The Harlequin Opal, Vol. 1 (of 3)

magic; for, lo! in th

city, no footfall is

hrilling, the tinkle o

breezes, that stir the wh

custom; for this i

n the city will waken t

tas will dance in the

and beckon, to lovers w

ts rattle, the little

the windows, in scorni

oonday; when glimmers

chantment, of love, an

e. In fact, he had changed so little that it is doubtful whether he believed in mutability at all. Wrinkled he was, it is true, and slightly bent, but his black eyes twinkled with the fire of youth, and he enjoyed his meals. These things

Central America. Arrayed in his white cotton drawers and shirt, with his pink zarape gracefully draped over

a smart riding-dress, was slashing his high boots with his whip, impatient to get away. They were l

the doctor, disconsolately; "why couldn't D

mmy is well up

s mouth full; "he's had plenty of time to lear

e, Tim. Cocom was a king of Mayapan; a

elbows!" said

"He looks a mighty second-hand sort of article. I should

hilip, entering at this moment; "

tor, proudly introducing Cocom, who rem

ferocious beetle, are you not

cendant of

ned king-

here, Cocom?" said Philip, t

replied Cocom, with grave dignity.

how him bu

lies, ants, beetles, wasps; al

impatiently. "I want to be off, and must see you started fir

d-bye, boys; I will s

brusquely; "I'm off to

," warned Philip, kindly; "y

orthwith followed Cocom out of the house, gleefully looking forwar

" said Philip anxiously. "I don't

on Miguel, who once saved his life. Cocom will sit on a bank and watch Pete

yourself no

you. Really, Philip, you a

ndolence," explained Philip, sitting down to t

rt. I'll kiss her for my o

l you ret

guel will look after you bot

id Cassim, graciously. "Now go a

ent to the window to see

to the breakfast-table. "Do?a Dolores o

e love will run smooth with Jack; but what with Don Hypolito and

ing I'll b

Come and se

y chief waiting a

, you make me feel

Philip and I'll flirt with Do?a Eulalia.

. It's not a f

olleen, Philip. You have

many pretty faces to be captured at first sight by a ne

Tim, ungrammatically. "Now get away

back in t

. Make love to Do?a Eulalia while you can, Philip, for

n's rattle? do ye sme

ys are ridin' down

s flyin'? and your f

ide him dear, to kis

ound himself in the hot sunshine, for that unexpected note of sorrow from jovial Tim touched him more nearly than he cared to confess. In spite of his cold demeanour and reserve, Philip was of a very emotional nature, and that melancholy strain had reached his h

wards the Calle Otumba; "it makes me think of death and the grave. These Iris

ile. The charm of her society banished the melancholy engendered by Tim's pessimism, and, chatting gaily to this strongly vitalised being,

e?" asked Eulalia, standing on tip-toe

ded, as he presented her with the bud, "are variously employed. Don Pedro is out after

father told me of his kindness. He will br

o?a Do

ttish gesture, and raising it to her fa

en, Se?or, wh

t this delicate way of putting it. "I know

. It can

ot rich

nsent. And then," she dropped her voice, and l

. But it has nothing to

hemselves, and, if she married an Americano, she would leave the country. T

then, to marry

f her own people. An

ose she d

to their forest temple, and

could they seize

nodded her

hey are everywhere. If they want Dolores at their tem

fo

ake her away at any moment, and

Don Hypolito sa

her little hands wi

ac! He is a Mestizo; so the Indians would not mind such a marriage.

Of Don H

s been to the forest temple and seen-oh," she broke off with a shudder. "I do not know what

a second, thinking how graceful she was, then turned to greet Don Miguel. That gentleman was as lean and dry and as solemn as ever. How he ever came to be the

" said Philip, responding to Maraquando's

Se?or," was Miguel

ish formula too well to be astonished. "By the way, Se?or, my f

times to my poor services. And

for his

e?or. And

his way to y

s," said Maraquando, gravely. "Will

is former experience of the drink. "If not troub

ice, Se?or. Shall

fathers are not the most amiable parents in the world, and resent too much attention being paid by foreigners to their womankind; therefore he took lea

was, he took nearly all day in directing Philip's attention to dates, Aztec idols, ruins of teocallis, sites of palaces, to battle-fields, and many other things too numerous to mention. This information was accurate but wearisome, and Philip felt it to be so. Maraquando was Prescott and Bancroft rolled into

inhabited by peons and leperos, with a sprinkling of low-caste mestizos. From thence the houses rise up to the top of the hill, which is crowned by the cath

ein the aristocracy took their walks when the band played in the cool of the evening, using it as a kind of alameda, wherein to meet their friends and gossip. It was indeed a charming spot, and its green arcades afforded a grateful shade from the hot sun

ey stood beneath the glory of the great cupola

d to the Chalc

on of his mother, and built here a teocalli to the war-god, wherein was preserved the devil stone. Many years after, when the Conquistadores-our ancestors, Se?or-arrived, the then possessor of the opal fled with it into the impenetrable forests, and thus the jewel was lost to t

-winged angels, arose the glory of the great altar, sparkling in the dusky atmosphere like a vast jewel. Before it burned a silver lamp like a red star. Tapestries, richly worked, depended between the pillars, gorgeous brocades were here, faded silken draperies there, and everywhere faces of saint, angel, cherubim, and seraphim. Gilt crosses, pictures of the Virgin, sta

was redolent of sacred associations, and it required some imagination to conceive that where now reigned this quiet and holy beauty once arose a heathen temple, where the v

Jesuits were once powerful in Cholacaca, but they were expelled some years ago. The priests would meddl

Jesuit

t I think they have done much good, for though the Indians are outwardly converted, yet I kn

you think so

wers. Nay, in my own patio, before those statues of Coatlicue, Quetzalcoatli, and Teoyamiqui, I have found offerings of flowers and fruit. 'Tis also said, Se?or,

replied Philip, with a shudder; "but, as regard

is still here. He was, and is, so beloved by all that the President had

e to meet Fat

e come to my poor house. But let us walk on, Se?or. There are many things to see. El Palacio Nacional

ses of Tlatonac, saw the Palacio Nacional, a huge stone building, above which flaunted the yellow flag of the Republic, with its device of a white stone, darting ray

he gay awnings before these sat the dealers and their wares. Here were tropical fruits from the tierras calientes, comprising oranges, bananas, pineapples, melons, peaches, and an infinite variety of others, all piled in picturesque confusion on the stalls. As to flowers, the whole place was a mass of blossom, from gorgeous red cactus buds to m

ssoms. "It is a taste they inherit from their ancestors. The Aztecs, you know, were famous for floriculture. We lov

one which the climate enables

ntry. Higher up, on the table-lands it is less tropical, and is called the tierra templada, while the snow-clad mountain peaks, where flourish

Central America is

t is the most favoured spot on earth-the garden of Paradise; but what with our incessant civil wars, our incompetent governors, and, of late, the tyranny of the Church, the

evidently looks upon

rs. Were he pure minded and noble in his ambition, I-even I, Miguel Maraquando-would support him. I would lay aside all prejudices to aid him to make our country g

ds to become Emperor," p

Already the fleet is a Acauhtzin to arrest him, and to-morrow we se

he refuse

e brought

the fleet do not

ntinue faithful. My own son, Don Rafael, is in command of one ship; yet I mistrust Xuarez and his oily tongue. Yes, Se?or, I have thought much since Don Juan and the Se?or Correspons?l spoke to me last n

man-of-war, then,

But she is quick, and will g

thought Philip; but he did not say this

deras," said the Jefe, cheerfully. "They are now on their way

ied Philip, lighting a cigarette: "and if there is a war,

r us to ask you to make such a sacrifice. However, we shall soon know-in three days at the most. If the fleet are true to

tfully, "you have a telegraph-station he

you ask,

tion with England, should there be a war. Now, if the wir

run south to Janjalla which town will certainly remain faithful to the Gov

ges to England with the greatest ease, and thus cover himself with glory. They co

nt tropical plants, bronze statues, marble statues, and plenty of pleasantly situated seats. One portion was reserved for those who chose to walk, another for horses and

sed to hear Offenbachian frivolities sounding in this spot. They seemed out of place. The musicians had no sense of the fitness of thing

oquent fans, gay young cavaliers dashing along on spirited horses, in all the bravery of the national costume, and not seldom a sour-looking duenna, jealously watching her charge. Occasionally a priest in shovel-hat and black cassock-but t

wd anywhere," he said, lightly, "sa

after a pause, "and what

ise," replied Philip, "and