Rocky Ford enterprise., 1916-04-28
AUTHOR OF THE CITY THAT WAS. ETC.
ILLUSTRATED eT THarryR .Grissin8er
C0PTRioHT iel2 BOBBS-MERRILL CO

DO you happen to know any Of our
Spanish songs7" pursued Estrilla-
"Only Juanita. / think-and La Pa
Iona"
Estrflla looked as though he might
have laughed but for Spanish polite
ness.
Those are Spanish for outside con-
sumption, az when the English call
your cheap-oil.oloth is 1t not-'Amsri-
can cloth Let me sing to you-but
= Spanish song does not go well with
the plano
There's . guitar over in the a.
cove" announced Bstsy-Barbara-
"Far.sesing maidsni" exclaimed Es-
trilla with such delicious Spanish
roll on the vowels that Betsy-Barbara
laughed a little; and he, as though un-
derstanding, laughed with her.
So he tuned the guitar, Betsy-Bar-
bara finding the key for him on the
piano. And while he tweaksd the
strings, he made comment on them.
as:
"This-you hear-is tho angel-string.
not 90 wrong on this string; but 1t IL
too nne and high to make all our mu-
sic. This is the man-string. You can
go very right or very wrong on this
one" "Thees one." he pronounced It;
and he drew out the vowels as though
lingering on the thought. This Is the
woman-string. Listen-how discord-
ant nowl / tune 1t to the manstrins.
for am God Of this little world-and
now how beautiful"
"You ere talking poetryi" said Bet
sy-Barbara; and thought Of the phrase
ae somewhat awkward.
"Ah, but / am inspired" replied Es-
trilla.
("He surely doesn't mean me"
thought Betsy-Barbara, that would be
too delicious!" However, he was look
ing not at her but at the guitar.)
He strummed little shimmsring
chords as he spoke. He fell to silence.
but still the languorous music quivsred
from the guitar. Betsy-Barbara turned
about on the piano stool. her hands
folded lightly in her lap. her eyes cast
down.
It was many ysars before Bstsy-Bar-
bara, looking back over everything.
could analyze the feeling of that mo-
msnt, could put It In its true relation
to herself and her life. At the time.
she knew only that she sat there i'm
passive, embarrassed. but inert. that
she felt shame yet also furtive pleas
ure at the steady look of those caress-
ing eyes. It lasted only . moment
The outsr door slammed violently.
Bstsy-Barbara started A. though
caught In something guilty. She hesi-
tated a moment for fear Of showing
her feelings to Estrilla. Then she
walked out into the hall. There was
no one In sight. That seemed curl
GUS, since the hall stairs were not car.
peted. and one could hear footsteps.
1t was AZ though some one had opened
the front door and then quickly closed
It again without entering. When she
turned back. puzzled. she felt the ne
cessity for explanation.
'T thought It might be Miss Hard
ing" she said, falsely-'I wanted to
see her."
He only smiled the same caressing
smile. But the spell was cracked: and
Betsy-Barbara herself completed the
break. Half an hour later she winged
hint. which he caught mid-course, az
he seemed to catch every delicate
shaft of meaning. He rose and bade
her q formal good night. 'I hope may
sing with you again." he said at part.
ing.
Betsy-Barbara went to her own
room She dwadled over her prepara-
tions for undressing. making dozen
starts and stops. sho was not sleepy;