The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-11-02
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
benson and BEN|T0
BY HENRY KIRK.
(Copyright.)

son. The former he had struck in the
San Pablo mines, and the latter In the
Senorita Dona Maria Loretta Escandon,
the daughter Of the mayor Of Puebla.
To be literal, Benson had only found
his ideal in the Senorita Maria Loretta,
for 90 far she had given him little en-
couragement to think she would be
anything else. This was not especial
~ discouraging to Benson, for, after
all, II q man has his ideal, he has
something for which to work and OF
which to think-and Benson thought
of Maria Loretta.
He thought Of her as often as he
did Of the mine in the hills beyond
Puebla. He thought Of her yellow
bronze hair and her blue eyes, re.
membrance from her Andalusian IA
theirs. He thought Of her white skin
and her marvelously small hands and
feet.
He knew that he could be proud Of
her in his home. as we'll as being hap
py with her, and that she had all the
little graces and laces Of social and
domestic economy we'll forward.
Maria Loretta had gone to school In
Paris and had travelled as far as the
Tai Mahal. She had also passed two
winters in Washington with her cousin,
the wife Of the Mexican minister. Her
English was better than his own, and
she could talk Of many things, from
the st. Petersburg duma to certain
little pink fishes in the China sea.
Just what she thought of him he did
not know. He imagined she placed him
in a somewhere that was merely am.
liable. He had worked hard enough to
make an mpression-used all his ways
of attack-picnics and dinners, thea
ters and stacks Of flowers.
Upon this particular day Benson sat
beside her in the Plaza de Toros. He
enjoyed the national pastime well
enough, but came upon this occasion
principally to see Maria Loretta. He
left his mines in the hills, his poems
and his ponies, to come into Puebla
and sit beside the mayors daughter
in the mayors own box at the great
correo.
Things would not have been so bat
II 1t had not been for the Senior Dor
Luis Tovar, who sat in the adjoining
chair, next to the Dona Marcia, the
aunt Of Maria Loretta.
"Senorita Loretta" said Benson soft
ly, you are wearing my flowers"
"Ah. SO am" smiled the girl. Gus
think Of all the flowers have worl
since was child! Do you know,
have done nothing else"
"They were made for you"
Everything was made for US, Seno
Benson-the sky and the earth, tn,
sun and the little trees, and the BIZ
one, too All, there is Benito!"
Benson looked down into the arena
A magnificent bull had been release,
from his pen and had bounded into tn,
open. Upon his shoulder was a fam
ing ribbon, the color of his owner Tn,
animal paused a moment as II stunned
by the sudden transition from dark
ness to the light, looked about him
and then made rush for the neares
capeador with his crimson cloak.
"That Is our Benito!" cried MARI
Loretta. rs he not beautiful? Whel
he was born made him wreath o
roses. So, you see, Senior Benson, tn
flowers were made for the bulls, too.
Benson could make no reply to this
There seemed nothing that he coul
say.
The girl went on: mot that I car
80 extremely for the bull fight. but thi
Is our Benito. 1t is his third time Il
the ring; the banderilleros have neve
conquered him."
Benson leaned toward her.
1T seems a privilege Of your famil!
Senorita Loretta. to conquer"
my father and my brothers?"
Il mean YOU"
Il! What have l done?"
i have been trying to tell you"
See how Benito eludes them! We
there ever such gayety in the plaza!
Benson looked out through the We
low air. The people upon the opposit
side were baking in the sun. but the
were as enthusiastic as those abor
him In the comfortable shade. It wa
indeed a great day. The band played
the flags hung gayly from their poles
everybody cheered.
Benson leaned over again. Don Lu
was watching him and broke out int
laugh. This threw Benson of.
was like banderilla In his own hear
There were more Of them there tina
were in the shoulder Of Benito. I'll
only difference was Benito didn't see,
to mind.
Don Luis talked necessarily. n
laughed and he rolled his eyes and \
clapped his hands. He made ejacul
lions and addressed Benito as IL /
were god. Benson saw that all tn
pleased the girl. Why was he not
toreador or something like that? WI
could he not distinguish himself In IL
eyes of the one he loved? All he coul
90 was to make money. but that W,
the last in her thought.
He became desperate.
"Senorita Loretta" he said tensel
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