The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-05-26


had escaped. lie went to The window anC
called for assistance, bat 'hCrc were few per
sons abroad at that hour O! the night, ana TN
window Of his room was iar from The street
He went To the door and used his effort, 4
force it open without success
Exhausted IN the Un@Ya:.iH~ aitemp', 90
sat down 10 await The break OF day. Holi
after hour passed away, ana a. length 'H'
welcome gray dawn began to appear Pres
emily his ear caught the sound OF light step
and he heard the bolt .a.l from the outside
then the door opeaed aud Isabella stood be
fore him. She certainly looked beautiful a
she walked into the room, clad IN simple
white robe without any adornment.
"Thank you, thank you cried the coun
81 shall not forget the service you have doat
me. and if crave kiss, it Is IN token o; the
love bear one who has been the means OF
preparing me to defend my life
ISABELLA bowed her head and the count
kissed her on the forehead,
you know al that has happened:' cues
ton the count
Eyes, senior" she replied. My uncle is
seriously wounded, but the contTabandlsls
carried him off to the frontier before Gay.
break Senior, now that you are safe and
free to depart, will you not do me the favor
to conceal this matter? You have danger
ously wounded my uncle, and heard Jose
the chief of the cAntrabandst gang, say, that
If Antonio reached Sego7la alive, he would
be much surprised
The count was thoughtful for few mo.
ments, then he asked:
"Why, my dear girl, DO you desire to shield
this wretch? Certainly not because he is
your relation You do not love him, for last
night you said he would kill you If he knew
you had betrayed him
listen, senior, and | Will explain said
the girl. "Antonio Hernandez is the only
brother Of my mother When she died he
took me to his home, and brought me up at.
ter his rough fashion. He used TO belong 10
Jose's gang If he didn't treat me with al.
lection, neither did he beat me. Once he
saved my liie-periiing his life to save mine.
was at the bottom of the sea when ne di,ed
and brought me to the surface again, and the
water was full of sharks, too, Great sea mon.
sters, senior. Certainly he must have cared
for me OF he would have allowed me to be
eaten up
expression as she spoke, and the count DIRE"
her near him and again kissed her brow.
For your sake, | make the promise he
uncle never returns to Madrid
At that moment there was jingle ofsNurS
in the court, and call for Isabella. The
count descended the stairway with her, and
at the landing met a swarthy fellow with his
face concealed in a SLOUGH hat, who called
Isabella aside and spoke to her in low and
rapid tone. This done, he jumped upon his
mule and gallOped away.
The gIrl stood near the doorway with her
cheeks blanched and hands tightly clasped,
while tears rolled down her cheeks.
Divining at once the cause, the count ap.
preached and said: "1ou have had bad
news. tears"
He died before they reached the noun
tains,' she replied. Jose sent the word.
Alas! alas" and she wept piteously.
The count cndeavorcd to sOOthe her grief
ard made inquiries as to her future life.
II am alone in the world now" she Sobbed
al will see that you are cared for" he SAID,
and will send kind person to you before
night Come, cheer up; all will be VIII
That day Isabella was removed to the Con-
vent Of Saint Ursula, and placed at school
under the care of the kind Sisters.
Count de Blvas sought the beautiful Julia,
and learned that, by dreadful accident, she
had been horribly burned and distigured and
was then lying upon bed from which she
might never rise again. The shock was so
great to HIM that he started upon his travels
once more.
Six months later he was at Andora, on the
Spanish frontier, when became across gang
If scOntrabandlsts who were coming down
from the Pyrenees. One fellow who had a
peculiar limp in his gait caught his eye, and
he thought there was something familiar IN
his voice. The man pulled his cap over his
face and was Fastening by, when the count
sprang to his side and laid his hand on his
You are Aatono Hernandez, formerly
keeper of the Raven Inn" cried de BiYas.
And you are Coum de Bivas,' was the
reply.
Ave won't mention the past" said the
count, but tell me why you sent word TO
that poor girl that you was dead
"Well, senor," replied the ruiiian, g was
tired of playing landlord where could gath
er no pesos. | longed again for my old life,
and didn't want to be bothered with women.
| know all you have done tor the girl, senior.
Little passes in the cities that Jose's gang do
not get correctly. Now let US say adieu, with
the hope that wc may never meet again"
and the ruiiian dO.tcd his hat in derisiOn, and
hurried after his companions.
y sudden change came over the count He
hurried back to Madrid, and sought the Con-
vent OF ST. Ursula, where he had long inter
view with Isabella, and before the orange
buds bloOmed again IN the garden of the de
Biyas mansion at san Pablo, Isabella became
a countess, and the happy wife of the man
whose life she had beeu instrumental in pre-
serving.