Evening star., 1932-07-10
lUANNES TROUBAD0UR 6

l. you much looking at my girl again.
I'll"
himself in mere words, for he seized the open
mouthed Joaquin by the shoulder and gave him
a mighty shove.
"Dad!" Luanne walled. Then, anger super
sedng her temporary fright she continued:
Say! why all the dramatics? can take care
of myself"
"Yesi" her father snorted 1T looks like it.
the way that dirty hombre was necking you
when came up"
He isn't dirty hombrel" she denied, hotly
"Just because he spends his time playing a
guitar instead of playing with blueprints Of
dinky railroads. like your little tin god, Wayne
Kitchell. does, is no sign that"
"Oh be still" Stannard commanded. ~And
for you, Joaquinl Get out of here, prontoi
And don't come back. Savvy? Come
along Luanne. We're going back to the house
--now" And he took her by the arm.
uCOAdE back often as you like, Joaquin!"
~ cried the infuriated girl. "The oftener,
the betterl"
"Luannel' Stannard admonished
"Oh. all right I'm coming But you
don't have to pull along as if I were only
years old"
You act as if you were only g." the stern
parent retorted. Remember now, I forbid you
to ever see that guitar -plunking troubadour
againt'
first day in Motagua Valley.
IN those warm. 1angourous days that followed
! when her father away from home
most of the time-Luanne kept many a secret
tryst with this handsome and intriguing
Joaquin.
She was pleasantly surprised during their
first daylight meeting to that he was not
so -eomplexoned many Of the other
natives This, she reasoned, was due to the
fact that his father had been American.
The girl, while curious hadn't the courage to
ask who his mother was.
The days passed into weeks. At first, the
perverse Buanne saw Joaquin because her
father had so emphatieally forbidden it. This
added zest to an already colorful Irritation.
But time went on the young man proved
himself master of hearts well as a master
of the guitar with the result that he ro-
maneed himself deep into the young lady's
affections. Then came the inevitable.
With the pathos of centuries in his soft
voice, he asked her to marry him. And Lu-
anne, deeply moved said Yes"
~ /HEN shall it be, palomita9" he asked
w crushing her in his arms.
Tomorrow morning-at that American mis-
sionarys place. down the valley"
"Manana!" he breathed the word softly.
"Dios! But I am drunk with ioyi"
'And-er-Joaqln," she said, timidly.
Haven't you a suit of clothes to wear at the
wedding. That isl mean-something besides
those torn trousers and that shirt?"
Eyes, my own" he answered. 81 have bought
a suit of blue serge in anticipation Of this
happiest of days"
That's fine Well, until tomorrow
morning when I'll meet you at the Rev.
Browns place. good-by, joaquin"
THE following morning Luanne, in her fathers
! roadster, sped along the rutted road,
fringed on either side by towering trees, to-
ward the Rev. Browns home. AS she
neared her destination, Joaquin sprang into
the road to hail her.
Again the girls nisgivings were dispelled,
for this tall young man whom she was about
to marry looked for all the world as if he had
stepped off Fifth Avenue, well did his
snartly-tailored suit fit him.
Hop int" she called, bringing the car to a
stop.
He did; but his radiant smile of yesterday
was missing. His dark eyes were somber. The
girl asked him what was wrong.
Wait, Luanne" he said Don't drive ON.
Anyhow, not until I've told you what I have
to say"
She switched the motor off, turned nquisi-
tive eyes on him and said "Yes?"
tiA /ELL," he began, lin the first place, my
w name isn't Joaquin. And that 'paio-
Inita mia stuff was all a bluff; not especially
hard to put over when one speaks Spanish,
and plays a guitar a Httle-enough to get by.
1--WE misled you-and I feel miserable
about it, When I told you my father was an
American, I might also have added that my
mother was too. In fact, they still are. They
live in Wisconsin, and their name is Kitchen,
which makes yours t~uiy-Wayne Kitchen
That blond chap who's been playing my role,
is Henry Wilson, my assistant
your dad framed it up, after 1 fell in love
with your picture. He said that If he forbade
ycu to fall in love with me- you would.
But my love for you-it's genuine. 1t al
ways win be. And if you want to crown me