The Four Corners Abroad

tion and they suggested tales of folk-lore in which Nan delighted. Through one of these caverns, as through an arched passage, one could go to get a better view of the stretch of sea

e three girls, Nan, Mary Lee and Mercedes, would find their way there. They must first pass through one of the winding streets, or roads, of the little vi

y explained he had bought for the use of the family. So in the jouncing, bouncing cart thereafter the four went, the little donkey not seeming to mind the load in the least. Often, nevertheless, Nan or Mary Lee wo

ong walks, sometimes stopping at the house of a peasant to

a very old loom, and some one w

delighted,"

d woman I know well, and she will be pleased to welcome us. The house, too, is old, oh, so

ing a strange song ending in a weird note, next a little shepherdess tending her two sheep which cropped the herbage at the side of the road, then an old woman bendi

to see the little chapel of Nuestra Se?ora de Soledad. It is such a quiet little spot where it is. W

rees, the murmur of a little stream, the song of a bird, the occasional creaking of a distant cow-cart were the only sounds heard. The girls stepped up on the small porch, with

to Miss Dolores. "I wonder how long

demolished, or at least abused by the French in 1808, but this one has evidently escaped. It is charming. I t

to the upper floor. A great tree overshadowed the house; under it some white hens were picking around industriously. Above, in the small windows, were set boxes of pinks and geraniums-no house so poor but had its clavel. Mercedes

although Nan and Mary Lee were hoping they

ater," whispered Mar

ng, "You will find it very

ave the only light, and under this was set the great unwieldy loom which Manuela started going. The clumsy shuttle clacked noisily as the weaving proceeded. A pile of coarse linen lay near; it was such as the peasants had for

hose of the well-to-do. A shining array of copper and brass utensils hung near the fireplace, and some old blue and white plates stood a-row on a shelf. In the next room there was but little furniture; a bed, a settle, an old chest, a small mirror, a picture of "Our Lady of Covadonga," a few gaudily colored prints of various saints. Though the rooms seemed small and dark they were ti

vorite view. It is a long climb, Cousin Dolores, but Antonio said he would meet u

ut it was worth the effort to see from the top of the high hill seven villages nest

eater and more magnificent scenery on our Pacific coast, but this is unique. To see half the worl

edes well pleased. "I think there

y and the cart, and went home joyously,

here they saw that something was going on, for a man was setting up two poles, an

a!" cried

t Mercedes q

n the plaza to-night. We mus

a tent,

n air. These are

urried a little so it was over by nine, yet even then the play had not begun, though the performers were drumming up custom, as the roll of the drum proclaimed some time before the party reached the spot. This kept up for another half an hour, the crowd gathering

acrobatic feats; these were followed by a little play of which Nan and Mary Lee understood very little. Then a small girl and a tiny boy walked a tight rope. Next came a mock bull-fight in which the tiny boy took the part of a tore

ary Lee to Nan. "But I am glad to know how they do it. N

a donkey appeared, and then the hat was passed around. Mr. Pinckney declared that a peseta apiece was none too much

primitive method of performing dramas. So Shakespeare gave his plays, and s

rls declared, "and we shal

said Nan. "It isn't a bit like any ot

Among these was the little girl who had taken part in the show. It seemed to be a family affair in which mamma beat the dru

andle, was searching for something. "What h

child, and Nan could see

ercedes. "Let us help her look for them. I

n, "but she had to walk the tight rope, which is really a

moved to a better condition by a poultice of money. He slipped a gold piece into the child's hand

mance for you, grandfather,

nsider what we pay for opera in New Yor

Nick," said Mary Lee. "You play

ree days left. One of these was given t

f Pelayo," Miss Dol

yo, anyhow?"

g ago days, when the Moors were trying to become victors all over Spain, the Asturian mountains became the refuge of the tribes who united against the Moors. They were headed by Pelayo. The Berbers sent Al-Kaman to vanquish these spirited and defiant people. Pelayo drew them into the great gorges at Covadonga and there they were slain by thousands. Pelayo w

ures of it in the houses of t

layo," said Nan. "Is there anyt

tomb and that of Alfonso I and his queen when you go to Cov

oing to study Spanish so as to get hold of what I should like to know. One h

irls set out upon their return trip which Mr. Pinckney and Miss D

might befall digestion during the journey. The two younger girls, Maria Isabel and Consuelo, gathered ripe figs from their own tree to present to the travelers, and would have added more flowers to those the girls already had, but were told by Mercedes that no more could be carried. Mercedes bestowed her f

ave but to admire anything in Spain, be it great or small,

te sincere in wanting us to acce

m the peasants up. I am sure I know exactly how the dresses are made, and we have the photographs of Merc

r to see her cousin. We must be sur

e a Spanish girl friend? Won't the girls at h

friends," said Mary Lee. "You remember how excit

o that seems, and how muc

e we shall see be

e Spain best,

returned

ered donkeys, the towering mountains, the blue sea, and above all the warm

ssured Mercedes, "and some day we

train with their guests, they waved farewells from the platform of the station, the last th

hat nice little house that Mercedes told me could be rented for forty dollars a year, for then I shall be old

ertainly need many doses of anisad

art of the country," remarked Nan, "we d

t into a thick solid mass which is as unappetizing as it is unwholesome. Look over there, Nan; there is that old monastery you a

Jack would have enjoyed those funny fire balloons they

cing the jota all the time the pro

o," Nan went on. "To be sure, San Roque had a very serious expr

again to Bilbao and the next afternoon saw them leaving San Seb

aid Mary Lee, "but I shall say only H

f this enthusiasm for Spain was due to Mary Lee's love for thi

h heels and fluffy skirts were daintily stepping across the puddles, and before the hour when the students of the Latin quarter were ready to go forth to the restaurant

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