Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-07-23
CHAPTER u.
In Which I Meet His Lordshi

Chilean officers, largely naval, to
judge from their rather Respondent
uniforms, occupied this second table,
and 1t was evident that they had been
drinking to excess. 1t was their loud
voices and boisterous laughter which
first attracted my attention, and I
soon caught SUFFICIENT Of their incau-
tious speech to discover they were
bantering one among their number to
carry into execution a tipsy boast he
had just made over the wine. The
special officer thus singled out as butt
for the boisterous wit of his reckless
companions was q naval lieutenant,
a rather tall, cadaverous fellow, sallow
faced, his short black hair standing
erect and bristling, his mustaches
dropping so as to shade the corners of
his mouth. His cheeks were flushed
with temper from the rough sallies at
his expense, and his lips uttered q
burning Castilian curse, as he arose
somewhat unsteadily to his feet, and
glared about into the expeotant faces
of his laughing tormentors.
"Sacro Cristo! you will see, camar-
adas; you will sect" he declared, bra
cling himself for the effort. "Caramba!
what sailor fears in presence Of beau
ty?-puf! not l."
He turned short about, his sword
chains rafting, and strobe directly
across toward the unconscious Briton,
Fho stared up at him over his roast
beef In petrifled establishment. Fun
bling awkwardly at his belt, the in
truding officer finally brought forth a
card, and placed it ostentatiously upon
the table, bowling low as he did so.
II would nsyself to introduce to the
senor." he announced with drunken
gravity, and In amazingly broken Eng
lish. II Teniente Lootenant Sanchez.
Chilean navy; one of the first family
in this country. Maybe you know me,
hey? was with de Almirante Coch-
rane, when the capitano call on you
in the leetle ship. Now I would the
bettar-r acquaintance make with the
great Ingles. an the ladies'. the most
boot'ful ladies'" and his sunken eyes
rested gloatingly on the surprised face
of the girl. who had half turned, the
better to observe him.
1t was all so swiftly. so impudently
done that the astounded Briton could
only stare, his lean face reddening
with annoyance. This hesitancy, as
we'll as something In the constrained
attitude of the younger woman,
seemed to encourage Sanchez; his ex-
preston changed to satisfied smile,
while his lank figure bent in another
ceremonious bow, this time directed
toward her.
"Ah, knew 1t would SO be-" he said,
insinuatingly. TT vas so told It to
my bravas camaradas. ST, ST, it vas SO
ever-the uniform make US welcome
With the ladies. They lofe the brav';
is 1t not so, senorita?"
BY this time the outraged pater-
familias had stiffened into rock, his
eyes cold and hard behind their glass
es. In frigid contempt he deliberately
turned his back upon the fellow, say
ing icily:
"You impertinent scoundrel! am
accustomed to selecting my own
guests. and you are certainly not one
Of them"
The Chilean laughed, perhaps not
wholly comprehsading the words, and
remained twisting his mustache be-
tween long white fingers. He was far
too drunk for fear, besides being up
held by military contempt for civil
ians.
"Pah! tits pig of papa" he sput-
tered, half turning to witness the ap-
prevail of his laughing companions be-
hind. "But the smile Of beauty still
invites, and Juan Sanchez fears not
before man or DEVIL"
He strobe around the table, his scab-
bard clanking on the stone floor, drew
out the single vacant chair and planted
himself in 1t. his back toward me, his
impudent face leerins across the
white cloth toward the startled, indig-
nant woman seated opposite. watched
her gray eyes widen from astonish-
ment, only to darken with indignation.
She pushed back her chair, half rose
to her feet, and sank down again, her
checks flushed, her bosom rising and
falling tumultuously. Her evident con-
tempt for the fellow would have utter
ly crushed any one less befuddled iato
embarrassed silence. But Sanchez
merely grinned, his hands still toying
With his mustaches.
"Sangre do Cfisto, was It not 10,
mses?" he questioned, insinuatingly,
utterly ignoring the helpless man sput-
tering at the head Of the table, who
could only glare at him with open
mouth. "Ths uniform Of valor 10 the
best Introduction to the favor Of the
ladies. u. yoa vera soon be pretty
gosd amiga OF me. the Lootsaant Juan
Sanehsz. show you the vera best
society IN VALPARAISO. the opera, the
srand bail. everything that pleases the
ssaor4tas IA my countfy. have the
entsee. IN II II easy. take you to
the dance on the warship-busno! al
vera nae. 81. was Il not 30, mees?"
| The young gssi. her Ane eyes con.
tsnptuovs and loatAins. turasd aside
from TIE leering. drunken face con.
lroatias her. An instant only her
glance rested on Tie sputtsriag old
nan at the head OF ths table, thsn
SWEPT almost bsssschiagly. about the
great room. Apparently no one pres
sat had taken the slightest interest in
tie affair. with the exception Of the
sna3i party Of Chilean oAcers who
wers langhing uproariously over theil
VINE. ana the girls srsy eyes, nov
alAsst biaak from excitement, cane
bask - her Dsrsecutor.