The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-06-28

Pus eoiue lur Wnlle. Il nave something
Of importance TO say to you both. Come
here and sit on the ottoman"
"What l have to say more especially
concerns you, Alma. In April you will
be sixteen. Al that age your sainted
mother was already my wife.
Alma began to lose color, but sho sue.
ceeded in appearing composed.
"You know the author Of 'The Fallen
PomegnnAte,'p continued the old gen.
tleman, tiny friend Senior Perez. No
man in all CASTLE initiates Virgil rs he
does .The Fallen Pomegranate com.
pares fayoably with any pastoral poems
that hayeeyer been written"
Certainly, papa" stammered the
girl, glancing toward Manuel, who knit
his brow, and stared at space.
My daughter, what do you think Of
Senior Perez I"
"Think Of him, father I"
"I mean, how does le please youl A
handsome man he certainly Is. True,
he ia NO longer young, but what he has
lost in youthiulness hehas gained in dig
nity.p'
"But what is that TO me"
"Well, know, my daughter, that your
happiness is secured. Senior Perez Is
not only highly.gifted and very amia.
bic, but also 0 wealthy man. He sees in
you the companion OF his choice-he Is,
and long has been, he tells me, greatly
enamored Of you, and, as I knew that
you had no aversion for him, / have
promised him that he shall be my SON
in-law." s.,
"Fatherl" cried Alma, in n tremulous
tone, "you cannot be serious r.
"And why not !? You are now Of o
manageable age, and you know that my
word has always been as good as my
bond; that i always kept my promises.
Is II, perhaps, possible TINT you can
think OF refusing 50 brilliant an offer
Answer mel" cried Don Eusebio, in o
commanding voice. -"Why do you think
am not serious ~. ~ -''
"Father, said she, after q pause, al
know that you consider only my good;
but this is 80 sudden, 80 unexpected,
that I-that / am at q loss TO know what
to reply. Give me three days for re-
Election. Next Sunday l will tell you il
if IA
every well, y interrupted Senior Men
dez, with frown. "True, it's very
improper for a daughter to make condi-
tions with her father; butno matter, 80
be it. ! Within ten days we shall cele.
brate your betrothal." "
Alma dropped her chin on her breast
and remained silent.
"And now rs to what I have TO say TO
you, Manuel, continued Senior NIendez,
in o more friendly tone, and he winked
TO Manuel, and led him, with a rnysteri.
Gus Dir, TO one Of the Windows.
"You have kept the secret" he ask
ed, in an undertone. "Alma hasto sus-
picion tint / am tho author u sThe
Midnight Eloperienti'"
"Not the slightest, 50 far as I know, "
replied Manuel.
"Iwould not have the child know for
the world, until after my triumph, that
her father has mounted Pegasus. Apro-
pos, what I wanted to tell You: the two
comedies will be played this evening
your .Gormaz' between eight and nine,
my Midnight Elopement between nine
aud ten o'clock. am very anxious 10
sec how the public will receive the OF.
spring Of our muses."
This conference enled, Don Eusebio
added q fnal Recommendation to his
daughter, and left the room.
No sooner were the young people
again alone than Manuel seized his
cousins hand, and cried: 4
"Neyer fear, Alma. He shall not have
you, neyorl-thc old .pugnosed dogger.
el writsr-as sure as my name'is Manuel
Alonzo dc Castresl"s st
4. 81
Two hours had passed since this excit-
ing scene occurred. Il
"Everything goes justas 1 would have
IT," murmured Don Eusebio. al shall
be the father.inslaw Of the most distin.
guished poot Of the metropolis, and, be
fore the evenining is over, this head, God
willing, will also be latrel.crowned
What can delay them so long 7" he sud-
denly murmtred. ~ nsked them to
come at four o'clock, and now II is near
Iva quarter after. Hark 1 hear them
YES, that Is his olympian step And
the others are with him. Approach, my
friends, approachP Y sr
As he finished this monologue, he
threw the door open and welcomed his
visitors, ono after the other, as they
entered, with great cOrdiality.
First came Don Anastasio Perez, the
author OF "The Enchanted Nightin-
gale, o long, fleshless figure, with flow
ing red locks and an indescribable nose,
and chin that always seemed strug-
Cling TO form o somicircle. y.
Behind Don Anastasio Perez stood
little, supple figure Of most unsympa.
thetic exterior, Don Enrico Pungo.
The third and last arrival, o man Of
the class that have nothing to distin.
guish them from the common herd,
was Don Rodrigo Prullo, a professor Of
Greek. li A"F ~ ~ |
"It is all arranged, my dear Perez
said Don Eusebio, half aloud, TO the
author OF "The Fallen Pomegranate," as
they took their seats. "She has con.
sented; in q week We will celebrate your
betrothal."
II thank you, my noble friend-II
thank you" replied Don Anastasio.
q Allow me, in recognition OF the honor
you do me, TO dedicate my next poem 10
,Iwillingiy, answered Don Eusebio;
uI shall be proud to have myname asso.
ciated with products OF your commp
mons with oaliope. You do me great
honor, Don Anastasio. Thanks, o thou.
..I1 Il.n..l.n ID II L