Life — December 2, 1901 — page 15: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

457 parents when you planned your elopement with the lover you adored?" “Tt is not the same.” grandly, her eyes alight. “It is the same to me.” Miss Gay went to the door. ‘Listen to me, Dofia Maria. You must forgive Rosita. If you do. not, fling away the momentos in that silver box. They mean nothing. If you do not, you are a traitor to the man who loved you.” “ Dios—how dare you? What do you mean? Speak, I say!" and she sat down, her face older than Miss Gay had ever seen it. “You have nothing against Rosita’s husband except that he comes of a nation you hate,” and Miss Gay lifted a warning hand. “What have the long, happy years of your marriage done for you if it has not made you She lifted her head “ She lifted the silver box and kissed {t.”* out her false fringe of very young brown, her face like yellow marble. “My freng she screamed, and waved a letter. Miss Gay found her in a loose, bed- room sacque, a starched petticoat which stuck out like a doll’s half a yard above her ankles, flapping straw mules on her feet, and all the hair she had plaited into a little pigtail. “She was not here last night,” she wailed in Spanish, ‘and I did not know it. Read! Read! Oh, Iam choking!" The letter was an impassioned fare- well, Rosita had gone with her lover to be married in Key West, the identi- cal journey the sefora had taken her- self in the long ago. “Of course you'll forgive her,” said Miss Gay in Spanish. “Never while I live.” She tore the letter to bits. ‘*I could kill her—de- ceitful devil and cat.” “IT knew about it,’’ said Miss Gay, quietly. Dojia Maria looked stupid, then with an effort stood upon her high-heeled mules, “T don't understand, I think,” “Tsay I knew about Rosita and Mr. Smith. I saw him in Matanza: You knew—and did not tell me? You knew it? oy I knew all about it.”” had not supposed the sefiora’s plump, cajoling face could look so terrible, She stuck her head forward and crooked one finger at her. ‘You, that I thought different, are like all your race. Just as my husband said—pigs, all of you! Ont of my house! Go!” “T will leave your house at once, sefiora. But let me ask you one ques- tion. What would you have thought of one who betrayed you to your the friend of all true lovers—not the foe? Suppose your husband can hear what you've said of poor, little Rosita! The small distinctions of earth matter nothing to him now, but love stands the test of eternity. Will it please him to see you cast off this motherless girl because she loves your enemy as you once loved him? Down on your knees—down, I say, Dofia Maria—as you ask that question of your dead love !"" Miss Gay closed the door upon the command, and going to her room began. to pack her trunk slowly. She was not surprised when she heard the click of finger nails on the glass door. Dofia Maria was with- out, a wisp of gray hair in her tear- swollen eyes. “Please forgive me,” she said in Spanish, not having the heart to per- fect her English. “I did not mean it. Do not leave me quite alone.” “All right,” said Miss Gay, cheer. fully, and led her in. ‘And Rosita?” “Ah, Lama hard, foolish,old woman, You are right.” She sobbed stormily against Miss Gay for a moment, then looked up with a smile, her English re- turning. ‘An’ will you make out the lettair for me to write to Meester Smeeth so he think I have the ver’ good English—that I have much illus- tration ?’" “She is only a child,” thought the American woman as she stroked her cheek, ‘and what ‘copy’ she will make !"” comicbooks.com