St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1910-04-02
~ (QlQQlQQllDlljl00 -
Romance to Order
By T. S. STRIBLING

here playing and hoping something
| would happen"
At Shows pleasant, smiling face and
ingenious explanation the stranger be-
gan to thaw.
so you are hunting an adventure?"
responded the man, agreeably. Would
you mind helping me? l was just
wishing for someone to give me a
little assistance in case should need
it,"
Are you joking?" asked Snow
Never more serious-here's my
hand" in impulsive Spanish fashion.
Snow took it gravely. What shall
l do?"
stand right here and play the gui.
tar" Then the man vanished.
The man had hardly disappeared in
the side alley when the silken curtain
behind the grill was drawn back a
little.
"Senor," said voice, did Rafael
ask you to play there?"
Snow drew near and removed his
Panama. He could see a dim oval
face outlined in the black interior with
two dark splashes for eyes, but there
was a quality in the voice that made
the American blunder his tune and let
it die away
Yes, senorita," he whispered back;
someone set me here to play"
Then why don't you play?" asked
the woman, with a little tremolo in
her voice.
With feeling that he was in the
midst of phantasmagoria, Snow once
more adjusted his guitar and began
stunning the tune. He had hardly
started again when he saw two white
hands clasp the brazen grills.
mot that! Not that" trembled the
voice. ''Ah. mia Dios, not that"
Snow paused again abruptly You
know the tune-it is not Cuban air?"
Nor Cuban girl, senor"
What shall play, them"
Anything else" There was a touch
of pathos in her words and again that
dimly familiar quality the man had
noted all along.
He moved trif1e closer. MAY
inquire why l am playing and-to
WhQm?"
you are playing in Raphael's place
so that Rafael and Maria may escape
unobserved That is all, senor."
Snow pressed up against the grills
He was staring fixedly into the dark
recess beyond the curtains And to
whom?" he asked, tersely; ito whom ?"
There was broken little laugh in.
side, then shaking. silvery voice
flummed over the air he had just been
playing, then sang softly the first line
''But-but ! composed those words
myself" stammered Snow.
$3.50 you did-Len.'
"Carlotta!" trembled the American
in the uttermost surprise. "You!"
Eyes, yes, my father sent me here
to-to avoid you"
We'll, come on-quick, Carlotta-
Well follow suit-the back way"
But. Lem" gasped the girl, some
one must play the guitar. Rafael al
ways Played"
Snow leaped to the middle of the
narrow street and began wildly to sig
nal toward the dark corner. The two
Englishmen came up leisurely.
Hurry! Hurry" cried the Ameri-
can. II need you'll"
whats the matter?" asked Middle
ham, as the two followed him back TO
the window.
Stand here and play this guitar!"
snapped Snow.
Jaw, now, what do I want to stand
here and play guitar for?"
Don't ask questions! To make
them think I'm here till Senorita Car
lotta Vitrelli and l elope out the back
way"
yes, senors," pleaded the voice in
the window, land If my uncle comes
out you must catch him and hold him.
Don't let him pursue us!" They could
see her wringing her hands excitedly
in the gloom.
Nov, really, Hulley, don't this upset
a fellow, though? Snow here has
known her for at least five minutes.
hasn't he?" Then, as an afterthought,
Il can't play guitar, you know"
But Snow thrust the instrument
into his hands. You've got to try as
a friend-a benefactor!"
Middleham held the guitar. Hulley
looked on in amazement. Snow van
ished around the side alley and the
girl disappeared from the window.
The two Britons were planted dog
gedly. by the window and Snow knew
that neither the uncle nor all the Ha-
vana police could move or pass them.
AS he and Carlotta met in the tiny
little alleyway there sounded from
the front the most execrable noise
that guitar was ever guilty of in Ha-
vana.
Then Hulley tried to sing.
That's unnecessary punishment"
Snow in the girls ear.
But Carlotta laughed happily A
they hurried down the dark path.
Dies for Love of Girl in a Novel.
Most of us have been impressed at
some time or other with a lovable
character in a book, but is is not often