Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-09-12

ABBEVILI
the parents of romantic damsels des-
tined for some prearranged marriage
of state, but very exciting for the dam
sells and most provocative TO the Amer
leans.
After the promenade in the plaza
the mothers by common consent pre-
empted the upstairs receptionroom.
gathering their precious charges in
close; while the Americans, after their
custom, foregathered in the lobby,
convenient to the bar Hot argu-
ments about the revolution, and pre-
dictions of events to come served to
pass the early evening, with many
scornful chances at the Mexican dan
dies who went so insolenty up the
stairs. And then, as the refugees re-
tired to their apartments and the spirit
OF adventure rose uppermost, Phil De
Lancey made a dash out into the
darkness and came back with MeXi-
can string band.
A serenade. bOys!' he announced,
as the musicians filed sheeplshly into
the hotel. Our guests, the fair seno-
ritas, you know! Wen make those
young Mexican dudes look like two
spots before the war is over Who's
game now for a song beneath the WIN
dows? You know the old stand-bys-
La Paloma' and 'Teresita Mia'-and
you want to listen to me sing Me Gus
tan Todas' to Gracia, the fairest OF the
fair! Come on, fellows. out in the
plaza. and then listen to the old folks
cussl"
They adjourned then, after drink
for courage, to the moonlight and the
plaza: and there, beneath the shut
tered windows >and vacant balconies,
the guitars and viOlius took up La
Paloma." while Phil and a few brave
spirits sang.
A silence followed their first at
tempt. as well as their second and
third. and the comisariO Of police, a
mild creature owned and paid by the
! company. came around and made a
/ lew lleNeCludl pTOIeSlS.
But inside the company's conces-
| sion, where by common consent the
militant rurales kept their hands of,
| the Americans knew they we're safe,
/ and they soon jOllied the cOmisario
! into taking a drink and departing.
Then De Lancey took up the burden,
and the string band, hired by the hour,
strummed on as if for eternity.
One by one the windows opened;
fretful fathers stepped out on the bal
cOny and, bound by the custom and
convention of the country, thanked
them and babe them good night. But
the two windows behind which the
Senior Aragon and his family repOsed
did not open and, though the dwIn
ding band stood directly under theiI
balcony, and all knew that his daugh
ter was the fairest of the fair, Dor
Cipriano did not wish them good night
Perhaps he recognized the leading
tenor-and the big voice of Buc
Hooker, trying to still the riot-but
however it was, he would not speal
to them, and De Lancey would no
quit.
TRY 'em on American music!" h'
cried, as everyone but Bud went ava!
in disgust, the latest rag from Broad
wa-ay, New York Here, gimme tina
guitar, hombre. and listen to THU
now!"
He picked out a clever bit Of syn
copation and pitched his voice to
heady twang:
Down in the garden where the red rose
grow.
Oh my. l long to go!
Plusk me like a flower cuddle me an hour
| LOWE let me learn the Red Rose Ra-ag'
There was some swing to that, ant
it seemed to make an impression, 70
lust as he was we'll started on tn
chorus the Stats of one of the shut
tiers parted and patch of white shOn
through the spaces. 1t was the ladies
then. who we're getting interested
Phil walled on:
} "Swee-eet boney-bee. be sweet to mel
My heart is free. but here's the keyr'
And then, positively, he could sc
that patch of white beat time. H
took heart of grace at that and san
on to the end, and at suggestion c
clapping in dumb-show he gave an Ell
core and ragged it over again.
Ev'rybodys doin' it, doin' it, doll
it," he began, as the shadow dane
ceased.
Honey, l declare, it's bear. it's
bear, it's a bear!" he continue
temptingly, and was well on his wa
to further eXtravagancies when tn
figure in white swiftly vanished and
door slammed hard inside the house.
Several minutes later the form {
Don Juan appeared at the lower doc
and in no uncertain tones he requisite
them to cease.
The Senior Aragon informs me-" b
said, that your music annoys him."
well, let him come to the balloon
and say his 'buenas ncches," al
swered Phil resentfully.
THE gentleman refuses to do that!
responded Don Juan briefly.
Then let him go to bed!" reptile
De Lancey, stunning few sync
pated chords; I'm singing to h
daughter"
At that Don Juan came down off ii
porch in his slippers and they engage
in a protracted argument
; What, don't l get a word?" d