The Portland daily press., 1873-09-27
HISTORY OF A BOOK.
Translated for the Press from the French of
Luciea Bart.
CHAPTER v.

to the house of Perez; such a proceeding
wodld seem strange, and it was not my pur-
pose TO dvuge the object OF my journey. |
walked back and forth in the chamber, con-
suting my watch, opening the window,
closing it, prey to all the -eStlessness which
renders the hours of waiting so painful. Ten
O'Clock rung from the ca hedral, when l lifted
the knocker of the door Of the licentiate.
The mouse keeper of Perez, Donna Ger
trudis. burst into tears, when she recognized
me- My heart beat and l could hardly re-
tain nv usual manner. In truth, finding
myself ia his house, hearing his old house
keeper repeat all the details of his death, /
thought of my poor friend, but thought al
so of his despair if he had seen his Gomara
pass into un worthy hands. The gift of his
library to the Seminary had not surprised me
Perez possessed great number OF theological
books; then he had thought OF his salvation,
and thought also to secure the prayers OF the
church by his generosity. But to bequeath
the first edition of Goanara to college of
young men who could not appreciate such
treasure-the proceeding seemed unworthy
true lover of books.
At the m ,ment we entered the door of the
library, the no sekeeper nesitated. L will
never venture she said, 81 see him yet be-
foie the table, reading, writing, sleeping. En-
ter, doctor, you will lind every thing as he
has left it,
She sat down in the ante-chamcer and
handed me the KEY. Overcoming my own
emotion, / opened the door of the Ii rary and
PehetraUeu iito an i'ni u looii' oihatnehe
ca WIN books where Ferez nau passed. MS
ihe. dis PAX ciaiI, covered WIN Sofuo'a
leather, was placed near tne tacie, where an
open book witnessed tnab tne saVaht had
been surprised at work.
An Internal idea took possession of my
brain. 1 was alone, Gorara was not five
steps from me in the book case where | saw
the glass shlne! What power couio ninder
me from Carrying OH this precious volum-!
This volume-it was the only. one perhaps
must leave 1t, to disappear, to De lost ior-
ever? wished to bringit into light, COM
ment on it, and make it the object of my ODD
Memoria TO the Academy OF Sciences in Par
is; and posterity would approve, justify the
theft. At this moment could have wished
thai Lobo with his bloody sabre in hand
would arise between me and this book.
would lave foughC-l would have killed him
to be able to cary OFF this treasure. But the
tn 1t in cold blood! Reason returned. This
morning, sor the second Tune IN my HE, L
saw my evil genius rise up before me-thls de-
mon OF whom philosophers the most lndUi-
gent nave recognized the existence IN US
and despised myself. saw 1t with nanlil
ty, my loyalty trlumphed. rose and Went
towards tue corner CHOSEN by tne hcentlate
TO shelter ms choicest eoitlons; stili ashamed,
feared somehow % ma myself race 10 lace
with Gomsra, and crossed with SLOW steps,
the distance whlcn separated me rom IL.
suddenly co'd sweat accompanied Tue III
teri lttent ch.lis winch had felt since en-
tered tnls vast room exposed 10 the hortn.
gave cry unc onsciouSiy-the place where
1oaara snoud nave oeeil' was vacant!
WhSt mas haPpeneu 10 YOU Doctor' ~
qu'reu Donha UerIruaiS, VINO opeheu the
door, crossing herself.
Warus the vacant piace;
GomalaF asked IN an excited tone.
AHe poor Mollian looheu d. ule Witn iea a.,
Has my MASTER appeared 10 your sne
clle1; a., , - a.,
Goinaras rePeaIeu, ruinlnaSinS the
Do1k-case anAloGsly. -
DOhlla uerI ~ elleu' ensieu nef nei
teaI9-I was sttlocaleuml thouSue napp.y "a
thai creek sehleLce' Tue man VINO VI loS
10 ms passions, we're IL even Ior an hour' IS
no louSef HAL anu oecdhe naSter Vi
ihFsnh' ,.,,
Lueie weie sunni pooAs upon TINS sneii'
salo L 10 tne hoasekeeper, what have you
uone Win theih
g. on must ask my poor master. oehor.
since MS death, you are The hrst VINO mas ell
tete1 Dere,
on swear that TO me !!
by the bones OF my mother" she an
swered. Forgetting the hours, and prohting
by the tact that seals are not used in Mexico,
searcned the library OF Perez until MD
nignt. Inc next day, at dawn, Vas again
at WORK. Inc tnird day, we 'ry, was rest
ing sittioS upon the chalr ef my iren1,
Wheh saw us nephew, Tue cure OF the VII
la9e OF sienna. enter, ioHoWed by the intend
ant OF the seminary, VINO came 10 take pos
SESSION Vi Jus ,e?"cy: kDs" Tue cure HI
TIE. ne ne,d III ms mana great quarto'
Wnich nau searched ior III Valh' the cata-
lo2ue' prepared Dy Ferez nimself, OF MS
70 rs. A n Iue usual saiulatloIs, peSSed
tae good father 10 permit nue. 60 LOOK at the
catalogue; ne handed it quickly TO me, and
Sought ne letter u. a large dash IN lnii
blotted the name of Gomora and the historic
note, relative to the edition of 1552. No
doubt Perez had DESTROYED it, in order to dis
appoint me. perhaps, OF an unique marvel
l, woo believed him my friend!
My palor, the trembling which seized me,
surpr sed the cure and the intendant; they
alXously assisted me. | told them Of the
pr ,cions Dook oil winch ferez was possessor,
and OF It's disappearance. Neither OF them
knew anything OF 1t. Nevertheless the cure
remembered that, month before MS death,
his uncle mad gwen nun twenty volumes.
GomaraD ne fepeateo' wait, work
pounu IN parcnanent' prihteu III llieSiDle
gotI,c ciiarac.elS
res, crieu.
1t IS at my mouse, 90 not doubt. You
VaIue then this ola DOOR, DOCTOR!
More than my LIE, answered lmpur-
dently.
10 not ask price Wh'cn belongs only
TO God, answered the cure, smiling. MY
Gomaia Is yours only you must take the
pans to come and seek 1t at my home. where
you have SO often promised to make me a
Visit; and you VIII send me, IN exchange,
one OF your books, one OF those whi;h has
some engravlngs."
promised; and in my Joy I gave Next
can embrace to the cure, to Donna Ger
trudis, even to the intepdant.
III you would like any oil the books which
remain, they are youls," said the intend
ant.
L thanked him for the generous offer of
that winch did not belong to him-but Mex
leo Is chivairlc ground yet.
In return Tor ms klhdness, heiped him 10
PACK tue DOCKS wnlcn some Indians carried
away IN straw oaske.s 70 the bisnops palace.
coqld hardiy toierate lne e., careless way with
mich lnsy .fe I ese oiu irienGs o. rerel'
iuilklns pl Tue laGe hliile wou I, snare, Oh
'he udy "nen pau Cne uepo ena1 oil Hel