Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-11-22
Evening Star S
Daily Story
A GENTLEMAN FROM SPAIN
BY IzoLA FoRREsTER.

different, but what on earih was the
use of grubbing all your life when
YOU had enough to rest on?
Yes, and where's the next eight
thousand coming from when that's
gone, JESSE" asked Mrs. Avery COM
placently, her handsome Irish face
wrinkling in a good-tempered smile
of serenity and content. Il can Nsee
you or your father earning and put
ting 1t by-like fun"
Jess pouted and stared out at the b-
furcated view of Washington Square
visible from the basement windows.
She was tired of the bifurcated view
and the passing half sections Of hu-I
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. thou-
sand in the savings bank over in. Jer-
sey looked lire the door key into
Paradise
I'VE could get little apartment up
town and I'll work"
And what would you work at, dar-
iing?" blandly from her mother
Il don't know. I'd like to be a buyer.
They're treated awfully well and they
get a chance to travel. just hate
New York
And what would you do with
Barty?' asked Mr.. Avery. ''He
wouldn't give up a growing business
to go off on wild-goose chase with
you, Jess
''He could stay where he is. don't
want to marry fireman"
There's a widows pension goes
with 1t, Jess, mind" her mother said
soothingly. ''And Bartys a fine lad
altogether. It's a 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 pretty chin and
it was a pretty hand. She had not
lived her life out down in the base
ment by long shot. From six to If
teen she had been in a 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 a joke for years-Jess
and her high flying notions-and then
out of the blue sky almost there had
dropped a. 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 of duty,
and had even taken In the theaters
with him, or an occasional trip to Z
beach, but one day when she )
sweeping the basement steps Mr. Del
Ruardo had stopped at the little iron
T. mi
come. and Jess had told him she
would take it up to the studio for
him.
'.Ah, no, senorita, not at ALL" he
had declineds II will myself descend
for it 1t 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
osnized at a glance that she did not
belong to the basement stratum.
When the postman whistled, Mr.. Del
guardo came leisurely down and re-
ceiyed 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 1t was La Palo-
ma" Nearly every day he sang It, and
1t DGcdH10 Il6 uphll VI LIE QdJ "
Jess. the rich, caressing notes and ten
der Spanish syllables. After that she
could not go out with Barty--Rot with
La Paloma" ringing In her ears and
the Delguardo manners as criterion
Of good taste to measure Barty by.
one day she was directing the vac
uum-cleaner man around the mouse,
and came to the studio. She opened
the door with a pass key and entered
with a 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
studio and bedroom. She opened its
doors dclicately and stared. Could the
grandee be doing light housekeeping? :?
There was what seemed to be an
alcohol stove, but of a strange pat
tern, also some peculiar bowls of
dark metal, much burned, and other
things, including bottles fun of liquids
like Photographic chemicals. All were
rather mysterious. And while she
stood irresolute the gentleman from
Spain walked in, His eyebrows lift
ed slightly at the sight of her. lie
seemed surprised-more. grieved.
she explained. His tone was sooth-
ing.
'It is nothing, senorita. 1t was the
dazzle of sunlight in my poor studio
that bewildered me for the instant.
l thank you. I kiss your hand in
token"
Now Jess had never had her hand
kissed before, and she went out a
queen. When he brought her a gar
denia that evening it seemed all part
Of the new wonder of life. single
gardenia given with such a bow and
look. Jess was standing out on the
front steps listening to the band over
in the square, and she lifted the flower
to her nostrils, inhaling it's perfume
luxuriously after he had gone up.
My, tits hot, amt it. JESSE" said
Mrs. Avery, coming heavily up out OF
the basement for a breath of air.
And why didn't you come help do
the dishes2" ~
II forfot, mother. I'm sorry
Where did you get the fiower?"
mfr Delguardo." Jess tried to be
nonchalant. Mrs. Avery smiled at her
tolerantly,
Don't be encouraging at all, Jess.
I'D rather hand over the eight thou
sand to you and Barty and let you
70 into business with it."
Than what, mother?" Jess dimpled
provocatively.
But just at this moment two
strange gentlemen paused at the steps
and inquired for Mr.. Delguardo.
Hes not had visitors before" Mrs.
Avery speculated.
Jess was silent. Vaguely her castle
in spain was taking shape, and she
glided through its black and white
marble corridors and watched from
its terraces for Senior Delguardo, or
would they call him Don, she won
.lared dreamily. -.