Corner Lots

Tulita Auita da Lunavarita stood in the garden, picking lavender. Although the un shone, and the waters of the bay sparkled, and the distant Coronados Islands and the billa oí Mexico floated ia a blue baze before her, Tulita had no eyes for the pretty picture. Her mind was occupied with weightier mattere. Perhaps she was not even a ware that she herself made a much prettier picture with her girlish figure relieved agaiiist the white adobe house behind her, and her shapely head ]xised on one side, as she critically examined, with her big dark eyss, each spray of lavender. She may even have been unaware that the young man walking on the other side of the road was evidently of this opinión, although when he made a misstep into a chuck hole f uil of dust, through having his eyes on her, Tulita's rosy lipa puckered themsslves up, and a suspicious little movement of her shoulders suggested that she was not entirely ignorant of the young man's mishap. But, as has been said, her mind was eagaged with weightier matters, and scarcely vouchsaflng a second glance at the retreating figure of the young man, she entered the white adobe house. Placing her fragrant load upon a table, she took up an old copy of The Fashion Guide, which she had left face downward when she went to gather lavender, and consulted it with a studious frown. Then going to a chest of drawers, she procured some odds and ends of ribbons, and, seating herself with a business liko air, proceeded, with many references to the instructions, to braid the sprigs of lavender together with the ribbons. "These useful as well as ornamental little articles," the book said, at the end of its disquisition, "are rapidly becoming indispensable in every household. In fact, we know of seve(l young ladies who derive a comfortable income from the manufacture and sale oí lavender sticks." "I dont know," said Tulita, to herself, as she regarded her first effort disparagingly, "it seems to me that anybody would be a fooi to buy that. But, there," she continued, more hopefully, "you never can teil about these Americans." And, proeeeding with the work, she soon exhausted her lavender and ribbons, and had lnstead a neat little pile of "lavender sticks." "Madre de Dios I" said Tulita, as with her chin on her hand she gazed at the result of her labore, "if that little mother of mine was to catch me at this, how quickly those things would go out of the window," and she laughed softly at the thought. "Although," she continued, "if she can dosewingfor money, why should not I also work? At any rate, I must have ome shoes, that is the truth." And thrusting her foot out, she leaned over the table to look at it. It was a dainty, slender foot with an arched inatep, but the shoe upon it [was unmistakably, hopelessly ragged. "Ah! go hide yourself ," said Tulita, severely; "you make me ashamed." Then sinking back on her chair, she rested her chin on her hand once more, and thought : "Ah, if only I could make enough to buy a pair of shoes." And after awhils a tear rolled down her cheek and feil on the la vender sticks. But at this moment the click oí the lateh on the garden gate made Tulita spring to her feet. VVith a quick movement she swept the lavender sticks into a drawer, and when the new corner entered the room, Tulita was before the mirror singing to herself, while she braided her long hair, which had fallen as suddenly as a southern night. "Is it thou, madre?" she said. "Yes, it is I- all that is left of me," said the lady who had entered, a woman whose still handsome face was lined by grief and trouble. "Sainted Mother! but it is warm in the sun," she continued, fanning herself witb that indolent, graceful sweep of tho wrist peculiar to women of the south. Then, pausing a moment, she elevated her head and said: "What is that odor in the house, like sage brush?" "Perhaps it is this bit of lavender," said Tulita, hiding her guilty face behind her hair. "Paugh!"' said her mother. "It is too strong. Throw it away." And as she obeyod, Tulita's heart went down into her ragged boots at this unexpected disparagement of the odor of lavender. "Sage brush, indeed." It disheartened her bo that the idea of attempting to "derive a comfortablo income from the manufacture and sale of lavender sticks" was at once dismissed in scorn. Even the possibility of new Bhoes grew very faint. But with the next morning's sun the hope and high spirits of youth returned, and when Tulita started to walk in to San Diego to make some purchases for her mother, the lavender sticks were hidden beneath her shabby little black mantle. Last night, after she had gone to bed, she had lain awake for at least an hour deciding where to offer them for sale. Senna & Squills' drug store was the favored place. It was on the principal street, and had flne large windows f uil of f ancy goods. It would be a very simple matter to walk in and ask them to sell the sticks for her. Of course she would pay them somethlng for their trouble. Then, too, she had heard that very morning there were an unusual number of eastern tourists in town, and she hurried her steps so as not to lose any chances. But when Tulita carne in sight of Senna & Squills' establishment her enthusiasm ebbed. She chided herself for walking so rapidly and getting heated and ont of breath. What would the people in the store think of her? Slower and slower grew her pace, until, arriving in front of her destination, she stopped and looked at the display of fancy goods in the wlndow. The compartan was not favorable to her lavender sticks. "Perhaps, after all," thought Tulita, "the idea of anybody wanting to buy such thinga is absurd." Suppose Senna & Squills should laugh at hcrl She concluded to think about it a little more and walksd on. The further Tulita went, however, the more her courage returned, until, telling herself she was behaving ridiculously, she resolutely retraced her tepe until the store was once more reached. Bat again she paused irresolutely before the wlndow. Then sho crossed the street to look in the window of a book store that might perhaps be better adapted to her purpose. Deciding against the book store, she returned to the drug store. Then the dreadf ui thought occurred to her than her movcnents must be attracting attention. The policeman on the corner had certain]y looked at her very hard. What if he should spaak to her! This idea was so appalling that Tulita hurriedly walked on down the rtreet, without looking to the right or left. It was not until she had turned the first corner she carne to that she recovered her equanimity. Then scolding herelf severely for this panic, she continued on slowly around the block, until once more she found herself in front of Senna & Squills' establishment. Bracmg up her treacherous courage with a great eflort she walked in. One of the clerks, obierving the hesitation Ofayoung and pretty customer, advanced toward her, and, in his suavest manner, said: "What can I do for you today, miss?" "Is- a- is Mr. Senna inf faltered Tulita. "Mr. Senna, miss!" cxclaimed the young man, with a look of surprise, "Mr. Senna is daal 'Oh," murmured Tulita, "I am very sorry." And, with burning cheeks, she found herself in the street once more. How far or where she walked after that Tulita was uever quita sure. When her thoughts were sufflciently collected she discovered that she was in front of one of the principal hotels. She saw a news stand near the main entrañes. On the impulse of the moment she stopped, and, opening her bundie of lavender sticks, she showed them to the proprietor and asked him if he would try to sell them for her. He was an elderly man, and while not enthusiastic over the prospecta of a brisk business in lavender sticks, he was very kind to the girl and readily agreed to do all in nis power to advance her little venture. Rid of her bundie of lavender, which she had begun to hate, Tulita turned her steps homeward in high spirits. How asy it had been to arrange the matter, and what a little fcol she was to have worried herself so. After all, though, it was much better that she had not left the sticks with Senna & Squills. This news stand was by far the best place, being right in the hotel, where the eastern tourists would be sure to see them. And Tulita feil to wondering whether the man would sell any that day, and how many, and how long it would be bef ore they were all sold. And when she passed a shoe store she stopped and looked at the display in the window to see what kind of sboes she should buy - although, to be sure, the variety of shoes to be had for $3 was not great. Meantimu the newsdealer had sold all of Tulita's lavender sticks. Not that they had filled one of the public's long feit wants, or they had all been bought by one persou, that person being Mr. Brown, of Philadelphia. Mr. Brown, while leaning idly against the news stand, had seen Tulita come up, and on getting asightof her face had said to himself in surprise, "By Jove! That is the pretty girl I saw in the garden yesterday afternoon." And although he politely moved away out of hearing of the conversation, he furtively watched the pretty girl, and had no diffieulty in understanding the nature of her transaction with the old newsdealer. "Hard up, of course," said Mr. Brown, sympathetically. Then as Tulita tripped away he returned to bis. lounging place by the news stand, and picking up one of the lavender sticks with an air of idle curiosity, asked what they were for. "They are made of lavender," replied the dealer, "and you put them in the bureau drawer to make your clothes smell nice, at any rate that is what the young lady who left them here says. I never saw any myself before. I guess I'U sell 'em for souvenirs of southern California. They are made by a native Calif ornian, and it will be a changa on h traed toads." "That is a good idea," said Mr. Brown calmly. "In fact I have an aunt at home who would not like horned toads, so I will take some of these. How many have you gotf A dozen? "VVell, you can let me have the lot." As the pleased dealer was wrapping up Mr. Brown's purchase that gentleman flipped the ash f rom his cigar and said, after a pause, "What do you mean by 'native Calif ornian? Is not every one bom in California a native?" "Well, yes,"' said the dealer, with patiënt forbearanee for the ignorance of this "tender foot," who was so good a customer, "1 suppoae they ars. But when we say native Californian we mean the Spanish or Mezican people, who lived here when the country be longed to the greasers. Have you ever read 'Two Years Bef ore the Mast,' by Mr. Dana.' If you haven't I have got a copy here I would like to ssll you. Mr. Dana was in San Diego back in the thirties. 1 here was not mucb here then except a few adobe houses in Old Town and the mission, but he gives you a prettygood idea of the native Californian. Somo of them came originally from Spain, and had grants of land from the king so big that they could ride for days as the crow flies and not leave their ranches. They lived like lords that you read about, with a hundred or so Indians to hard their cattle, and every one that happened along was weieome to the best. Helen Hunt gives you a good idea of that in 'Ramona.' I would like to sell you this copy; it's tho last I got left. You have read it? Well, as I was saying, when the Americans cotnmenced coming in here j tho native Californians began losing their land. They f ound it necessary to have money ' to keep up with the procession, and the most of their ranches got pretty well plastered, so that one way or another the big grants got broke up, and so did the natives. I guess there are mighty few of them now that could pan out anything but law suite. I shouldnt wonder now if the father of that young lady once owned a million or so of acres, you can't telL But, you bet, If he had any of it left, now that the boom has struck the town, sha wouldn't be making those things," touchlng Mr. Brown's parcel. "Not," he added hastily, "but what they are a first class articlo in their way. In fact I must get her to make somo more, I guess they '11 take pretty well. You don't want to buy Helen Hunt'9 book? Mr. Dana's? Well, so long." Shoving the bundie of lavender into the pocket of the lijjht overcoat that hung acros? hls arm, Mr. Brown left the hotel, and with the air of a man who has nothing to do and all the day bofore him he walked along tha streeta. Finally he entered a tall frame building bearing the legend "Furnished rooms to let." Ascending to the top floor, he opened the door of what proved to be a small apartment, well filled with a bed and bed lounge, both presenting evidenee of recent uso. In a corner before a small looking glaes stood a well dressed man of about 30 years of age, carefully arranging a four in hand tie. He turaed as Mr. Brown entered, and looked at him expectantly, but immediately resumed his occupation. "Well, old man," he said, "anything new?" "No," said Mr. Brown, throwing his overcoat on the bed. The bundie of lavender dropped out of the pocket, and Mr. Brown, picking it up, shied it after the coat. "What is that?" said the gentleman at the looking glass; "manuscript!" "lío," said Mr. Brown, with a slight look of embarrassment ; "something I got at the hoteL Why the devil hasn't that Chinaman made the beds up?" he continued, impatiently. "It is nearly 12 o'clock." And going to the door Mr. Brown called out in no gentle tones: "Here youl Sing Leel Sing Leel" "My dear fellow," exclaimed hls compaion, with an affectation of terror, "for heaven's sake, don't do thatl You will stir up the old woman. I spent a whole hour this morniug persuading her to be quiet for another week." And drawing Brown back ito the room, he tiptoed into the entry, and cautiously peered over the banisters. Then coming back, he cloaed the door softly, and heaved a sigh of relief. Brown's puzzled expression changed to a mile. "Oh," he said, "I forgot about the rent. But, I say, Benton, we cant owe her very mach for thi llttle coop; cant you pay her enough to let me kick that Chinaman into ome idea oí decencyf' "Cant be done, my dear boy," said his companion. "You must learn to deny yourself these luxuries." "Talking of denla], gaid Brown, "I am frightfully hungry. Have you had your breakfast?" "This dont happen to be breakfast day," said Benton, "this is lunch day: but we will have it eaily, in f act, I was only waiting for you to come in. We dined off the last of my watch lat night, yoa knaw, so as not to break that $5 pieoe of yours." At this Brown's face changed, and his eyes sought Tullta's lavender sticks, which lay upoo the unmade bed. "111 teil yoa what it is, Torn," he said, finally, looking up at his friend oomically, "you ought to break my neok." "Why?" said Mr. Benton. "Simply because I am not to be trusted alone. I threw away $3 of that money this morning. You see," he continued more earnestly, "1 nevar had an zperience of this sort bef ore, and I keep forgetting." "Of course," said Benton, sympathetically. "We can't expect a leopard to ehange his spots in an instant." "Here," continued Brown, taking out his purse, "you take charge of the rest of this." "No, I'll be hanged if I do," replied Benton. "You forget our agreement in San Francisco af ter that unlucky stock deal into which I got you" "And in which you lost fifty thousand to my flve,"interrupted Brown. "You forget our agreement," continued Benton, without heeding this remark, "that we were to pool our resources, and share equally gains and losses, from a two bit piece to a hundred thousand dollars." "A hundred thousand dollars," repeated Brown, meditatively. "That is nothing," said Benton, "I have made as much as that bef ore now." "In stocks, yea," said Brown, "but they have no stocks here." "No," said Benton, "but they have something a hundred times better; they have a magnificent climate, and harbor, and everything to make a big city. And you mark my word, there is going to be one of the biggest booms right here that the world has ever sean. Kansas City won't be a circumstance to it. Why the climate alone" "Oh, come downl" interrupted Brown, irreverently. Benton laughed and said, "Seriously, Frank, if we only ean manage to get hold of some land our fortune is made. I am as sure of that as that at present we are dead broke. If that wealthy father of yours back in the respectable village of Fhiladelphia only knew what a glorious chance there was to make a million or so right here" and Mr. Benton sighed. "Well, he won't knowthrough me," replied Brown. "If the worst comes I can always drive a team, but I won't ask him for help." "I think you are wrong, old man," said Benton. "Not on account of the money, but on general principies. However, we will make our stake just the same. And now about lunch; I am star ved. " "I think I ought to be made to eat the lavender," said Brown, looking ruefully at his purchase, as he disclosed the contenta of the bundie to his friend. "There, how is that íor a $3 investmentf' "But what is iti" said Benton, picking up one of the lavender sticks and looking at it suspiciously. "Dynamite? Phiz'z'ztl For the old womanï" with an expressive reference to the región occupied by the landlady. "No, you old Anarchist," replied Brown. Then in a fine lady's voice he said: Tis sweet lavender. Placed in your bureau drawer, it will give a pleasing odor to your luien. That's right," he continuedin hisown voice, "laugh! I was going to give you one. I shan't now." "Did they throw a bureau in?' said Benton; "otherwise, it is not much use to us." "Use!" said Brown, scornfully; "think of a man who has to go without bis breakfast buying $3 worth of la vender 1" "Dont make me laugh any more," said Benton ; "it is weakening , and we can' t aff ord it. Teil me, how did you come to buy those thingsf' Whereupon Mr. Brown narrated the story of nis purchase. "Young,1' said Benton, at its conclusión, "and pretty" "I did not say so," interposed Brown. "It was not necessary," replied nis friend; "we must get acquainted with her." "Why?" said Brown, in not altogether pleased surprise. "Because she may have friends among the nativfes here, who have land that wo can handlo for them. Land, my dear boy, land, that Í8 what we want. You don't seem to fancy the idea," continued Benton, as Brown remained silent; "but we cannot airord to be romantic just now. It is absolutely uecessary to use every chance. You have made a three-dollar investment, and I don't propose to throw it away. I am superstitious in money matters, you know, and I nava a fancy that this generou act of yours may bring us luck. Three dollars' worth of bread on the waters, as it were. I shall make a point of gctting acquainted with your friend, and I should like to have you stand in with me. If you would rather not, why, of course" But Mr. Brown said he would "stand in," only, be it understood, for the solo pnrpos of keeping Mr. Benton's business proclivities within decent bounds. Tulita sat upon the door step of the white adobe house looking out upon the shining waters of the bay. The sun was sinking into the Pacific behind Point Loma and the soft air was full of a golden haze. The Coronados islands and the distant hills of Mexico were outlined In a purple silhouette against the evening sky and everything was still and peaceful - everything ezcept Tulita's poor little heart. Her mother had not been very well f or the last two or three days, and the death of her father was recent enough to cause the slightest illness to fill Tulita with alanned f oreboding. Then they were so lonely, she and her mother, with no one to care for them, and they were so poor; I it was all very forlorn, and they had jus : been erying over it together, they two, in the '+ twilight. And now, with that vague interest which the mind af ter great emotion feels in trilling matters, Tulita sat on tho door tep and idly watched the sea gulls fiattering and squabbling over sonio scraps thrown f rom a passing steamer, and then her eyes f ollowed a jack rabbit which loped across the road and disappeared in the sage brush ; then she saw two men come along and stop at the house next to hers. This latter incident rather aroused her curiosity, because, whila sea gulls and jack rabbits were plentiful enough in that neighborhood, gentlemen were not, and these appeared to be gentlemen. Evidently, from their gestures, they were inquir ing for some one; but what was her surprise when these gentlemen left the other house and coming directly to her garden gate opened it and approached her. "Is this where Mrs. Luna varita livesP'said the eider of the two gentlemen, as they both politely removed their hats. Restraining an impulse to tako refuge in the house, Tulita replied that it was. "If it will not disturb her," continued the gentleman, "may we see her for a moment?" At this juncture the señora herself, hearing the voices, carne to the door and answered by bidding them enter. "I hope that we are not intruding," continued the stranger who did the talking; "my name ia Benton and this is my friend Mr. Brown." The señora bowed In a stately way. "My friend here," continued Mr. Benton, "bought soino lavender ticks at the Blank hotel this morning which we understand wore madíj hv vou." [CONTIMUKD.]