The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-12-18


son. No nonsense, no fafniIiari-
ties, el12 Besides, you know al
ready that I'm strong and can
fight e 4 have to. 4
Cl,apter II.
Good morning. Rafaelito; We
are seeing each other betimas to-
day. / am up so early not TO
miss the marketing. remember
that Wednesday was always
great event In my life, as = child.
What crowd ~
And Leonora, with the great
gwarming cities far from her mind,
was really Impressed at the mum.
bers Of busting people crowding
the little square, called del Prado,f
where every Wednesday tbs
grand market Of the Alctra
Rafael gazed at bis friend in
sheer establishment. What d.
beauty she was! Who could ever
have taken her, n that costume,
for b wcfIdfamous prima donna!
LeonOra looked the living pic
ture OF an orchard girl: 81 plain,
cotton dress in anticipation OF
spring; d red kerclief around her
neck: her blonde hair uncovered,
combed back with artfuI careless
ness and hastily knotted low on
the back of her head. Not a
jewel, not flower. Only her
height and her striking coneIi-
ness marked her Off from the
other girls. Under the curious,
devouring glances OF this whole
market throng, Rafael Snilingly
greeted her, feasting his eyes on
her fresh. pink skin, still radiant
from the morning bath, inhaling
the subtle, indefinaibIe fragrance
that lowered about that strong,
healthy youthful person.
Rafael's supporters the chief
officials in the city government
who were lettering about the
square, could not conceal their
satisfaction. Even the humblest
Of the constables felt q certain
pride. That beautiful fairy was
talking with 1.-THE chief" smiling
at him, oven. What an honor for
the party" But after all, why
not? And those men, who were
very careful to keep silent when
their wives spoke Indignantly Of
the stranger" admired her with
the instructive fervor that beauty
inspires, and envied the deputy
his good fortune. The old or
chard women wrapped the couple
in caressipg giarices Of approval.
There was a handsome pair! What
a fine mRtchi
The town ladies In passing by
would draw up full height and
pretend not to see them. ON
meeting acquaintance they would
make wryt faces and say ironical-
": did you see? here
she Is, in full sight OF everybody,
casting her fly for Dona Der
narda's SOM What q disgrace!
It was getting so a decent woman
hardly dared go out of doors!
Leonora, quite unconscious Of
the interest she was arousing,
chartered on about her shopping
Beppas you see, had decided to
stay at home with her aunt that
morning. so she had come with
her gardeners wife and another
woman-there they were over
there-and what fun it all was!
However, Leonora observed that,
without a. doubt her audience was
interpreting her cordial offhand
way with Rafael In the worst light
possible. She gave him her hand
and took leave.
And the young man saw her
make her way, followed by the
two country women. through the
crowds, pausing at the booths,
welcomed by the vendors with
their best smiles, as a customer
who never haggled: interrupting
her purchases to fondle the filthy,
whining children the poor women
were carrying in their arms, ard
taking the best fruits out Of her
basket to give to the little ones.
And everywhere general adnira-
ton! "Asf senorita-Here, my
dear young ladyw ''Venga, Dona
Leonor!-This way, Dona Leonor!"
the huckstresses cried, calling her
by name to show greater in
tinacy.
Rafael gazed after her, smiling
indifferently in acknowledged
of the congratulations the town
notables were heaping on him.
'The alcalde-the most fhen-pecked
husband in Alcira, according to
his enemies-affirmed with spark
ling eyes that for woman he
was capable of doing almost any
crazy thing. And they all joined
in chorus of invidious praise,
taking It for granted that Rafael
was-the artiste's accepted lover
And she vanished, finally, into
the sea of heads at the other end
of the market place: though
Rafael, from time to time, thought
he could still make out Il mass
of golden kair rising above the
chevelures of the other girls.
Willingly he would have followed,
but Don Matias was at his side,
Don, Matias. the wealthy orange
exporter: father of the wistful
Remedies, who was spending her
L.. \. u