The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-21


what a very great man Don Enrique
was you will understand that when he
began to make companions OF the
lizards even the biggest and most re-
spectacle Of them. 1t was quite time that
he sent for Dona Mercedes.
So letters came and went. and at last
one Christmas season Don Enrique
found himself In Manila, waiting for
the good old Isle de Panay TO bring his
little girl to him. Many longing hearts
have followed those old ships OF the
Spanish Mail in the days that are gone.
For all this was long ago. Only eight
or ten years as you count. perhaps, but
] have seen Dona Mercedess eyes, and
they told me that 1t all happened long.
long ago. when the world was very
young indeed
But the old ship did not bring Don
Enrique his little girl after all. | wish
you could have seen the Dona Mer-
cedes who did come. Your heart would
have beaten as fast. ] hope, as that OF
the spruce young lieutenant who al
most let her fall as he was helping her
into the launch. and retired quite as
full OF bushes and confusion and
speechlessness as II he had never worn
shoulder straps and n smart little sword
and been aide de camp to his Excellency
the Gobernad dor General.
For Dona Mercedes was tall and
slight, with all the sta;eliness of her
house. and her head was poised like a
queens on her slender neck, and her
little high arched feet leemed scarce to
touch the deck. Yet II was not the
proud lady who made the young lieu
tenants hand unsteady-he lived AMI
moved among proud lad'cs-it was the
eyes OF the young girl. For Dona Mer-
cedes still looked out on the world from
the shelter Of the convent window with
such gentle, timld. inquiring smile
in the depths Of her great dark eyes
that she was far more dangerous 20
the peace and happiness of his Majesty's
forces than all the natives u the Phil
ipplnes. with Cuba thrown in besides.
When Don Enrique saw the eyes OF
the stately lady who had come to him
in place OF his little girl he was COM
forted. for 40 the little maid whom he
gave to the mother superior had looked
at him. And Tia Maria had good re-
port to make.
"She is the best, dearest, kindest child
in the world" said Tia Maria. She is
as good as the Virgin herself. and never
has n fault. Only she will not keep
her feet dry; and oh. Don Enrique, II
you could see how l have to work to
make her care for her complexion,
and"
| suppose old servants are the same
all the world over. So Don Enrique re-
ceived his little girl. the very finest
little girl in all the world, which Is not
surprising when you consider what
very great man her father was.
While they were getting acquainted.
as he put II, Don Enrique condescendeo
to share Dona Mercedes with the little
world OF Manila. He gave a great ball,
and his Excellency danced the old min
uet with her, whereat the beholders
cried that the days Of chivalry were
come again. Dona Mercedes smiled a
little and blushed a little, and the stout.
red faced old General led her to his
stout. jolly old wife with the remark:
"My dear, when you are good enough
to die. here IL your successor, IL an old
soldier" and he dropped forty years
and n dozen campaigns to make her
wonderful bow.
flush, old wives are good enough for
such as YOU" said her Excellency. "SIt
down here beside me, my dear, and tell
me how you like Manila"
1T In very good to be with my father
again." said Dona Mercedes simply. land
you are all so kind to mo-"
And then the young officers who had
| been Juggling at their fierce mustaches
| and settling their chins In their stocks
came tramping stifiy up and begging for
the honor. so It went on for several
weeks, until one day her Excellency
| called.
valdez" said she. In her straight
forward way. "are you going to marry
your daughter or not?"
THAT, madame" he replied. depends
OH"
whether you find any one good
enough for her. eh?" said her Excel
lency "And there Is none good enough,
II there. Valdez?"
mot one IN the world. madame" he
replied gravely, but with the CLEAN Of
a smile. Somehow most people smiled
when this simple old lady was near.
mot one In the world. madame" said
Don Enrique. But marriage Is not n
necessity OF life: my little girl and
will be happy together for time.
| hope"
Love OF the saints!" cried her EX-
! cellency; "he Is as young as his daugh-
| ter he tnihks 10 Keep tue pees "W"s'
away from his honey. Look at theii
eyes: they are boy and girl together
God grant you may be successful, Val
DEE. She Is a dear, sweet child Bu
take her away to your kingdom" SHE
added. "They are busy bees and gay
uniforms are bad for little girls who ar,
to love only their fathers--and besides
! can't fnd an aid to do an errand fol
me while she Is In town"
SO Dona Mercedes, having had only
taste OF the life most people lead. passe,
from the lost world of the convent l.
! the lost world Of the valley with he
proud, dainty ways and friendly. In