The story
“Romance came into the life of the young American when he took a horseback trip through upper Mexico. One afternoon he found himself lost in a strange country. Coming to a crossroads he debated which way to go and finally took the right hand path. Proceeding along it for some miles he noticed a ranch house and rode up to it. A pretty girl smiled out of the kitchen window at him and indicated the bowl, which she had just put out and which was filled with Mexican torta. She told the rider that if he would sing again that she would give him some of her tarts. He sang an appropriate ditty, helped himself to a cookie and rode around to the front of the house, where he was greeted by the proprietor, a stately Spaniard, who gave him a most cordial welcome. He then introduced him to his daughter, a handsome young woman but not the one to whom the adventurer had lost his heart. The young man accepted their invitation to remain until the following morning, and a few minutes later supper was announced.
“At the table in addition to his host and hostess there were two scowling young men who were introduced as cousins. Both seemed to resent the presence of the young American. During the progress of the meal the visitor again met the young girl whom he had dubbed ‘The Bowl Bearer’ and found that she was a poor relation and practically treated as a drudge. Her name was Delicia. The dainty torta which he had seen earlier were passed around by Delicia, and in her progress around the table she accidentally bumped into one of the cousins. He became enraged, and brutally shoved her aside. The American jumped to his feet and thrashed the bully. Later he apologized to his host.
“In the morning the American rode away, and after he was gone Delicia learned that the two cousins had plotted to lay in ambush and kill the man who had struck one of them. Hoping to be able to warn him, Delicia mounted a horse and rode swiftly away. She arrived too late, however, for the plotters had succeeded and left the American lying in the road. An old servant who accompanied the American to act as guide told Delicia that aid was useless, but the girl put up a little camp in the woods, and tenderly nursed the young man. When the young American recovered, he was very grateful and urged the girl to marry him. She refused, however, until he could obtain his mother’s consent, and yielding to her entreaties he returned alone to his home.
“Days lengthened into weeks, but no message came to her. Delicia was confident of his loyalty, and finally a chance came whereby she could investigate for herself. Another relative of the old servant with whom she was staying was a caterer in Pasadena, the home town of her lover, and she secured a position with this estimable woman. Their first engagement was at one of the finest homes in Pasadena, and the caterer told Delicia that at the affair the engagement of the only son of the wealthy hostess would be announced. The entertainment was in progress before Delicia learned that the young man was the one with whom she had plighted her troth. From the pantry where she was preparing the bowl of torta for the banquet, she saw her sweetheart, his mother on one side of him, while on the other was a beautiful girl to whom he seemingly paid much attention. She picked up the bowl of torta and entered the banquet room to serve the guests.
“As she approached the table, unnoticed by all, one of the women guests asked the young man whom he was to marry. Delicia stopped to listen. The young man, realizing that someone was near him, looked back for a moment and saw her. He rose to his feet, placed his arms around the trembling girl and said: ‘Here she is, my friends, here she is—the little bowl bearer—Delicia—meaning Delight!’”
Summary from The Moving Picture World · 18 September 1915
