The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-10-05
ANOTHER DELAY

The horde of Americans who
rolled down the Highway needed
English-speaking guides to ex-
plain to them the wonders Of the
ancient civilization of Mexico. Jose
could speak English.
He saw his chance to earn three
pesos a day, to buy a farm some
day, and to set Margherita in a
better home than she had ever
known. So the wedding day was
postponed-again and again.
For the tourists never ceased.
Jose saw Margherita often-at
least thrice week he could in
veigle his charges to tour" the
old market. The young pair told
each other they were happy wait
ing for the future.
Then life played one of its aw-
full tricks. Jose hadn't wanted to
fall in love with the American
girl.
He couldn't help himself. She
was like an angela blonde, blue
eyed, slim resident of that dreamed
of heaven which was "the States"
He loved the sight Of her, He
loved the easy way in which she
spent more money in a day-on
flowers, taxis, tips, clothes, food,
and nonsense-than most people
he knew spent in a month.
Daily he felt more encouraged
by the gay, light manner in which
she accepted his growing ardor.
She could see what he felt-and
she was receptive. Or so ne
thought.
How could Jose know that many
American girls-and this one in
particular-accepted masculine at.
tention as calmly as they accept
the Advertisements of mothers.
So he went blindly on his ro-
mantle way-until the climax
came one night beneath the moon
in the gardens of Xchochomilco.
Then the American girl laughed
at him-and lied that she was
sorry, she hadn't known he felt
that way-but really, she was go
ing to marry boy back home.
OF course neither Carlos, nor
Margherita, nor Mar gherita'S
mother knew of this. They knew
only that Jose's heart had played
him false.
Once Carlos tried to help the
girl. She stood stoney-eyed while
Luis picked up a yellow paper off
the tray.
"Take it," her mother urged.
Obediently, Margherita held out
her hand, took the paper, opened
it, and read:
"He will return"
INEVITABLE HAPPENS
Angrily she tore it to bits. Then.
womanlike, she burst into tears.
You fool! Go way! Go way!"
she Shrieked so loudly that her
voice could be heard above the
bedlam of the market place.
How could she know that after
his establishment Jose wanted to
come back, that he wanted to tell
her what a fool he'd been, that his
pride was the only obstacle to his
feet.
The inevitable happened. A
tourist who had Jose as guide
wanted to see the market place at
San Martin. Carlos had known
that one day this would be.
He had in his pocket a yellow
paper fortune on which he had
worked long and earnestly.
The moment he saw Jose elbow
ing his way through the chatter
ing crowds, Ell Pelon fished out his
yellow fortune, placed it on the
tray and started, bird and tray in
hand, toward the young man.
Jose tried to avoid him, but Car
los was determined. BY a double
quick through an angular short
cut he planted himself before the
guide and his tourist.
your fortunes, sirs?" Ell Pelon
queried.
The American tourist got pink
one-of course. The one Luis
picked for Jose was yellow. 1t
read:
She waits for you alone"
Well everybody in the market
place knows the outcome of the
tale-how Jose, blushing furiously,
took the tourist to the papaya
stand, how he handed Margherita
the yellow slip, how she laughed
happily, and spoke rapidly in colo
quail Spanish. how Jose and Mar
gherita are married now. and how
Ell Pelon has just written on an
other slip of yellow paper for Mar
gherita, "A little one will bless
your happy home"
That really isn't one of Carlos
better fortunes-for everyone with
half an eye has known it for
months.
THE END.