Argosy, Vol. 1 (1882) — page 310: what you’re looking at

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

THE AMERICAN SYNDICATE. I took no offense at it. I was here sim- ply as a business caller, and I presumed he, looking on me as such, felt himself entirely out of my atmosphere. I shouldn’t have given it another thought.” “You are kind, as always, Senor Barber, but Victor behaved very badly, nevertheless.” “T thought,” said Joe, mischievous- ly, “ though perhaps I made a mistake, that you yourself did not take the greatest pains to make him comfort- able.” The senorita colored deeply, and then laughed. “ There are times,” she said, ‘* when Vietor is so stupid that I—there! I think he comes now.” Two strokes had sounded on the gong below, and a moment later Vic- tor stalked moodily into the room. The Donna Anna did not so much as open her eyes, and the newcomer gave her not a glance. His eyes were first for Sylvia, and then with an ill dis- guised start, he bent his looks upon the American. Joe hardly knew what course to take. He really had a profound respect for any loyal Spaniard who found it difh- cult to accept the new order of things, and with such a one he would have been at great pains to avoid anything that might be interpreted as being overbearing, but this young irrecon- cilable was so fiercely unbending that Joe was driven, partly by a cynical aniusement at the situation, to display extreme cordiality. He stepped forward, seized Victor’s unwilling hand, and wished him “ good evening’ with as much warmth as if they had been long separated school fellows. Victor evidently was a young man of good breeding, and barring a hasty glance of resentment which he directed toward the senorita, his response to Joe, though colder than an icicle, was not lacking in terms of politeness. In fact Joe shortly felt that the other’s po- 301 liteness was aggressively and offensive- ly pronounced. Naturally enough the conversation lost that pleasant air of abandon that it had before Victor came upon the scene, and presently, Joe, having Stayed longer than the demands of rigid etiquette required for a party call, took his departure. The senorita slyly awakened the duenna, in order, evidently, that her invitation to Joe to repeat his visit might gain the official sanction of that portly guardian of the household morals. It was equally evident that the senorita was as disturbed as before with regard to Victor’s demeanor, and as Joe went out to the street he smiled grimly at the thought of the unpleasant half hour that was likely to follow for poor Victor at the hands of his capri- cious, self willed and altogether charm- ing flancée. As for himself, Joe felt that he had had a pleasant call. His desire to bask again in the glowing light of those lus- trous eyes had been gratified, and those who have heen careful students of the progress of love will not be surprised to learn that he regarded the call as a definite conclusion to the fancy that he feared had been awakened in him. He felt now that he could meet the Senorita Sylvia at any time and any- where without a heart throb, and his smile took on a cynical twist as he thought of that morning in the little back room when he was fighting with what he thought was an incipient at- tachment. “ All men are fools where women are concerned,” said Joe to himself, sagely, “but I guess I am safe. The senorita is certainly the most beautiful woman I ever saw, and there is a pleasant fasci- nation about her that makes it alto- gether agreeable to be in her presence for half an hour, but as for getting en- tangled—bosh! My folly lay in think- ing it possible.” It was the day after this that Joe was in his own cafe, takawe2 ac Sie 01 £C(O)