The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-02-01
Chapter IL
Barbecue

IRON boxes the delighted Do
lores brought riding breecheS
of twill; boots and sombrero; and
a silk Shirt of sapphire blue With
a golden yellow 'kerchief for her
throat. p"
"El Cabrillo colors," Dolores
explained.
Constance tried to stifie her
thoroughly fe m in n e love of
clothes. Was Pedro trying to put
her so deeply in his favor that she
would agree to sell?
But when she was dressed, she
whirled before the mirror and
was pleased with what she saw.
Meg had gagged her measure
ments accurately; even the boots
fit smoothly.
Il look like a colored poster in
front of a dime theater," she
laughed, and went out to find
Peter Taylor waiting for her.
"MuchiSimaS grdciaS," she sang
out, and bowed low before Pedro.
my word, the gal speaks Span
ish." chuckled Pedro. Nov turn
around and look at Pancho. He's
waiting a word of approval"
Constance caught her lower lip
between her teeth as Juliano. fes-
lively attired. appeared around
the corner of the house leading
a beautiful palomino, his coat pale
golden tan, his main and tail a
creamy white. .a.1f.I.a
"Pancho the beautiful" cried
Constance and ran toward the
horse, unaware of the cries of
warning from Juliano, Tayler and
a few guests who were drawing
near. .,ys.
"Mddre de DioS," urmur e d
Juliano fervently, as p nc h o,
after one startled, head-tossing
neigh and swift barring OF teeth,
dropped his head to nuzzle the
sapphire blue shoulder.
And-"Holy mackerel," sighed
Pedro, who had sprung across the
path, white of face
1udl SGLlIGo H.
Mrs. MacKelvey. 1.-THE girl may
be a throwback, but she's a Ca
brillo as well"
Constance looked up from her
earessing of Pancho, to fling-"Tm
polygot-no, Juliana. don't hold
him, | can mount, now watch"
Pancho made a full swing. but
Constance had one foot in the
stirrup and by the time he was
around she was seated, flushed.
laughing, then sobered by the
look on Pedro's face.
"Cabrillo," he agreed, and Meg,
who had been in the background,
anxiously addressing her patron
Saint, murmured THAT needn't
make you a piebalI mule"
For a moment the two stared
angrily at each other. "Trrry to
remember" buried Meg, that
histary taches us the Irish are
half Spanish; remember the Moors
with their high, fine steppin'
horses brought US love OF horse
flesh. And above all, Peter me
lad, don't be a jackasS."
Pedro grinned and finding his
horse, mounted and rode up to
Constance.
We'll wait for introductions
until we reach the grove" he told
Constance. II think the caval-
cade's ready. You, as a Cabrillo,
should lead the parade alone, but
I'm not trusting you. You're quite
apt 10 lead us to Maria's."
They rode up and behind them
some seventy-five neighbors fell
in
Constance pulled up on a hill
and looked about her Never had
she seen such sunshine, such a
blue sky, such gold-and purple
hills.
Pedro" she laughed, 81 could
love you for planning this"
Don't. Michael" he returned,
soberly Don't say that. / can't
spend the rest of my life eating
barbecued beef"
Would you. Pedro?" sh e
teased,
At am afraid" he stressed the
word and she remembered the
night of their first meeting, that
] would" 4
"For the sake OF your diges-
ton" she spared, Il withdraw
the statement oh, Pedro. is
that the grove down there?"
Kinship
1T WAS the grove. Live oak
shaded il. though the sun was
merely golden and not warm
Scented smoke arose from il. and
men in white aprons and caps
moved about tables spread under
the trees; tables heaped with baS-
kets of bread and platters OF
salads; gay CONNECTIONS and tall
bottles of wine,
Constance met her neighbors
She was warmed by their recep-
ton. She found kinship with these
leather-face men and Sunburned
women. But she wondered at the
girls of her age and younger. They
didn't like her. They were affahle
n few were sincerely glad to NEE;
her. but there were others who
looked at her with hostile eyes
And then she understood and a
chill touched her happiness for
the moment. She was only one oI
a dozen who knew the fascination
Of young Peter Taylor.
But no chill could live with
Pedro on one side and Mrs. Mac,
Kelvey on the ether. and Meg