New-York tribune., 1907-06-02
THE CAR OF DESTINY

SOlIlCtllllS Csc LleiO LetppSuCO anu HHCu at
last the girls trooped down stairs from the
balcony. | beckoned them to come our way
They skipped TO us, wild with delight at the
prospect OF pouring out their hearts to an APP
preciatlve audience.
The great warming pan, stuffed with embers
that glowed and paled, was laid on the tiled
pavement, while the girls wove themselves into
a group, with interlacing arms.
Why are you so hapPy: | asked
Happy? We have been In paradise, with
the angels" replied the prettiest girl, with
crimson roses stuck in a bank of copper hair
There was but one angel" objected her
brunette cousin.
That is true. The two old ones think
themselves everything, but they are less than
nothing. | would not change nv wears for
theirs, with their jewels and their quarterings.
Thanks be TO God, in our Spain We are all as
noble as the mobiles. or at least In this Prov
ince!"
g." You are also all beautiful" said l.
That YOU can say so, Senor, after seeing
that wonder" exclaimed the landlords eldest
daughter. q creature of carnation and flame.
All, the loyl We have been undressing her. "
II YOU could have seen her. with gold hair
down to her kneeSF gasped Gipsy of fifteen.
And when We had got her dress off. and she
was in her"
Hush. Micaela, It is not seemlv that YOU
should mention such garments in the presence
OF senores!' broke in the girl of the copper
coronet.
but why theil, since tney are most Oeauti-
full You know WELL Mariquita YOU yourself
said they were like the handwork of fairies.
and her shoulders"
Be silent. foolish one or shall have to
burn your nose off with the warming PAM"
And what did the elder ladies say to the
young ladys new maidS1" asked quickly, as
great ewes began to flash. and scarlet lips to
pOut
Back came the smiles, and the maidens fell
INTO 4 mt OF school girl giggling.
There was but one Majesty there, praise
be TO the saints, the English one, who is no
doubt the mother of our lady angel. They
have two rooms between them; but that of
the SenOrlta Is tiny, with no door of its own,
and only square glazed hole for a window,
though the bed Is rs good as any, and we have
given 1t the best linen. When we took in the
warming pan, our angel tried to say In Spanish
that she was sure our beds were dry and we'll
aired, as indeed they were. She was undoing
her hair, which was so beautiful we could have
fallen down and prayed to her as a saint. Then
we could not resist, but began helping her.
talking about her beauty. She was not Of
Tended. even though we kissed her hands
She laughed till she was close to tears and
said we were far nicer maids than the one her
mother had sent on by railway train when start
ing by automobile. After this, she would be
spoiled for others; and she gave US each one
a present Lola, two wondrous hat pins with
blue stones IN Sllver,-not that she would ever
suffer the tortureS of hat, but it is a great
purse of blue leather. of the size to hold five
peSeta piece; Micaela. a handkerchief with
lace on the edge; and me. an embroidered veil
like gosSamer. What did we care that Her
Majesty the mother would have sent us away
If she could? She had not enough Spanish TO
make us understand what We did not wish to
understand, and at last she saved her breath
for another day. But by that time we had
finished, for we had put our angel into her
nightdreSs, a thing of cobwebs and lace kept
together by blue ribbons, which should have
thought good enough for Queen to wear when
mounting her throne"
You must show US your presents" said I,
with deliberate cunning All were displayed
on the instant, with chattering, laughing and
clamorous claims for rival merits. But the
veil was the thing which looked on to covet.
She had worn it one day after rain, when the
roads had been clear of dust, and her face had
cleaned through the lace as a star CLEANS
through floating cloud film. I felt that /
could not see it in other hands than mine
While the Cherub compared the gifts with
eloquence, | drew Mariquita apart II want
that veil very m ch," said 1; $50 much that
III give you hundred pesetas if you'll part
from it."
She Opened her tobacco h-Ouy, a,,o- ap.