ROMANCE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1926, Page 4

ROMANCE

THE SPANISH GIRL’S HOUR

fn a Spanish girl’s life courtship is her crown and triumph, says Barbara Pender in tt London paper. Like the queen lice, emerging -front the nest to soar upwards in the blue,

pursued by desirous males till captured by one, thence homewards to domesticity and innumerable progeny,

so the Spanish maiden lias her day, of which-she makes full use; small blame io her. Spanish girls have numerous suitors, | hut are rarely engaged more than once, I an engagement being almost as binding as marriage. The suitor begins by following the girl everywhere. He sends discreet little notes through the concierge, limits kincmas and theatres, and when he finds her gazes at her all the time. She, too, looks occasionally. . . Then comes a daily conversation ill the street or through the grilled window behind which she is safely barred ; or he ntay stand outside the door of the flat talking through a grille. At this stage he is not permitted to visit her, so the daily love-talk lasts from one to three hours.

\ ery little notice is apparently taken of the couple by their respective families. though no parents are more astute. If the “novio” is duly approved in due course the engagement becomes formal. The girl’s family then receive the young man’s family in state, there is a banquet and general rejoicing, and Mie novio ” gives his sweetheart a bracelet—as magnificent ns possible. He can now go to the house, sit next to her at the theatre, and walk by her side in the street—though not alone. Her mother or a companion is on the other side, looking as bored as the girl looks happy. For the Spaniard makes love inimitably. It is not with him a thing apart ; it is his whole existence. He devours her with his eyes; lie pours forth passionate, adoring words; lie is at her feet, her slave; and she. his queen, is afire with love and devotion. It is her hour and she revels in it. Tt matters not where they are. how many people present—each demands the whole attention of the other. But she is still unattained—and therein lies the glamour. I used to watch at the kinenta and was fascinated. A year after marriage," I still watched. She came with the full paraphernalia—a young baby and a nurse. But the lover, the slave, the kneeler at

her feet, was not there. Cafe, club, or business had claimed him with returned zest. He is secure of his wife. She has her baby ; she will probably have one a year. He is free as air; he can st3Ll soar in the blue. She is not; but in her smouldering eyes lies the remembrance of courtship days.