Bridgeton pioneer., 1916-03-16
Two Kisses
By DONALD CHAMBERLIN

Santiago for information. Coming to
hacienda. the captain. leaving his men
at the gateway, rode up to the house.
He was admitted by Il negro woman.
who announced that there was no ono
at home except Senorita Sierra. the
daughter OF the owner. WhereGpon
Mansfield asked if he might have
few minutes conversation with the
young lady.
The senorita was OF different type
from the usual Spanish girl, who is
small of stature and delicately made
She was rather above the middle
height for a woman and of dignified
demeanor. Having entered the room
where the captain was waiting for her.
she stood without speaking till he
should make known his desires.
What Mansfield had called at the
house for was information. He asked
If the family sided with Spain or Cuba
and learned that their hearts were
with Cuba. But as to information, the
young lady had none to give. Never
theless the visitor kept her talking.
He was a male firt aAd had made
many conquest. Daring was meth
cd he often employed with women. and
he resolved upon this course in the
present case. After engaging the senO-
rita in conversation for some time, dur
ing which he showed admiration for
her, he rose to take his leave. He Of
fered his hand. and when she gave
him hers he drew her toward him. and
before she could draw back he had
kissed her on the cheek.
That he had made a mistake was in
stantly apparent. The senorita's eyes
flashed, and her face flushed scarlet.
With an expression of contempt she
turned, left the room, and Mansfield
saw her no more.
When the fighting was over, before
returning to the United States. Mans
field mounted his horse and rode to the
hacienda to offer an apology for what
he had done. The same negro woman
who had admitted him before opened
the door. Mansfield asked her to in
form her mistress that he would con-
slider it a boon if she would give him
few moments in which to apologize
for what he had done on a previous
visit
Written word was returned that an
apology would not be accepted. The
lady demanded satisfaction on behalf
of one who would act as her champion.
Captain Mansfield would receive COM
down the road.
The officer left the house in a guam
dairy. Should he meet some one in NOR
tai combat for Snatched kiss for
which he had offered to apologize, or
should he end the affair by sailing for
home without paying any further at
tention to it? He would have chosen
the latter course had it not been for
the contemptuous treatment he had re-
ceived from the senorita. He could
not bring himself to incur the further
imputation.
He rode to the hotel named and. TAX
ing seat on the veranda, lit cigar.
Half an hour passed, and he was about
to ride back to camp when a negro boy
approached, holding in his hand a let
ter. Seeing Mansfield, he handed it to
him. The captain opened it and read:
To the American Officer-This evening
at o. clock will take satisfaction Tor the
insult offered my sister. Be at the north
east corner of the Sierra hacienda.
JOSE SIERRA.
Mansfield was puzzled as to the
handwriting. The letters were large
and bold, but it looked as if the writer
had disguised his hand. The captain
could not but smile at a challenge to
mortal combat sent by negro boy,
addressed to "the American officer
and signed by man he had never
seen. If Jose Sierra had no friend to
bear his challenge why did he not
come himself? Evidently the senorita
was put to it to secure her revenge.
Possibly the brother was not at hand.
and the sister had written the chal-
lenge in his behalf. Indeed, despite
the large letters there was more that
was feminine than masculine in the
writing.
At 6 o'clock Mansfield returned TO
the hacienda, located the northeast
corner and, climbing the fence. ad
vanced till he came to a grove in the
center of which was an open space.
There he stood for few minutes,
when he saw a figure advancing.
Though the costume was that of
man, the gait was Enthusiastically that
Of a woman. Mansfield. pretending to
be deceived, said:
"Senor, your resemblance to your
sister is remarkable
1--WE are twins, SIR
II presume we are to fight without
secondsT'
"Are they necessarily"
Before we begin l desire to offer
through you to your sister the apology
she would not receive. was tempted
beyond my strength from beholdinp
the most beautiful, the most engaging
woman / have ever seen AftarS 7