He undertook to loiter
gracefully, knowing himself to be the target of many eyes, but
found it extremely hard to refrain from sitting on the curb, a
manifestly unromantic attitude for a love-lorn swain. He swore
grimly that, if usage required a suitor to make an exhibition of
himself before the entire neighborhood, he would do the job
thoroughly. It did not cheer him to reflect that the girl had a
keen sense of humor and must be laughing at him, yet he determined
to put in a week at this idiotic love-making before he attempted
anything else. Later in the evening he was rewarded by the glimpse
of a handkerchief cautiously waved, and he was delirious with joy
as he hobbled homeward.
Night after night he spent assiduously studying the cracks and
blemishes in the stucco walls of No. 89 Avenida Norte, encouraged
by the occasional flutter of a hand or a soulful sigh from behind
the lace screen at the third window from the corner. But when
Sunday came he was in no mood to continue this roundabout and
embarrassing mode of courtship longer. He made an early start from
his quarters, taking Allan with him.
"I'll catch her going to mass," he explained, hopefully. "I've
just got to put an end to this performance."
"Will you h'accost her h'openly?" inquired Allan.
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