Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-25
Euening Story
A GENTLEMAN FROM SPAIN.
BY lola Forester.
Copyright, 1915, by Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)


Copyright, 1915, by Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)
If there had not been eight thou
sand in the savings bank over in New
Jersey Jess said she would feel diff
ferent, but what on earth was the use
of gruhbing all your life when you
had enough to rest on?
Yes, and where's the next eight
thousand coming from when that's
gone, Jess?' asked Mrs. Avery COM
placently, her handsome Irish face
wrinkling in a good tempered smile of
serenity and content II can see you
or your father earning and putting it
by-like fun"
Jess pouted and stared out at the
bifurcated view of Washington square
visible from the basement windows.
She was tired Of the bifurcated view
and the passing half sections of hui
mans, tired of the dark back rooms
of the janitor's fiat, tired Of being part
Of the janitor's family, tired of the
whole thing, and the eight thousand
in the savings bank over in Jersey
looked like the door key into paradise.
| I'VE could get little apartment up
town and I'll work
. And what would you work at, dar-
ling?" blandly from her mother.
II don't know. I'd like to be buy.
er. They're treated awfully well and
they get chance to travel. l just
hate New York"
.'And what would you do. with
Barty?' asked Mrs. Avery. HE
wouldn't give up a growing business
to 60 Off on wild goose chase with
you, Jess"
"He could stay where he is. I don't
want to marry a fireman"
There's widows pension goes
with 1t, Jess, mind" her mother said
soothingly. "And Barty'es fine lad
altogether It's sight better than
watching from that window for Mr..
Delguardo to show up again.
Jess flushed slowly, leaning her chin
on her hand. 1t was prtty chin and
1T was a pretty hand. She had not
lived her life out down in the base
ment by a long shot. From six to
fifteen she had been in . convent up
the Hudson and when she gave the
girls her address she always said she
lived down in the old Washington
square studio district, which was quite
true; but she did not add that. her
father was a janitor.
Always they had accused her OF
building castles in Spain and longing
for the things she could never have.
It had been joke for years-Jess
and her high-flying notions-and then
out Of the blue sky almost there had
dropped real live gentleman from
Spain, Antonio Delguardo, an artist
who took the third floor studio, paid
his rent in advance and acted like
grandee.
Before his coming, Jess had gone
out for an evening walk with Barty
now and then when he was off duty,
and had even taken In the theaters
with him, or an occasional trip to the
beach, but one day when she was
sweeping the basement steps Mr.. Del.
guardo had stopped at the little iron
grill gate to ask If the mail had come,
and Jess had told him she would take
It up to the studio for him.
"Ah. no, senorita, not at ALL" he
had declined II will myself descend
for it. It is not for you to come so
far. | thank you"
The whole world turned somer-
sault for Jess right there. and then
Here was one human being who rec.
ognized at glance that she did not
belong to the basement stratum. When
the postman whistled, Mr.. Delguardo
came leisurely down and received his
mail, and he bowed to her and smiled
Later on, out in the little tagged
back courtyard, Jess heard him sing
ing in Spanish, and it was LA Palo
ma" Nearly every day he sang it.
and it became the uplift of the day
to Jess, the rich, caressing notes and
tender Spanish syilables. After that
she could not go out with Barty-
not with "La Paloma" ringing in her
ears and the Delguardo manners as
a criterion of good taste to measure
Barty by.
One day she was directing the vac
uum-cl eaner man around the house,
and came to the studio. She opened
the door with pass key and entered
with fast-beating heart. Here was
the inner shrine OF his personality
While the man worked she looked
around And it seemed wise to put
away the choicest bits of bric-a-brac
that were exposed There was large
inner cabinet closet between the