The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1915-05-01
CHAPTER XII.

In its inception the Fortuna hotel
had not been intended for the use of
Mexicans-in fact, it's rates were prac-
tically prohibitive for anyone not be-
ing paid in gold-but, since most OF
the Americans had left, and seven dol
lars a day Mex was no deterrent to the
rich refugee land owners, it became
Of a sudden international, with a fine
mixture of purse-proud Spaniards and
race-proud American Adventures.
Not a very pleasing combination for
the parents of romantic damsels des-
tined for some prearranged marriage
of state, but very exciting for the dam
sells and most provocative to the Amer
leans.
After the promenade in the plaza
the mothers by common consent pre-
empted the upstairs reception-room,
gathering their precious charges in
close; while the Americans, after their
custom, foregathered in the lobby,
convenient to the bar. Hot argu-
ments about the revolution, and pre-
dictions of events to come served to
pass the early evening, with many
scornful chances at the Mexican dan
dies who went SO insolently up the
stairs. And then, as the refugees re
tired to their apartments and the spirit
of adventure rose uppermost, Phil De
Lancey made a dash out into the
darkness and came back with a Next
can string band.
"A serenade, boys!" he announced
as the musicians filed sheepishly into
the hotel. Our guests, the fair seno-
ritas, you know! Well make those
young Mexican dudes look like two
spots before the war Is over. Who's
game now for song beneath the win
dows? You know the old stand-bys-
La Paloma and 'Teresita Mia'-and
you want to listen to me sing Me Gus
tan Todas' to Gracia, the fairest of the
fair! Come on, fellows, out in the
plaza, and then listen to the old folks
cuss!"
They adjourned then, after drink
for courage, to the moonlight and the
plaza: and there, beneath the shut
tered windows and vacant balconies
the guitars and violins took up LA
Paloma," while Phil and a few brave
spirits sang.
A silence followed their first at
tempt. as well as their second ano
third. and the comisario Of police, a
mild creature owned and paid by the
company, came around and made g
few Intellectual protests.
But inside the company's conces
sion, where by common consent the
militant rurales kept their hands off
the Americans knew they were safe
and they soon jollied the comisarie
into taking a drink and departing
Then De Lancey took up the burden
and the string band, hired by the hour
strummed on as If for eternity.
One by one the windows opened
fretful fathers stepped out on the bal
cony and, bound by the custom ant
convention of the country, thanked
them and babe them good night. Blu
the two windows behind which thu
Senior Aragon and his family reposet
did not open and, though the dwin
ding band stood directly under thei
balcony, and all knew that his daugh
ter was the fairest Of the fair, Dol
Cipriano did not wish them good night
Perhaps he recognized the leading
tenor-and the big voice OF But
Hooker, trying to still the riot-but
however it was, he would not speal
to them, and De Lancey would no
quit.
TRY 'em on American music!" h
cried, as everyone but Bud went ava.
in disgust, 1.-The latest rag from Broad
wa-ay, New York. Here, gimme tina
guitar, hombre, and listen to thi
now!"
He picked out a clever bit of syr
copation and pitched his voice to
heady twang:
Oh my. l long to go!
Pluck me like a flower. cuddle me an hou
L>vis let me learn the Red Rose Ra-ag!
There was some swing to that, an
it seemed to make an impression. TO
tust as he was well started On tn
chorus the stats of one of the shu
tiers parted and patch Of white shon
through the spaces. 1t was the ladies
then, who were getting interested
| Phil walled on:
'Swee-eet honey bee. be sweet to me!
| Ny heart IL free. but here's the key?'
And then, positively, he could sc
that patch of white beat time. H
took heart of grace at that and san
on to the end, and at suggestion {
clapping in dumb-show he gave an el
core and ragged it over again.
Ev'rybody's doin' it, dom it, doll