Evening star., 1927-09-29


and ibanez spanish fiction is hut little
| known by the average American reader This
y no means ndcaics n nat the er heEnanrt rhaes
| The present story. called in spanish -
Numero Tree s yaTiat1n & attend,ns upo tne tb Ia
number 49,
Simon Campallano was born on De
cember 13. 1913. lie was the thir
| tcenth SON. and all his brothers dieG
one after the other. the last one pass
ing away on Simons thirteenth birth
day. At first Simon, on reaching ma
turity. gloomily pondered the unlucky
number SO intima tely connected with
him. but he finally dispelled these
melancholy thoughts from his mind
Setting out to make his fortune a.
q merchant in Madrid, he had bad
luck from the start Eeverything he un
dertook failed. Then it occurred to him
the number of his house was 13: re
menberng tits number made him at
tribute all his i'll fortunes to its sup
posed influence. He changed his resi-
dcnce. And he bought lottery ticket
in which 13 did not enter-and when
the drawing was made, he won. Not
very much, but still q winning.
Not satisfied, he bought another
ticket-number 12-and this time the
largest prize was drawn by the holder
Of number 13. Again the unlucky
number had frustrated his plans and
hopes Por a time he was silent and
morose. but the buoyancy of youth
revived his spirits-that and pair
of pretty black eyes. two smiling red
lips, and cheeks like roses. Simon was
in love.
Her name was Mariana. She was
OF good family and had an American
uncle who was a millionaire and an
old bachelor, soon expected to die
Mariana was to be the heiress. 81
mon decided to marry her.
And Simon succeeded in winning
Mariana, whereupon he insisted that
since the American uncle was expected
on a visit they should await his per.
mission and approval. Then, on the
eve of the uncle's expected arrival
there came a letter. The uncle had
been shipwrecked and all his fortune
lost in the sea. When Simon noticed
that the letter was dated the 18th of
the month he became deathly pale.
The fatal number had again injured
him.
Mariana was as cheerful and as
pretty as ever, but Simon thought the
wreck was a bad omen and determined
not to marry her, for they were both
poor. He avoided her, and finally
wrote her that he had a fatal destiny
which brought disaster wherever he
went, and could not make her his wife.
Mariana acknowledged his note with
evident irony:
"Our love is shipwrecked like my
uncle's fortune" she said.
Time passed. 1t must be remem.
bered that in those days Of 1888 the
off nnf fc 70
day. Many events took place that did
not appear in the papers at all. Minor
things, as engagements and weddings,
were frequently known only by rela.
tives and immediate friends. Thus,
when Ernestina Albamonte, a beauti.
full young maiden, was to be married
very few people knew Of it.
Ernestina had many suitors, but
she spurned them all. Then the right
man came along-pale, with long hair
and sad eyes, gazing adoringly at
her. This lucky fellow was none
other than Simon Campallano. who
in abandoning Mariana, had found an
other love. And Ernestina Alba.
monte's father was rich.
But Simon had to fight a duel with
Ernestina's outraged suitors. They
numbered 13. Simon was fear
brought home with his arm pierced
by sword thrust.
Simon received Ernestina's fathers
permission for their marriage. Ernes-
tina was the victim Of many romantic
Illusions. and her father thought that
Simon might dispel some of them for
the girls good. Besides, Simon was a
likely young man.
So the preparation for the wedding
went on. Simon began to think he had
escaped the sinister number 13 at last
1t had cost him duel, but he had won
Ernestina, and her fortune was Sc.
cure from shipwreck and other acci
dents.
Simon and Ernestina were married
very quietly, almost secretly. Only
the priest, their witnesses and the
notary were present when they signed
wrote her name with languid air
and heaved sigh. Simon with a firm
step went up to the table. signed his
name. and then breathed freely, as
though he were now sure Of his happi-
ness.
A dinner party was arranged for IL
in all, nine besides the bridal couple
and the brides father. The bride,
groom was we'll received by all the
brides friends, and heartily congratu-
lated. When Ernestina entered the
room, radiant with beauty, they all
crowded around her to praise her love
liness.
Ernestina's father was impatient
for his dinner. so they all filed into
the dining room. While Ernestina
was eating her soup her maid came
and whispered to her.
i,~ix -
her come in. Place another cover"
she ordered