The Parker post., 1913-04-19


"It is not our custom, sir, to place
the portraits of our daughters upon
cigar boxes for the inspection of the
world. However. | think you are sin.
cere, and, as happen to know where
you can find the Senorita Dolores, ]
will tell you. Go to number 1873
Ayenida Otranta at nine o'clock this
evening and you will assuredly meet
her there"
He bowed and, with a cynical smile.
passed into his office, struggling his
shoulders. He was a very busy man.
and whatever of sentiment there had
once been in his nature had long ago
been driven out by Americanization.
Still, it was droll, very droll! He
wished he could spare the time to go
to the Avenida that evening in order
to witness their meeting. However
he shrugged his shoulders again and
speedily forgot the matter.
In Bulls cabaret No. 1913 Avenida
Otranta, the usual throng was assem-
bled at nine o'clock that evening
Senor Bull, an enterprising Yankee
from Philadelphia, certainly knew now
to cater to the tastes of his patrons
Senor Bulls wines, for example, had
never seen any but European suns;
they were not doctored homegrown
admixtures. And Senor Bulls singing
and dancing ladies were no tifth-rate
cafe chantant entertainers. but cele-
brities from New York and Havana
AS for Senorita Dolores, he had picked
her up in an obscure music hall, and
it was shrewdly said that the ten
days scandal which had brought her
into the lime-light had been actually
engineered, If not invented. by Senor
Bull himself Certainly the senorita
whose portrait adorned cigar boxes
bill posters. and other such places
justified her fame. for few could dance
more divinely or set the hearts OF
Tampa's youths beating more wildly.
When she came forward on the
stage that night the audience at the lit
tie tables broke into a storm Of bravos.
Attired as a matador, in short scarlet
skirts, holding her dart with It's f1ut-
tering banderole, she bowed and
kissed her hands to the audience and
capered forward and began her song
1t was fine song and it went to the
hearts of the Cubans who heard her
1t told of wine and love and battle,
so rousing their spirits that they saw
in the senorita the vertiable incarna-
ton of these things They stood up
on the floor. upon the chairs, waving
their hats, shouting for an encore
And, whirling in the play of colored
lights, until she seemed like sea fairy
entangled in masses of filmy drapery,
the senorita spun.
Then, all of a sudden, she stopped
She stopped and stood perfectly still
her eyes fixed on the audience-no.
on one Of the audience; on a man who
came forward elboWing his way
through the crowds and pushing for
ward toward the stage He tossed
aside the men who stood in his way.
flung the ushers aside as though they
were puppets; tables went crashing
down, with their assembled glasses,
and chairs sent spinning among the
audience And still he pressed for
ward; he gained the stage, leaping up
on it over the footlights. Still the SEN
orita stood dumb and mOtiOnless, but
there was look of horror in her eyes
and now she put up her hands as
though to hide her face. That was
all that the audience saw, for the cur
tain fell and hid them. and in front of
it a heaving multitude of men ragged
and shouted and demanded the SEN
orita; while some, suspecting a trag
edy, began crowding toward the exit,
to intercept the senorita at the stage
door.
But Murdoch knew nothing save
that he had found her again. He
drew her into the wings, and, holding
her hands, stood gazing at her trium-
phantly
"Come!" he said.
Come? Where?" echoed the SEN
orita, for the first time finding her
voice. But it was broken with tears
and filled with shame. The band
erole, fluttering from the lance which
she still held, the spangled dress with
its abbreviated scarlet skirt. looked
pitifully tawdry now.
Why did you come here?" she sob
bed Indignantly. why couldn't you
have forgotten me? You have no
right to Judge me because | am lust a
dancing girl"
Il haven't judged you," said Muir
doch quietly. Il want you to come
with me Answer me one question.
Dolores. Do you love me-or rather
did you love me that day when |
asked you to be my w1fe?''
Yes. l loved you she said But
how could tell you what | was-you
who would never have understood?