The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1916-05-05
CASTLES IN SPAIN
sy IzoLA FoHREsTER.

'And what will you do with Barty Sh
esked Mrs. Avery.
He could stay where he is. don't
want to marry a fireman" !:
"Theie's a Widows pension goes
with y. Jess, mind" her mother said
soothingly. And Barty's a fine lad
altogether. It's a sight better than
watching from that window for Mr.;
-Pelguardo to show UP again."
Jess flushed, SLOWLY leaning hef
chin on her hand. 1t was a Pretty
chin and it was pretty hand. She
had not lived her life out down in
the basement by long shot. From
six to fifteen she had been in con-
vent up the Hudson, and when she
gave the girls her address she always.
said she lived down in the old Wash,
ington Square studio district, which
was quite true; but she did not add
that her father was 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-hying 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 flood studio, paid
his rent in advance and acted like a
grandee.
4 Before his coming, Jess had gone
out for an evening walk with Barry
now and then when he was off duty,
and had even taken in the theatere
with him, or an occasional trip to the
beach, but one day when she was
sweeping the basement steps Mr.. Del
gardO had stopped at the little iron
grill gate to ask il 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. "I will myself descend
for it. 1t is not for you to come so
far, thank you"
The whole world turned a 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 leleurely down and received his
mail, and he bowed to her and smiled.
One day she w6a directing the vac.
uum-cleaner man around the house
and came to the studio. She opened itE
door delicately and stared. Could
the grandee be doing light housekeep.
ing? There was what seemed to be
an alcohol stove, but of strange pat,
tern, also some peculiar bowls OF
dark metal, much burned, and other
things, including bottles full of liquids
like Photographic chemicals. All were
rather mysterious. And while she stood
irresolute the gentleman from Spair
walked in. His eyebrows lifted slight
ly at the sight of her. He seemed sur
prised-more, grieved. Jess was al
bushes and anxiety, as she explained
His tone was soothing.
1T is nothing, senorita. 1t was thC
dazzle Of sunlight in my poor studio
that bewildered me for the instant
I thank you. kiss your hand II
token"
Now Jess had never had her hanC
Missed before, and she went out 4
queen. When he brought her a gar
denia that evening it seemed all par
of the new wonder of life, a singl,
gardenia given with such a bow anC
look. Jess was standing out on the
front steps listening to the band owe
in the square, and she lifted the flower
to her nostrils, inhaling its perfum,
luxuriously after he had gone up.
My. 'tis hot, amt it, Jess?" sal,
Mrs. Avery, coming heavily up out o
the basement for a breath Of air
But just at this moment two stTang,
gentlemen paused at the steps and in
quired for Mr.. DeIguardo.
Hes not had visitors before" Mrs
Avery speculated.
Jess was silent Vaguely her castll
In Spain was taking shape, and sh
glided through it's black and whit
marble corridors and watched from IL
terraces for Senior Delguardo, o
would they call him Don, she won
dered dreamily.
1t was about three minutes afte
NE ascent of the two callers whel
there came smotheFed explosion
from the third floor studio. Some
body turned IN a fire alarm at tn,
corner, and it was Rarty's eompan!
from over on Greenwich street tha