The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-11-05

still upon him Paul turned them over
hoping that he could find a picture of
the graceful child of Fernando Lopez
Here it WaS-DolOreS sweeping the
doorstep with primitive broom She
had detected him in the act of snap
ping her picture. and he had caught
her startled upward glance. SO like
the glance she had shot at him this
| evening.
Why. it must be the same Dolores
Feature for feature they We're alike.
only the Dolores of this evening. the
| dancer. was older with all the beauty
the child of twelve gave promise of.
If il WAS his DOlOreS-he was calliny
her that nov. for his interest in the af-
fair was ahSurdly dpep-if it was his
Dolores. Dolores of the broom. of the
manifold household tasks he knew she
accomplished, then why should she
deny lii; acquaintance:
He was liqued Surely there had not
been 50 Lany American visitors in
Santa Nados that she had forgotten
him.
haunted his dreams that night and in
the morning he aw"ke with headache
and resolve to see Dolores dance that
evening
So once more he sat and watched
that blithe young form fUat OFT from
the wings 10 weave Il spell about his
heart until he could close his eyes and
dream that lie was in Mexico again:
tie uandolns tinkled an accompau-
ment to her fairy feet, and the yellow
roses at her breast dropped and gave
out their dying fragrance.
Then. amid deafening applause. she
came to the footlights to receive offer
ings of flowers
Paul saw an usher hand up his baS-
ket heaped with trailing sprays of jas,
mine. and without glance at the card
the dancer east startled upward
glance at Paul's box. Then. with Il
charming bow that included the whole
theater from pit to gallery, she van
ished. laden with flowers
she recognizes me. 1t is Dolores.
my Dolores What in thunder is the
matter with me- he muttered rs he
made his way back of the scenes.
But again Senorita Lopez denied her
acquaintance with the handsome Amer,
lean. and again Paul went away. cha
grined. but satisfied in his heart that
the dancer was the daughter of Fer
nando Lopez.
Night after night Paul Galbraith sat
in q box at the same theater, waiting
only long enough to watch Dolores
dance. When she vanished he went
too Every night he sent her a basket
of jasmine flowers. but never after that
first startled glance at him did Dolores
acknowledge his nightly Offering.
How to meet her became question
that haunted his waking hours.
whats the matter. Galbraith?'
questioned his closest friend, Tom De,
lanoy. You're as moony and seedy
as can be. If | didn't know you t.
be utterly heartlcSs where women are
concerned should say that you were
in love. Oh. don't frown at ne like
that. | know all the symptoms. I've
been in and out of love dozens of
times nlysef But when you serious
chaps take a notion you have bad
attack. Now, how about Dolores, the
dancer?'
This was random shot, but it found
its mark
Paul grow white about the lips. and
his eyes flashed.
1T isn't such joke as you might
imagine, Tom" he said quietly.
II beg pardon" said the other con
tritely. Il heard the fellows joshing
around that you were there every
night OF course didn't believe it, be
cause
You can believe it," interrupted
Paul grimly It's true"
What's true:" asked Tom crafty.
THAT I've been attending every per.
Torrance where Dolores Lopez has
danced
THE dickens you have! And you
deny that you're in love-
Paul smiled Il don't deny it be
cause don't know myself. But she's
a battling mystery. and | rather be
neNc tildI TIE dttEdCllOH lUI Ile- lou
know. Tom. I've always been attracted
by anything that baffled my under
standing. never rest until ! unravei
it. Well. it's the case with Dolores
Lopez. She denies my acquaintance.
but | used to know her when a child
in Mexico"
Tom paced the floor. his round face
comically perplexed.
well. You can't do 4 darned thing
when Il lady denies your acquaint-
ance." he admitted at last. Ill tell
you what I'll do. Paul. Suppose l call
upon her and tell her | am "a friend
of yours and that you're very anxious
to meet her again and
Paul lifted a protesting hand.
mo. thanks. TOm-much obliged, old
fellow. but it won't do. I'll make one
more trial. I'll write her letter first
and
That's the ticket-write a letter OF
telephone. eh?'
Paul hesitated. That's taking
mean advantage of her. Tom. I'll
write to her and remind her of the
little Mexican lullaby she USED to sing
to her queer cornhusk dolies. 1t