Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1915-04-22

| Joaquin. dear"
what, sweetheart"
''I've been thinking that should do
something to relieve the strain that
| you will have to bear in providing for
our wedding
Don't worry about that, dear.
can handle the matter"
'But there is one large item of ex-
pense-the largest item-that is really
not necessary you should incur
/ "What is that, pet?"
"Why, in the matter of furniture"
"The furniture?"
Eyes. have some very nice furni-
ture that will make us very comforta-
ble."
"You have?''
"Yes-that is. if you would act SEN
sibly about using furniture that was
provided
4 She was stalled.
provided how?"
! at was bought at time when"-
"When"-
"Did ever tell you that when l was
child I was engaged to marry
"What!'
"a man a great deal older than my
self. He was old enough to be my IA
Their"
"Do you mean to tell me that you
had been engaged before giving your
self to me?'
He had drawn away from her and
was looking at her with a cold stare.
Haven't ever mentioned it before ~
i mentioned 1t! MOI You told me that
I was the only man you ever loved
did ~"
eyes, and now you tell me that you
have been engaged before"
/ There was an awful pause between
them which Joaquin broke.
what has this to do with the furni-
ture?" he asked.
why, it was provided-provided by
the man to whom
Heavens What an awful iecep-
ton! can never excuse it-pever,
never, never!'
He buried his face in his hands.
j Joaquin. dear. why Go you set so
much store by something that happen
ed ever so long ago. when was a mere
chit and knew nothing of love?'
"Knew nothing of love! Were You
going to marry man you didn't love?"
81 thought did,
4 How did you find out that you
didnt?"
Here was another stumper. Pepita
did not reply.
"Come! Confess all since you are
about it,
After long silence the rest came
out haltingly.
81 was young and giddy. A man
about my own age attracted me, and
broke with the other"
| "Oh you really fell in love this
time?'
No answer.
"Well, what became of this second
love AFFAIR."?
ut didn't come to anything"
"Why not?"
There was terrible temptation to
lie. but Pepita was good girl and
she loved.
tie DIDN'T 1ancy me.
Instead of approaching Pep1ta's non
esty Joaquin went off into passion
ate TRADE about having been deceived
He rose while venting his spleen and
with wave of the hand and formal
bow. said
.'All is over between us!
Then he swept out of the room.
Pepita was not crushed She follow
ed him with her eyes in a sort of " m
der. while within her was breaking a
revolution as real as that in her lover
was emotional. His unreasonableness.
his injustice, stood out in contrast
with the generosity of Leandro Ortez,
who had refused to hold her or to
blame her when he learned that she
had given ner heart to another, but had
insisted on her keeping all his gifts.
When Joaquin's outburst had sub
sided it began to dawn upon him that
he had made fool of himself. He
passed the next day in indecision and
in the evening, having repented, went
to Pepita for a reconciliation He re
: ceived word by servant that Senorita
Sierra was engaged. He turned away
with cry of anguish
Senior Ortez had never married. He
had given his heart to Pepita when
she was little more than child, and
!, she still held it as woman.
There is celebration in Mexico City
called the battle of flowers. When the
: next anniversary of this fete came
round after Senorita Sierra broke with
! Joaquin Molina she was riding within
line of carriages in the Chapultepec
! park meeting another line of carriages,
while persons in both lines were pelt.
ing each other with roses Suddenly
! iPepita caught sight of Leandro Orte1
. coming. AS he passed he was struck
in the face with rose. Looking at
his assailant. he saw Pepita smiling al
him.
. Ortez considered the rose and the
+. smile recall. The same evening he
| %t,as,