Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-04-13
THE JUDGMENT OF CASpAR

MIS-. Manuela de la Torres de Nata-
moros was an honest, God-fearino woman
good housekeeper. and not oiven 70
gossip altogether rather superior per-
son, OF some education and much char
acter. Since the age of 25, she had heen
widow, with four daughters. who still
shared her home, one of them. however
as the wife of a physician travelling in the
United States. All the girls were re-
markably pretty and amiable, and very
we'll brought up. Moreover, they had a
marriage portion, which, without BEING
eNtravagant, placed them in the front
rank of the rich and eligible of the COM
munity.
1t came to pass that young man
from Granada, who appeared in the small
town in the capacity of real estate
agent, had an introduction into the
Torres home circle His mother was a
friend of Mrs. Manuela, and through her
the widow had learned that me youth had
never, as yet, had sweetheart, and that
he was quite bashful in the society of
young ladies.
Apart from this bashfulness, which not
mfrequently pleased the fair Gaspar, for
this was his baptismal name, he was a
most desirable young man. He had just
finished reading for the bar, and was
more than presentable personally. He
had flashing dark eyes, which set fire the
hearts of manageable maidens, and he
was past master in the art of conversa-
ton.
AS soon as he had made the acquaint-
ance of Mrs. Manuela's daughters, he be-
came silent and thoughtful. Evidently
an impression had been made He hardly
left the house: he began to write poetry,
and even went so far as to lose his en-
thusiasm for the chase, which prior to
this time had formed his chief amuse-
ment. He fiirted with all the Torres girls
equally without declaring himself to
either until the situation became more
tense each day, rivalries arising among
the three young ladies, every single one
of whom was dreaming of him as an ideal
husband.
One day Mrs. Manuela received let
ter from Gaspars mother. In this letter
she said among a few other statements
and great many spelling mistakes:
Il have learned with great satisfaction.
my dear Manuela, that my son is in love
with one of your daughters. He wrote
me about it himself; but he is so stu
pidly bashful that he does not dare to
say word. l wish you would encour-
age him little, dear-for, as far as L
am concerned, the sooner the young peo-
pie get married the better"
Mrs. De la Torres de Matamoros, ami
mated by this letter, and approaching
the necessity of solving the enigma, in
vited the young real estate agent to
private conference.
"Well-well!" she began. Il have had
letter from your mother, in which she
tells me something that [ ought to have
first learned from yourself"
Il beg your pardon!' stammered Gas
par blushing, as red as poppy.
Il know that you are in love with one
of my daughters. Candidly speaking
am glad to hear it. You deserve her, and
l promise you that she will he yours.
ooh, how good and kind you are!,' an
swered Gaspar, pressing the widow
hand.
But I will have to know which one
of them you prefer"
THE one-I want-is-the-married-
one !"-Translated for the Argonaut from
the Spanish of Narisco Diaz de Escobar
by f. Robbins.