Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1851-05-06

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or we were always interrupted, and
forced to make a. precipitate retreat
| Things were in this state on the
evening before Christmas. | still
fingered on without more plainly de
claring what / felt, (you see by this
time that I was deeply in love,) and
she was unwilling to forestall my dec
laration. On that night went to the
Church of the Incarnation to heal
mass at midnight. Like all churches
in that country it was large and en-
tirely void of seats. Dimly lighted
by the altar-candles, (the only lights
in the house. the auA Hence kneeling
or sitting promiscuou sly on the pave
ment, many opportunities and tempt
ations were presented to attend to
other things beside the services
The fair Senoras, with their mantillas
drawn over their heads and across
their mouths, alternately sat and
knelt, repeating the responses and
replying with their eyes to the cava-
liers, whose devotions were at least
not directed to the altar.
With a light Spanish mantle
thrown over my shoulders, | stood
among the kneeling throng, I confess,
not over-deveut. A crowd of women
came rustling in. AS they passed
me l felt my mantle slightly pulled,
and on turning g saw the bright eyes
of Carlota bent on me for moment
and then withdrawn.
'Aeqm, Madrd,' she whispered to
her aunt, whom she called mother,
and they both knflt very near me.
I stepped lightly around them and
seated myself on a kind Of dais
which ran along the side Of the
church, very near to Carlota. | had
not been theremore than fveminutes,
when she looked up with one Of those
long, furtiye looks, which are 50
charming from a dark, liquid eye.
1t was dusky where we were, but
there was sufficient light for me to
see a small note, pinned to the cor
nor of her mantilla. and to- that she
directed me by a glance Changing
her posture, she threw the mantilla
close to me; covefingit with my cloak,
| unpinned the note, and after a
moment left the church. My lodg-
ings were only d few steps off; 50
hurrying over / opened the ncte. 1t
ran thus:
1My mother, ia ather and Benito
will be in the procession tomorrow
at three P. NJ. ] shall have a head
ache, so l cannot 60; but will be at
home. Santiago viii bring you the
key-Carlota.' {,
Iwent back, caught her eye rest
ing ind uiringly On me, and slightly
nodding g as a token that would be
| there, retired from the. place
| When l got back to ny lodgings,
| / searc he'd for the note, for the pur-
pose of destroying it, Or reading it
again, perhaps, but it was no where to
be found. ! hastened back to the
Church, supposing ] might have
dropped it there; but l could see
nothing of it, Benito was standing
near where ! had sat; but he did not
move, only glancing at me and with
drawing his gaze, BE seldom no
/ ticed me now; indeed, never, except
by one of those sinister looks which
promise no good feeling. 1t was but
a few months before the day fixed
for his marriage with Carlota; and he
watched his prize with a Jealousy
truly Spanish.
The note was not to be found.
On the following day, Christmas
the procession was formed at the
Church of the Incarnation, and
moved for the Cathedral at three
clock. About the same time the
neon boy entered the sAeson' ane
handed me small key, towhich wa:
attached strip of paper with thesc
words: sEnter by the door on St. Mar
tin s-street.
Iwent down Immediately on th'
marching Of the procession. Tn
streets were entirely deserted, SO tina
| had no trouble in entering unob
, served. The little postern on Sain
Martin-street, opened directly in tn
: rear Of the summer-house, into whic
, I was not long in going. In pre-
cisely the costume | have before de