Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-03-25


maid he had met in the forest, but now
splendidly radiant and perfect beyond
his imagining. She was no longer the
simple wood sprite, but a tiny princess
in filmy white nodded by some master
craftsman. AS on that earlier meet
ing, she was thrilling with some subtle
mirth which fiekered on her lips or
danced in the depths of her great. dark
eyes.
How he ever got through that wild
Introductory moment without making
a show of himself Anthony never
knew. The general confusion perhaps
helped to hide his emotion. for around
them eddied constant human tide
through which at last came Mr.. COrt-
landt and the other members Of his
party. Then by some glorious miracle
Kirk found himself moving toward the
open air at her side. with Mrs. Cort
landt and the banker in advance Of
them.
ooh. Chiquita,' he said softly, 81
thought I'd never find you. I've hunted
everywhere"
At the tremendous intensity of his
tone she flashed him a startled glance.
"Chiquita is not my name." she said,
reprovingly.
Eyes. it is: it must be. can't
think of you by any other Hasn't it
been whispering at my ears ever since
you said it? 1t has nearly driven me
mad. Why didn't you come back as
you promised?"
"It was Stephanie-she is such a
ferocious person! l was brought to
the city that day-but no. senior. l
did not promise. l said only per
haps.'"
"Have you done your ,penance"
ut was finished yesterday. This is
the first time have been out. Oh, it
is delightful. The music-the peoplev'
"And 1 can come to see you now?"
VERY well do you know that you
cannot. Have you not learned our
customs? Do not be foolish, or 1 shall
be forced to walk with my father"
Don't do that. Can't you see we
must make haste while the curtain is
DOWN."
Il do not see. am strolling in search
of the cool air." She bowed and smiled
at some passing friends. She seemed
very careless, very fippant. She was
not at all the impetuous, mischievouS
Chiquita he had met in the woods.
''See herev' he said, soberly. 1--WE
can't go on this way. Now that I've
met your father, I'm going to explain
my intentions to him, and ask his
permission to call on you"
my father is a stern man. In his
home he is entirely a Spaniard, and if
he learned how-we met, for instance"
even under the electric light he saw
her flush-'he would create a terrible
scene"
Trust me! 1 sha'n't tell him."
''There are SO many reasons why it
Is useless
Name one"
"One" She shrugged lightly. "In the
first place l care nothing for you. L.
not that enough?"
mo, indeed. You'll get over that
"Let us imagine, then, the contrary.
You Americans are entirely different
from our people. You are cold, de-
iberate, wicked-your social customs
are not like ours. You do not at all
understand us. How then could you
be interested to meet a Spanish fam
ily?"
''Why, you're half American
''Oh, yes, although it is to be re-
GREETED. Why, there is no other nice
girl in all Panama who would have
talked with you as 1 did in the forest
that day."
"But what has all this to do with
my coming to see you"
"It is difficult to explain, since you
will not understand. When a young
man is accepted into Spanish house.
many things are taken for granted.
Besides that, we do not know each 9th
er, you and 1. Also, if you should
come to see me it would cause gossip,
misunderstanding among my friends"
'I'll declare myself in advance" he
promised warmly.
mo, no, no! We Spanish-American
do not care for strangers. We have
our own people and we are satisfied.
It is much better that old people who
are Of more experience should discuss
these questions"
"But don't you want to have a voice
in your own affairs?' he eagerly urged.
She answered frankly: 81 do rebel
sometimes. I protest, but it is only the
American blood In me-"
eff you'd learn to know me a little
bit, maybe you'd enjoy having me
around the house."
"But 1 cannot know you, any more
than you can know me-" she cried.
with a little gesture of despair at his
dullness. "Don't you see-before we
could get acquainted nicely people
would be talking"