The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-08-17
A MEXICAN
LOVE AFFAIR
By sEIEILA ESTHER DUNN

seau. This may be surprising to those
of other countries where the bride is
expected to furnish her own bridal
outfit and quite often provides the
home, though in Europe this may be
done with the dowry which is always
supposed to go with the wife. In Mex
leo the groom furnishes both furniture
and trousseau.
& Don Martins fiancee was just half
his age and was for time undecided
between him and young man cou.
pie OF years her senior, Jose Herrera.
But as Jose was equally poor there
seemed to be no possibility Of their
plan by which they might raise the
wherewithal for their union. He sug.
gested that Isabel engage herself to
Don Martin long enough to secure the
trousseau and the furniture, then just
before the wedding tell him she had
discovered that she did not love him.
1t was probable that Don Martin
would not permit her to return the
gifts, for be was a gentleman and
known to be very liberal man.
Just how Dona Isabel received this
proposition within her heart does not
appear, but certain 1t is that she agreed
TO 1t. Don Martin had proposed to her
several times. and on the next similar
occasion he was surprised to be ac-
eepted. He told her that she had made
him very happy, but that he did not
wish to buy a wife-he desired one
who would love him. If therefore at
any time before their marriage she
felt that she preferred another man or
that she did not love him he would re-
sign her.
The next day Jose came to see her.
and she told him that she had accept
ed Don Martin and what her elderly
lover had said to her. Jose asked what
she had replied to his expression of
willingness to resign her in case she
discovered that she did not love him.
She said she had answered he need
not fear for her marrying him without
love; that. she promised. she would new
er do. Jose laughed at this. declaring
that she was trump and was work
ing the old fellow beautifully. He was
about to give her kiss but she held
him off. saying that so long as she was
engaged to Don Martin she would be
true to him. 1t would be time enough
for kisses when she had broken with
him and engaged herself to Jose.
Having received the means for the
rousseau and the furniture. Dona Isa-
bel proceeded to the dressmaker and
milliner for the former and asked Don
Martin to go with her TO select the lat
ter. But he told her to buy what she
liked and IL the purchase money over
ran the sum he had sent her he would
make it up.
Isabel was several months buying a
wedding outfit; then Don Martin one
day asked her IL she would name the
day. But she was not to hurry. and
he reminded her of her promise not to
marry him without love. At this Isa-
bel appeared very thoughtful and said
nothing. Don Martin at this assumed
that her conscience was pricking her
and said:
Consider yourself released from
your engagement Moreover, the gifts
have made l shall expect you to
keep, for on no account would re-
ceive them II you returned them"
mot IL / were to marry anotherw
''If you marry another consider 1t d
wedding gift from me-"
When Isabel told this to Jose he was
delighted and asked her II she could
not stick the old fellow for something
more. She promised to see about it.
Jose asked her to set the day when
she would marry him. and she fixed 1t
for that day three months hence.
A month before Jose was to marry
Isabel one Of his friends told him that
he had heard that Isabel was to be
married on the day fixed for his and
her wedding.
"Oh, that isn't announced yet" re.
piled Jose. "You must not say any.
thing about It."
How do you known
II should think would know since 1
am to be the groom"
"You7"
"Yes, l."
II did not hear that" said his friend.
II heard that she was to marry Don
Martin Furtado."
That's another affair that my
iancee had some time ago. She was
engaged to Don Martin for awhile
But keep this matter to yourself"
As his wedding day drew near Jose I
'craped together all the money he !
'ould and borrowed an amount to be u
,aid by mortgage on his furniture q
o be made the day after the wedding.
)ne day the postman left an envelope
or him. and. opening It. he found an .
invitation to the wedding of Dona ,
ISABEL Mendoza to Don Martin Fur !
ado. For a moment he thought 1t Z
part of the ruse. But the invitation
vas duly engraved. and it occurred to
lose that he had been victimized He
ushed to Dona lsabels house and {
asked her what it meant. c
at means" she said. that | loved
'ou. who proposed to get by trick 9
rom noble man the means to marry :
ne. Your contemplate conduct turn
d me from you. and Don Martins
action won me to him.
ioodby. You are welcome to my we'd
ing. After that / wish never to see