Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1915-04-22
A MEXICAN
MARRIAGE GIFT
Being a Story Of Second
hand Furniture.
By F. A. mitchell

lie that all over the world these GUS
toms vary. In Europe prevailing re-
quirement is that the bride shall fur
nish a dowry, even among the lower
classes. In Russia there are a num-
Der of singular customs, the most
unique Of which is that woman de-
string to marry man may go to his
house and remain there till he marries
her. If he puts her out her relatives
will avenge the act as an insult. In
northern Italy the matter of marriage
is largely in the hands of brokers, but
after an engagement is broken the
man must pay all damages. In Japan
a marriage may be contracted for a
limited period, the man paying down
specified sum, which goes to the brides
parents.
In Mexico they have custom differ
all the wedding expenses, including
trousseau for the bride. He provides
the wedding feast, with plenty of wine.
The most expensive part of his outlay
is furnishing the home.
Pepita Sierra, Il Spanish girl of Mex.
leo City, was coquette. She was
very pretty, with her olive and red
complexion and long, Spanish lashes.
which, when she dropped them over
her flaming dark eyes before the adj
miring gaze of man, rendered her
very attractive ,.'hen she was fifteen
,,,., ,,,i,. III 70, oh.
was wooed by Leandro Ortez, a
wealthy man twenty years her senior,
and, since he was well off. her father
accepted him for her. She had never
had a lover and was not averse to the
wedding till she met a man nearer her
own age, whom she liked better The
wedding outfit had been provided by
her fianee. and the ceremony was to
take place in a few days But this
did not prevent Pepita from breaking
off the match. Ortez had provided the
trousseau and the furniture. Being a
gentleman descended from Spanish
grandee, he declined to take back the
trousseau and insisted also on Pepita's
retaining the furniture. Pepitas IA
ther protested against this, but Ortez
overcame his scruples, and the senorita
found herself in possession of all the
| fine clothes she would need for some
| time and large storeroom filled with
| elegant furniture
| She did not succeed in catching the
| young man who had caused the break
between her and Ortez, SO the outfit
was not used She wore the clothes
that had been provided until the fash
ions changed, then gave them to the
| poor, but the furniture remained in
| storage.
Pepita, though she had many minor
! affairs of the heart. did not become en-
1 gagged again till she was twenty; then
she was betrothed to Joaquin Molina.
| This time she was very much in love
Molina. who was full of romance, told
her that he had never loved and never
/ could love any one but her. OF course
Pepita responded that she had never
loved any one but him. All went pleas
antly between the pair until the wed
ding day was set. Then Joaquin told
his fiancee that they would better Sc,
day when they would go together
and select the furniture for their home
By this time Pepita had grown clean
out of childhood and had begun to
look to the pecuniary requirements OF
life Her tiance was not wealthy, enc
her father could do very little for hel
in the way of dowry. There was plen
fu .af fI1,, cfn hat NJ
only to be brought forth and placed il
the house the couple would occupy
Pepita wogla not be averse to this
Women are accustomed to receiv,
gifts, and she had no conjunction a:
to using what had been provided b.
one lover in establishing home will
another. But what would Senior Molin,
say to doing so?
Molina was very sensitive If sh
told him that she possessed furniture
that had been given her by one whom
she had expected to marry it woult
bring up matter that might have al
unpleasant effect on her present lover
On the other hand. Molina could not at
ford-so she believed-to provide sucl
4 udlluSOllle IuEulluFe us tlaC alfead1
possessed, and why should money b.
thus wasted?
She tried hard to bring herself t
breach the matter to Molina, but dare,
not do SO. Then it occurred to her t
sell what furniture had been provided
turning it into money. She made in
i quiries as to what she could get for /
and was surprised to find that althoug
it was as good as new it must be Sol
for secondhand furniture and woul
not bring 20 per cent of cost.
Pepita would not have been a won
an if she could have consented to thi
sacrifice. What pity that men wer
so ayerse to using anything as hus
band that had been provided by
former lover of his wifes! If sh
could arrange to utilize the furnitur
few years after marriage when thei
love had become more practical. tn
difficulty might be overcome. But BIZ
tween lovers on the eve of marriage
when there was so much sentiment IL
voIvad a cnorl, mipht blow tho 1uhoI