The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-12-25

And Calevar, the revengeful, the COW
etous. the rejected lover of Isa Cantel.
var, slumbered on, never dreaming that
the dwarf who had served him SO faith
fully for twelve years, was delivering
him over to fate, from the contempla-
ton of which the mind would shrink
with horror.
It was the night before Isa Cantel-
vars wedding.
The hour was twelve, and Havana
slept on the edge of the Gulf.
Not sound came from the old house
SO soon to resound with marriage mu-
sic, and with the groans of one doomed
to living death.
The fair lisa, no doubt, was sleeping
away her last maiden hours, for the day
soon to dawn was to see her bride be-
fore it departed.
The sky was covered with Opaque
clouds. Not star was visible, for the
riffs, if there were any, were as black as
the clouds.
Therefore, the crouching figure that
crossed the flower garden was not per-
ceived. It seemed man, yet it had
the motion of an animal.
It paused before low door in the
eastern wing of the Cantelvar mansion
and listened.
The wash of the waves against the
walls was the only sound that came to
the solitary being. Then it struck the
door twice, and the portal opened noise
lessly, and closed again. But the night
prowler was not to be seen without ; he
was within the mansion.
The person who had admitted him
seemed to be a small man. The person
admitted was tall and wore a mask that
effectually concealed his features.
You can find your way now ?" asked
the traitor.
eyes give me the light"
The dark taper was placed in his
hands.
"You have the keys, said the traitor.
" May the Virgin speed you will be
at the wharf. We sail tonight.
eyes, tonight. Be there -
A moment lateRthe tall man moved
of, leaving the other watching him and
his light.
More than one lcng corridor the
masked one travelled, and the silence of
death was about him. His feet gave
in nothing but short Cuban hose, and
there were no obstacles in his path.
The ornamented butts of the pistols
visible just above his belt told that he
was prepared for an emergency, and his
LETT hand clutched the hi1t of a dagger
whose blade was hidden in his sleeve.
At last he paused before door much
smaller than any he had encountered in
the house, and its heavy locks told that
it led to q room where valuable treasure
lay.
The mask listened long time at the
door before he tried to open 1t. He
knew that he was underground, for the
stone floor on which he stood was quite
damp, and the walls about him were
covered with icy sweat. The curiously
shaped KEY that he drew from his pocket
opened the little door, and the night
prowIer found himself in small room.
Closing the door gently he soon pro-
duced stronger light, and the glare
that suddenly dazzled his eyes almost
sent him to the floor.
A table stood in the center of the
treasure room, and on that table were
the treasures for which he had SEEM
ingly entered the Cantelvar mansion.
There were necklaces of diamonds and
pins of emeralds; head dresses of beaten
rings whose value seemed inca1culable.
He stood before lisa Cantelvar's we'd
ling gifts
About him on the floor was the old
Cuban's wealth-cofers full of doub-
looms, safes well stored with precious
stones. The five small trunks which
Capt. Calevar had noticed on the pier
were there, but they were empty. The
Jewels they had carried across the
ocean glittered on the table.
For many minutes the mask stared at
the array of wealth, and then, as if to
test the reality of things, he approached
and took up a costly necklace.
She shall never wear this - he said
after moments inspection, and then the
costly bauble disappeared beneath his
doublet.
A tiara of beautiful rubies followed
the necklace, and then rings, bracelets
and ether rich personal ornaments dis
He discarded many rich
things with the discrimination of a
lapidary, and when he was about to
turn away, he laughed.
'' can't take any of your doubloons,
Senior Cantelvar % he said. They are
verv pretty. very good, but your daugh-
tere wealth is more portable. / guess
I carry about four hundred thousand
doubloons' worth of pebbles on my per-
son. Ha ha Isa wouldn't marry Cal
evar -
He put his hand on the door, when
the slightest of noises startled him.
'tCalevar y
At the sound of his name he turned
quickly, and faced six men with drawn
pistols.
Had they sprung from the floor of the
treasure room?
There stood old Senor Cantelvar, and
his lips were still quivering with the
name just spoken.
Beside the Cuban stood the youth who
had lately landed from the Vultatre.
The mask did not drop his taper and
turn for fight. On the contrary, he
said, "Well % and looked into the
muzzIes of the pistols without q
tremor.
"we know you I'' said Senior Cam
telvar.
s'And I know your was the re-
"You came thither for the wedding
gifts"
s. And have got them p
EDO you expect to keep them p
No-not now u
"Advance and put them on the
table"
Calevar advanced without hesitation,
and his hand crept to his bosom. But