The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-06-24

pus aside for while. l have 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. At that age your sainted
mother was already my wife"
Alma began to lose color, but she sue.
ceeded in appearing composed.
"You know the author of The Fallen
Pomegranate,' continued the old gen.
tleman, "my friend Senior Perez. Nc
man in all CASTLE initiates Virgil as he
does THE Fallen Pomegranate com
pares favorably with any pastoral poems
that have ever 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
Senor Perez 2"
"Think of him, father 2"
"I mean, how does he please you A
handsome man he certainly is. True,
he is no longer young, but what he has
lost in youthfulness he has gained in dig.
nifty"
"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 a 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, rs I knew that
you had no aversion for him, 1 have
promised him that he shall be my SON
in-law."
"Father !' cried Alma, in tremulous
tone, "you cannot be serious !"
"And why not 7? You are now of a
manageable age, and you know that my
word has always been rs good as my
bond; that always kept my promises.
Is it, perhaps, possible that you can
think of refusing so brilliant an offer
Answer me ~ cried Don Eusebio, in a
commanding voice. "Why do you think
am not serious I"
"Father," said she, after pause, "I
know that you consider only my good !;
but this is so sudden, SO unexpected,
that THAT am at loss to know what
to reply. Give me three days for re-
Election. Next Sunday 1 will tell you if
if
every WELL" interrupted Senor Men
dez, with frown. "True, it's very
improper for daughter to make condi-
tions with her father; but no matter, so
be it. Within ten days we shall cele-
brate your betrothal."
Alma dropped her chin on her breast
and remained silent.
"And now as to what I have to say to
you, Manuel" continued Senior Mendez,
in q more friendly tone, and he winked
to Manuel, and led him, with mysteri-
GUS air, to one of the windows.
"You have kept the secret p he ask
ed, in an undertone. "Alma has no sus-
picion that 1 am the author of 'The
Eloperient 2"
"Not the slightest, SO far as know"
replied Manuel.
81 would not have the child know for
the world, until after my triumph, that
her father has mounted Pegasus. Apro-
pos, what 1 wanted to tell you: the two
comedies will be played this evening
your 'Gormaz' between eight and nine,
my Midnight Elopement between nine
and ten o'clock. 1 am very anxious to
see how the public will receive the off
spring of our muses..
This conference en- led, Don Eusebio
added a final recommendation to his
daughter, and left the room.
No sooner were the young people
again alone than Manuel seized his
cousins hand, and cried:
"Never fear, Alma. He shall not have
you, never the old pugnosed dogger-
81 writer-as sure as my name is Manuel
Alonzo de Castres -
Two hours had passed since this excit-
ng scene occurred.
Everything goes Just as would have
t, murmured Don Eusebio. 81 shall
oe the father-in>law of the most distin-
yuished poet of the metropolis, and, be-
ore the evenining is over, this head, God
Wiling, will also be laurel l-crowned
What can delay them so long r. he sud
lenly murmured. 81 asked them to
,ome at four o'clock, and now it is near
y quarter after. Hark L hear them
yes, that is his Olympian step! And
he others are with him. Approach, my
riends, approach !"
AS he finished this mouologue, he
brew the door open and welcomed his
'isitors, one after the other, as they
ntered, with great cordiality.
First came Don Anastasio Perez, the |
uthor of "The Enchanted Nightin-
.ale, " a long, feshless figure, with flow
ng red locks and an indescribable nose,
nd chin that always seemed strug-
ling to form a semicircle.
Behind Don Anastasio Perez stood a
title, supple figure of most unsympa-
hetic exterior, Don Enrico Pungo.
The third and last arrival, a man of
be class that have nothing to distin-
uish them from the common herd,
,as Don Rodrigo Prullo, a professor of
ireek.
"It is all arranged, my dear Perez"
aid Don Eusebio, half aloud, to the
uthor of "The Fallen Pomegranate, as
ney took their seats. "She has con-
ented; in week we will celebrate your
II thank you, my noble friend-I
hank you," replied Don Anastasio.
Allow me, in recognition of the honor
ou do me, to dedicate my next poem to
ou."
Willingly" answered Don Eusebio:
/ shall be proud to have my name asso-
lated with products of your commu-
ions with Calliope. You do me great
onor, Don Anastasio. Thanks, thou
and thanks !"
Caballeros," said he, scan you di-
inc why I asked you to come to see me
,-day You all look at me astonished.
see that you do not divine. This even
lg. at the Royal Theater, they will pro-
uce the comedy that the MUSES., in my
lent hours of meditation, have been
leased to inspire me with"
tRrayo bravo % shnutad Daraz