The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-12-26
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: The "SEN0RlTA" ..

BY JANE OSBORN.

IL was WlCu SCrOuS spirit VI Hill
affection, mingled with just a shade of
regret, that Baldwin Stone determined
to spend the two weeks of his vacation
with his mother in her small city
apartment. 1t had about been deter
mined that he was to 60 to South
America in the autumn, and If he did
he might not return home for year.
Perhaps much longer period would
elapse before he saw the mother again.
Hence his determination to spend his
entire vacation with her.
After dinner, as they fingered for a
little while over their coffee, Mrs.
Stone showed a strange preoccupation
traces of which her son had caught
before during the few hours he had
been home. He Queried with his eyes.
Eyes, 1 am worried. Baldwin," she
answered, divining his meaning. "Of
course, I don't allow myself to brood
over it, but the strangest walls come
up to these windows sometimes. i
think it is Spanish, though I cannot
tell. I am sure you could. Suppose
we stay here and see If they will be-
GIN"
Series from the apartment below?"
Baldwin was inclined to make light Of
the matter. Anything of that sort
should be referred to the janitor, the
superintendent or the police. You
shouldn't allow yourself to be dis
tressed."
"But did ask the elevator man and
he looked so strange-at least !
thought he did. I asked him who lived
in the apartment below and he said.
in that drawing voice Of his: Miss
and Mrs. Martin I asked him if
either Of them was i'll and he said:
M indeed, ma'am.' Just that way,
and when I told him about the voices
he laughed and wouldn't do anything
about it. I suppose If it is a case
one of those horrible cases where the
girl is held against her will-the peo-
pie will have bribed him into secrecy.
But can't help but think about it,"
"Don't you remember what the
voice said?'
A low expressionless voice from the
court interrupted Martin, who stopped
short. ''There it is" whispered Mrs.
Stone and the mother and son drew
near to the window and listened in
tently.
"Tengo mucho calor," came the voice
in Spanish. "I am very warm" in
terpreted Baldwin. "That's perfectly
clear. II feel much worse, a little wa
ter, please. A drop of water, I am
thirsty" came in Spanish, in the same
expressionless, but soul-stirring. wom-
ans voice. 80 ie.~s.''--. - -. "".',
The next morning Baldwin thought
Of deliberate rescue. At breakfast
he had this plan of action so we'll
thought out in fact, that to his mother
he appeared not in the least agitated.
'rm going to brave the lion in his
den," he said. "1'll 60 right down this
morning and. tell them why I have
come. I'll take the wind out Of their
sails bit, I think"
When Baldwin reached the apart
ment below he was little side-tracked
from the first. The charming little
woman with golden hair and blue eyes
opened the door and disconnected him
by Selling his hand and shaking 1t
cordially. Then Baldwin recognized
her.
II knew the lady upstairs was your
MOTHER" she told him after she had
ushered him into the small living-room,
''because heard her tell the elevator
man that her son was coming home for
his vacation and she called you Bald
win. I was hoping you would come to
see me-"
It was hard getting back to the prob.
lem he was trying to solve, for Abigail
Martin was full Of enthusiasm-enthu-
siasm over Baldwin and enthusiasm
over herself. She managed to find out
in five minutes just what he was doing
as q lawyer and that he was going to
South America.
"How wonderful" she squealed, fair
ly dancing for joy. "Then we can talk
Spanish together. I get my degree
this summer and I am going to be
sure-enough doctor. Isn't that wonder
full? And I'm going to South America,
too; mother and together"
"You are studying medicine" Bald
win seized this as possible cue.
'Then," he faltered, perhaps one Of
your patients is here now. I have
heard the cries in the court. She seems
to be in great distress"
Abigail shouted with glee. "Oh, that
is poor old 'Senorita Dolorita.' That
is what we call the monograph, you
know. I taught myself Spanish with
one Of those photograph arrangements
that talk it to you, and as was going
to need to understand patients more
than anything else I had a special set
of records made with just the kind OF
things that patients say. I've been
thinking" she suddenly diverted, "ff
you're going to South America and l
am going, why shouldn't our mothers
20 together? I know your mother will
miss you dreadfully, and mine might
be lonely. when am off on my prac-
tice. Wouldn't that be wonderful? You
know YOU were awfully good to look