The Washburn leader., 1916-07-28
A Romance of
Old Mexico
By F. A. mitchell

from Inc capital. Inc hostess WIS Il
young widow, and several of the
young men guests were suitors for
her hand. The lady, Sonora Ysabel
Cardona had given her heart to one Of
them, Don Miguel Benarez, but he did
not know it, and another, Antonio Co
raj, recent arrival from Madrid, who
claimed to be grandee. was his rival.
One afternoon when the hostess and
a number Of her guests had been stroll
ing over the hacienda, that Sonora Ysa
bel might show them her fruits, upon
passing up on to the veranda she miss
ed fan she had been carrying. 1t
was a valuable article, being studded
with jewels. \ small party had ar
rived at the house, the others being
strung along in the path they had
come. Among those who were with
the hostess was Antonio Coral.
what will you give the finder of the
FAM" he asked her
Anything l possess"
"Yourself?'
Sonora Ysabel looked at BenarcZ,
who was also present, and with a
spark in her eye and color in her
checks replied:
Yes
Away went all the men present to
look for the fan except BenareZ, who
remained standing beside Dona Con
CHA Poillado, with whom he had been
walking. Sonora Ysabel looked at him,
surprised that he did not enter the
lists for her hand and, frowning. went
into the house. After awhile those
who had gone to search returned. Co
raj possessed the fan and had wen the
widow.
Evidently his being the finder in
stead Of Benarez was matter Of
great displesure to Sonora Ysabel Car
dona. She gave no sign of not accept
ing the situation, but no one was sure
whether she would engage herself to
Coral or not. Coral certainly had rea'
son to suppose that she would, for she
at once began to treat him as tiance,
especially when Bcnarez was present.
| During the evening party OF the
men guests, including both Coral and
Benarez, were in the billiard room.
! Coral asked Benarez if he would play
game with him.
81 play only with honorable men, y
was the reply.
For u few moments there was the
stiffness of death in the room. Every
one present knew that the insult re-
quired resentment and it was gen
| hot hi fnr
lay the affair. Then Coral left the
room.
The next morning Sonora Ysabel
who was troubled that one man should
have won her hand when she wanted
another, awoke very early and la,
thinking what to do in the matter
Hearing mems voices under her win
dow, she got out of bed and saw
Benarez and another of her men guests
leaving the house. The man will
Benarez carried rapiers under his arm
1t was evident that Something was
about to happen, the cause of whicl
she did not understand. Hurriedly
putting on her clothes, she went out
into a corridor, where she met Don;
Conchia Poiliado, to whom she told
what she had seen.
81 can explain that" said Dona
Conchia, "but will do so later. Hurry
after these men if you wish to prevent
bloodshed."
The two women ran downstairs and
meeting one of the Indian servants
asked him which way the gentlemen
had gone. He told them, and they fol
lowed as fast as they could to an open
space inclosed by surrounding trees
where a number of ducIs had been
fought There they found Bcnarez and
Coral in their shirt sleeves, each hold
ing rapier, about to fight. On the
ground We're their seconds and several
other of the men guests.
"Gentlemen," said the widow, "what
right have you to mar my party in this
way? What you are doing is an in
suit to me and all my other guests"
The two principals paused, but nei
ther replied.
II think" said Dona Conchia, "that
I can explain it, and since the one 9TH
er who should explain it seems not in
clined to do so, will tell what l
know. Ysabel, when you took hold of
vine yesterday afternoon you drop
ped your fan. 1t fell into tall grass.
Don Antonio presently picked 1t up and
put it in his pocket Walking home
with Senor Benarez, I told him what l
had seen"
The statement occasioned a marked
surprise in all present. 1t seemed i'm
possible that grandee Of Spain could
have descended to so dishonorable an
! act. Coral turned pale and red by
turns. Sonora Cardona said to him:
"What have you to say, Don Antonio.
to the charge?"
II cannot dispute the word of a
lady," was the reply, uttered in a
voice scarcely audible and with bow
so low that his face was invisible.
"Put up your swords, gentlemen.
Senor Benarez, will you accompany
me back to the hOuse?'
Benarez tossed his rapier toward his
| second and. with the hostess. followed