The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-01-16

DO you happen to know any Of our
Spanish songs?" pursued Estrilla.
only Juanita, ! think--and La Pa
Iona"
Estrilla looked as though he might
have laughed but for Spanish polite
ness.
Those are Spanish for outside con-
sumption, az when the English call
your cheap-oil.cloth Is 1t not-'Ameri
can cloth. Let me sing to you-but
Spanish song does not 80 well with
the piano"
There's a guitar over I'm the al
cove" announced Betsy.Barbara
"Far.seelng maiden!" exclaimed Es-
trilla with such delicious Spanish
roll on the vowels that Betsy.Barbara
laughed n little; and he. as though un.
Outstanding. laughed with her
So he tuned the guitar Betsy.Bar-
bara finding the key for him on the
piano. And while he tweakcd the
strings, he made comment on them.
as:
'This-you hearts tho angel.string.
II is for celestial harmonies one can
not 10 wrong on this string: but It lg
too fine and high TO make all our mu.
sic, This is the man.string. You can
50 very right or very wrong on this
one" "Thees one" he pronounced It;
and he drew out the vowels az though
lingering on the thought. This is the
woman.string. Listen-how discord.
ant now! | tune it to the man-strIng.
tor | am God of this little world-and
now how beautiful"
You are talking poetry" said Bet
sy barbara; and thought OF the phrase
az somewhat awkward.
"Ah. but ! am inspired" replied Es-
trlla.
Gle surely doesn't mean me-"
thought Bctsy.Barbara, that would be
too deliclous!" However, he was look.
ing not AT her but at the guitar.)
lie strummed little shlmmerIng
chords as he spoke. He fell to silence,
but still the languorous music Quivered
from the guitar. Betsy-Barbara turned
about on the piano stool, her hands
folded lightly In her lap, her eyes cast
down.
II was many years before Betsy Bar,
bara. looking back over everything
could analyze the feeling OF that mo.
mcnt, could put It in It's true relation
to herself and her life. At the time,
che knew only that she sat there i'm.
passive. embarrassed, hut inert, that
she felt shame yet also a furtive pleas,
ure at the steady look of those carcss.
ing eyes. It lasted only a moment.
The outer door slammed violently
Betsy-Barbara started as though
caught In something guilty. She hest.
tated n moment for fear Of showing
her feelings to Estrilla. Then she
walked out into the hall. There was
no one In sight That seemed curl.
Gus, since the hall stairs were not car.
peted, and one could hear footsteps.
1t was as though some one had opened
the front door and then quickly closed
it again without entering. When she
turned back, puzzled, she telt the ne
cessity for explanation.
Il thought 1t might be Miss Hard.
ing" she said, falsely-''I wanted TO
see her"
lie only smiled the same caressing
smile But the spell was cracked; and
Betsy-Barbara herself completed the
break. Half an hour later she winged
hint, which he caught mid-course, as
he seemed to catch every delicate
shaft of meaning. He rose and bade
her formal good night. 81 hope l may
sing with you again" he said at part
ing.
Betsy Barbara went to her own
room. She dwadled over her prepare
tions for undressing, making dozen
starts and stops. She was not sleepy;