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and before the young man could formulate in words the
eloquent emotions that ran riot through his brain … with an
'Adios； Senor： good…night； my English friend；' she vanished
from his sight behind the curtain。
The next day Harry consumed an ounce of tobacco in vain upon
the neutral terrace； neither sight nor sound rewarded him；
and the dinner…hour summoned him at length from the scene of
disappointment。 On the next it rained； but nothing； neither
business nor weather； neither prospective poverty nor present
hardship； could now divert the young man from the service of
his lady； and wrapt in a long ulster； with the collar raised；
he took his stand against the balustrade； awaiting fortune；
the picture of damp and discomfort to the eye； but glowing
inwardly with tender and delightful ardours。 Presently the
window opened； and the fair Cuban； with a smile imperfectly
dissembled； appeared upon the sill。
'Come here；' she said； 'here； beside my window。 The small
verandah gives a belt of shelter。' And she graciously handed
him a folding…chair。
As he sat down； visibly aglow with shyness and delight； a
certain bulkiness in his pocket reminded him that he was not
come empty…handed。
'I have taken the liberty；' said he； 'of bringing you a
little book。 I thought of you； when I observed it on the
stall； because I saw it was in Spanish。 The man assured me
it was by one of the best authors； and quite proper。' As he
spoke； he placed the little volume in her hand。 Her eyes
fell as she turned the pages； and a flush rose and died again
upon her cheeks； as deep as it was fleeting。 'You are
angry；' he cried in agony。 'I have presumed。'
'No； Senor； it is not that；' returned the lady。 'I … ' and a
flood of colour once more mounted to her brow … 'I am
confused and ashamed because I have deceived you。 Spanish；'
she began； and paused … 'Spanish is； of course； my native
tongue；' she resumed； as though suddenly taking courage； 'and
this should certainly put the highest value on your
thoughtful present； but alas； sir； of what use is it to me？
And how shall I confess to you the truth … the humiliating
truth … that I cannot read？'
As Harry's eyes met hers in undisguised amazement； the fair
Cuban seemed to shrink before his gaze。 'Read？' repeated
Harry。 'You！'
She pushed the window still more widely open with a large and
noble gesture。 'Enter； Senor；' said she。 'The time has come
to which I have long looked forward； not without alarm； when
I must either fear to lose your friendship； or tell you
without disguise the story of my life。'
It was with a sentiment bordering on devotion； that Harry
passed the window。 A semi…barbarous delight in form and
colour had presided over the studied disorder of the room in
which he found himself。 It was filled with dainty stuffs；
furs and rugs and scarves of brilliant hues； and set with
elegant and curious trifles…fans on the mantelshelf； an
antique lamp upon a bracket； and on the table a silver…
mounted bowl of cocoa…nut about half full of unset jewels。
The fair Cuban； herself a gem of colour and the fit
masterpiece for that rich frame； motioned Harry to a seat；
and sinking herself into another； thus began her history。
STORY OF THE FAIR CUBAN
I AM not what I seem。 My father drew his descent； on the one
hand； from grandees of Spain； and on the other； through the
maternal line； from the patriot Bruce。 My mother； too； was
the descendant of a line of kings； but； alas！ these kings
were African。 She was fair as the day： fairer than I； for I
inherited a darker strain of blood from the veins of my
European father； her mind was noble； her manners queenly and
accomplished； and seeing her more than the equal of her
neighbours； and surrounded by the most considerate affection
and respect； I grew up to adore her； and when the time came；
received her last sigh upon my lips； still ignorant that she
was a slave； and alas！ my father's mistress。 Her death；
which befell me in my sixteenth year； was the first sorrow I
had known： it left our home bereaved of its attractions；
cast a shade of melancholy on my youth； and wrought in my
father a tragic and durable change。 Months went by； with the
elasticity of my years； I regained some of the simple mirth
that had before distinguished me； the plantation smiled with
fresh crops； the negroes on the estate had already forgotten
my mother and transferred their simple obedience to myself；
but still the cloud only darkened on the brows of Senor
Valdevia。 His absences from home had been frequent even in
the old days； for he did business in precious gems in the
city of Havana； they now became almost continuous； and when
he returned； it was but for the night and with the manner of
a man crushed down by adverse fortune。
The place where I was born and passed my days was an isle set
in the Caribbean Sea； some half…hour's rowing from the coasts
of Cuba。 It was steep； rugged； and； except for my father's
family and plantation； uninhabited and left to nature。 The
house； a low building surrounded by spacious verandahs； stood
upon a rise of ground and looked across the sea to Cuba。 The
breezes blew about it gratefully； fanned us as we lay
swinging in our silken hammocks； and tossed the boughs and
flowers of the magnolia。 Behind and to the left； the quarter
of the negroes and the waving fields of the plantation
covered an eighth part of the surface of the isle。 On the
right and closely bordering on the garden； lay a vast and
deadly swamp； densely covered with wood； breathing fever；
dotted with profound sloughs； and inhabited by poisonous
oysters； man…eating crabs； snakes； alligators； and sickly
fishes。 Into the recesses of that jungle； none could
penetrate but those of African descent； an invisible；
unconquerable foe lay there in wait for the European； and the
air was death。
One morning （from which I must date the beginning of my
ruinous misfortune） I left my room a little after day； for in
that warm climate all are early risers； and found not a
servant to attend upon my wants。 I made the circuit of the
house； still calling： and my surprise had almost changed
into alarm； when coming at last into a large verandahed
court； I found it thronged with negroes。 Even then； even
when I was amongst them； not one turned or paid the least
regard to my arrival。 They had eyes and ears for but one
person： a woman； richly and tastefully attired； of elegant
carriage； and a musical speech； not so much old in years； as
worn and marred by self…indulgence： her face； which was
still attractive； stamped with the most cruel passions； her
eye burning with the greed of evil。 It was not from her
appearance； I believe； but from some emanation of her soul；
that I recoiled in a kind of fainting terror； as we hear of
plants that blight and snakes that fascinate； the woman
shocked and daunted me。 But I was of a brave nature； trod
the weakness down； and forcing my way through the slaves； who
fell back before me in embarrassment； as though in the
presence o