FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   >>  
here, no?" "I feel ten years younger than I did a quarter of an hour ago. There was a time--alas!--when I could stand the suns of California for six hours at a stretch, but--" "Ay, yes, we grow more old every year. Is twenty now since we _merienda_ all day and dance all night--when I am a visitor here, no more; and you are the thin boy with the long arms, and legs, and try to grow the mustache." It was the first time she had ever referred to their youth, and he stared at her. But her face was as placid as if she had been helping him to chicken with Chile-sauce, and he wondered if it could change. Involuntarily he glanced at the portrait. It seemed alive with expression, and--the room was almost dark--he fancied the eyes were tragic. "How can she stand it?" he thought. "How _can_ she?" "You are improve," she continued politely. "The American mens no grow old like the Spanish--or like the women that have ten children and get so stout and have the troubles--" "You have retained much, Senora," exclaimed Talbot, blundering over the first compliment he he had paid her in twenty years. She smiled placidly and moved her head gently; the word "shake" could never apply to any of her movements. "I have the mirror--and the picture. And I no mind, Don Juan. When the woman bury the six children, no care si she grow old. The more soon grow old the more soon die and see the little ones--am always very fond of Enrique also," she added, "but when am young love more. He is very good man always, but he grow old like myself and very fat. Only you are improve, my friend. That one reason why always I am so glad to see you. Remind me of that time when all are young and happy." Old Marcia announced dinner, and Talbot sprang to his feet with a sensation of relief and offered the Senora his arm. She made no further references to their youth during the excellent and highly seasoned repast, but discussed the possibilities of the crops and listened with deep attention to the political forecast. She knew that politics were becoming the absorbing interest in the life of her friend, and although she also knew that they would one day put a continent between herself and him, she had long since ceased to live for self, and never failed to encourage him. When the last _dulce_ had been eaten they went out upon the veranda and talked drowsily of minor matters until both nodded in their comfortable chairs, and finally fell asleep. For
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   >>  



Top keywords:
friend
 

improve

 

Talbot

 
children
 

Senora

 

twenty

 

dinner

 

Marcia

 

announced

 

sprang


offered

 
excellent
 

highly

 
seasoned
 
references
 

relief

 

sensation

 

Remind

 

quarter

 

Enrique


repast

 

reason

 

younger

 

listened

 

veranda

 
talked
 

drowsily

 

encourage

 

matters

 

finally


asleep

 

chairs

 
comfortable
 

nodded

 

failed

 

forecast

 

politics

 

political

 

attention

 

possibilities


absorbing
 
interest
 

ceased

 

continent

 

discussed

 
fancied
 

expression

 
Involuntarily
 
glanced
 

portrait