The state herald., 1910-04-01
CHAPTER II.

Chilean officers, largely naval, to
Judge from their rather Respondent
uniforms, occupied this second table.
and It was evident that they had been
drinking to excess. 1t was their loud
voices and boisterous laughter which
first attracted my attention. and l
soon caught sufficient Of their incau-
uous speech to discover they were
bantering one among their number to
carry into execution q upsy boast he
had Just made over the wine. The
special officer thus singled out as butt
for the boisterous wit Of his reckless
q 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 a
burning Castilian curse. as he arose
somewhat unsteadily to his feet, and
glared about into the expectant faces
Of his laughing tormentors.
"Sacro Cristo! you will see, camar-
adas: you will see!" he declared. bra
cling himself for the effort. "Caramba!
what sailor fears In presence Of beau
ty7-puf! not l."
He turned short about, his sword
chains rafting, and strobe directly
across toward the unconscious Briton.
who stared up at him over his roast
beef In petrified establishment. Fun
bling awkwardly at his belt. the In
truding officer finally brought forth a
card. and placed It ostsntatiously upon
the table. bowling low as he did SO.
Il would myself to introduce to the
senor." he announced with drunken
gravity. and In amazingly broken Eng
lish. Il Teniente Lootenant Sanchez,
Chilean navy: one of the first family
in this country. Maybe you know me.
hey? / was with de Almirante Coch-
ranc. when the capitano call on you
in tho leetle ship. Now ! 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 NIL so swiftly. so impudcntly
done that the astounded Briton could
only stare. his lean face rcddening
with annoyance. This hesitancy. rs
we'll as something In the constrained
attitude OF tho younger woman.
seemed to encourage Sanchez; his ex-
preston changed to q satisfied smile.
while his lank figure bent In another
ceremonious bow. this time directed
toward her.
"Ah. knew It would 80 be-" he said.
insinuatinsly. 1T vas so ! told It to
my bravaz camaradaS. 81. 81. Il vas SO
ever-the uniform make US welcome
With the ladies'. They lofe the Draw:
IL II not 30. senorita!"
BY this time the outraged pater.
familias had stinencd into rock. his
eyes cold and hard behind their glass.
O.. In frigid contempt he deliberately
turned his back upon the fellow. say.
ting iciiy:
You impertincnt scoundrei' ] am
accustomed to selecting my own
guests. and you are certainly not ono
Of them"
Tho Chilean laughed. perhaps not
wholly comprehsndinG the words. and
remained twisting his muktachs be.
tween long white fingers. He was far
too drunk for fear. besides being up
held BY 4 military contempt for civil.
ians.
''Pah' It's q pig Of papa" he sput.
tered. half turning TO witness the ap.
prevail Of his laughing companions be.
hind. But the smile OF beauty suii
invites. and Juan Sanchez fears not
before man or devil"
Ho strobe around tho table. his scab.
bard elankinE on the stone floor. drew
out tho single vacant chair and planted
himself In II. his back toward mo. his
impudcnt face ieering across tho
white cloth toward tho startled. indig.
nant woman seated opposite. ! watched
her gray eyes widen from astoninh.
mont. only to dnrkrn with Indignation.
She pushed back hcr chair, half rose
10 her feet. and sank down again. hor
cheeks flushed. hor bosom rising and
falling tumui,uoualy. Her evident con.
tempt for tho fellow would have utter.
ly crashed any ono lcsa befuddied into
embarrassed silence. hut Sanchez
merely krinned. his hands H,ili toying
with his mustaehes.
''sanEre do cristo. was II no, so.
meepf" he questioned. insinuatingiy,
utterly ignoring tho helpless man sput
teting al the head OF tho table, who