires in his deep black
eyes seemed TO leap 20 life.
"WhyT' he repeated In a low voice.
do you mean why l have brought you
90 this dead and alive holef Because
-she lives here"
'Oh," murmured Newell. ~sympathet-
icafly, fecking the ash from the tip Of
the cigarette lightly. That's the idea,
N itf Fire ahead. old boy, give Us the
details. Who IL shef'
81 don't know" answered Truesdnle
gloomily. IL never saw her but once,
never spoke 20 her then. but that's all
right. l got Il bad, and now I'm going
to see her. You know that day on the
San Luis road down the mountains, and
the old conventT'
Newell nodded.
"wcll, Il was there I saw her. just a
look as she passed with the nuns and
n lot Of girls.
And you don't know a thing about
herr"
Nothing, save that she lives here at
la Gina"
Newell looked m~editatively nt Pietro's
round brown face Ia the doorway, and
finally he beckoned 10 him.
What Is the young lady's name who
Is so beautiful and goes 10 the convent
beyond San Lu!sT' he asked. while
Truesdale frowned and pocketed his note.
Pietro's broad yisags beamed with
kindly interest.
There can be but one. senors," he an
swered genially. "ln all la Gina there
are many go TO the convent, but only one
so beautiful ms to lead the Americans by
the smile In her eyes. IT'S Scnorita Do
lores, daughter Of old Ruiz. and he keeps
her close. senors, oh. yes, for no enc
knows better than Ruiz Of the devil In
her eyes. lie who seeks her favor must
needs be n bold wooer."
Truesdale bent forward with eager
eyes.
Where does she liver he asked.
"Yonder. near the church"
Newell tapped idly on the table and
puffed thoughtfully.
What shall dot" asked his compan-
ion.
A sudden fash Of mischief shone In the
others blue eyes.
Send her n valentine
"Oh, quit your fooling." said Trucs.
dale surlily.
Not n bit of H." protested Newell,
rising. Send her n valentine TO tell
your love. Nothing easier. It's st. Val.
e~utine's day. don't you know"
But where shall l get oncI" and
T~ruesdnlc's dark, earnest face looked
nightly perplcxcd.
Right here answered Newell.
promptly, drawing himself up to his full
height. Don't | make a good convinc.
iug valentine to tell your true love all
the happy ncwsf'
Trucsdalc gave n quick glance at the
tall, wcll-knit. stalwart figure in the
white sweater and knickerbockers. the
handsome boyish face with a dash Of
reckiessness In the sleepy blue cyes.
Altogether too convincing" he said.
Nonsense laughed Newell. look
here. Bob. you're not the only one, you
know and he snapped open the back
IL his watch. II was n pretty wcll-brcd
girl who smiled out NJ Trucsdale, and
BE- ;.lt satisfied IN a way. I'm going.
and IL ! don't bring you back a tnsen
that will exceed your widest hopes, then
you can make n Mexican mule 81 me"
Honest, are you going. RexE'
Honest. Hy-by. Won't you EVEN say
good luck 10 your Valrutiuey'
but Trnesialc never answered.
R"N Newell s,ruic down the hot. steep
streets. pas; the church. aud paused.
Where IL Senior Ruiz'S houscY'' he
asked 81 a sofi-Cycl girl On the church
steps.
'Yuudcr." she said. "Yondcr where
the rose trees are
When little Tita opened the door. she
vowed her heart saul Mt the splendid
bow Of the tall young stranger. and his
air Of Difference.