The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1878-08-10

f.ES Ssestifo, NeHeadesgs and disappeared.
BE turned pale, and tried to get
away from the inquisitiye gaze Of those
around him who had noticed the incident;
but IN at once another girl, q few steps
| on. cried, still more distinctly, "MentirGr
He turned away, confused and discon-
certed, and tried to force his way through
the throng and escape. But now third,
then fourth, and finally whole group Of
girls from Trana, recognizing him, began
10 cry after him, "Meatira, Menendes,
mestira"
People stopped, while the other girls, as
thew came up, repeated the cry. His name
began to pass from lip to lip, and as the
crowd parted a moment before grouping
around MIN, he seized the welcome chance.
darted through, with pale and distorted
features, out of the walk, caught up with
carriage, and leaping in, was driven rap
idly from the spot, still hearing for some
time the distant cries Of his tOrmentors.
Once at home, he covered his face with
his hands, and broke into passion of an
Cry vet discOnsOlate weeping. 1T has
gone abroad" he cried. Il am by-word
in Seville, and can't show my face before
the world! I am scorned, insulted, dis
honored!" All at once new and noble
suggestion flashed through his mind, an
swered by profound stir in his whole
nature, which lighted up his features,
toned up his nerves, and set his blood
aflame. Then, as IL asserting to the whis-
pered prayer OF some invisible friend,
aYes," he murmured, zone more trial."
and hurried out.
Fermina was working by lamp light in a
corner of her room, when she heard a
quick light step on the stair, and remem-
La. hat rI~< hp<l loft fhxNx III Nr
ajar. She had barely time to start up and
then sink back in her chair, when Menen-
DEE threw himself at her feet, bowed his
forehead to the ground, and cried, Sob
bling, -Fermina, forgive mel"
She made no answer, but sat, with wide
eyes, pallid features, and trembling lips,
gazing toward the window.
"Fermina," Menendez went on, in a voice
that came cOnvulsed and strangling from
his heaving chest, forgive me. l have
been brute and a fool. You are an an
gel; 1 am a wretch. have torn ut my
own heart with my own hands; have
wept bloody tears. They have insulted
me in the street till I thought should go
mad. I can't live SO. Give me back Your
love. Don't condemn me to endless tor
ture. Forget it. Can't you love me again?
See, I am grOvelling at your feet, and
beating my forehead on the earth. have
no voice, nor tears, nor self-respect, nor
honor left-nothing but the love that is
tearing my heart out, and the despair that
is killing me. Fermina, have pity on met"
Still Fermina gazed at the window, while
her features twitched cOnvulsively, her
bosom heaved, and n feverish tremor
shook her from head to foot. She seemed
to make a violent effort to gain, as it were,
her own consent to Menendez's prayer;
she too seemed to hope some unexpected
change in her own heart; and Menendez
watched with intense anxiety every shift
ing movement Of her features. But she
broke out in despair:
It's useless. Menendez. l cant; I've
no feeling left. I'm empty; I'm dead.
You might entreat all your life. kill your
self right before my eyes, turn saint,
monarch, god-it's all of no use. I've no
faith left, no love. You've killed me. Do
YOU understand, Menendez? Have you
forgotten what you did? Fermina had
trusted you with her honor, and you tram
pied on it before all Seville. Good God!
| you could do that, and you expect me to
forgive you!" Then with q violent effort
she Gained herself, and added, cOldly,
| go, Menendez. Leave me to myself
leave me In my grave. 1t is all over.
GOOd-by."
Think again, said Menendez, in suppl
ant accents.
Fermina freed her hands, and, with
averted face, pointed to the door.
| "Have You ND hearth" cried the young
man, springing to his feet, rage flaming in
his soul and lc Iding menace to his features.
Fermina gave him one look, and Menen-
dez, staggering back, hurried from the
room.
At home, he set at once TO packing for a
start next morning. 1t was his plan to
pass month at La Rinconada, a little viii
lage among the olive groves, not far FROM
town, where he had often been invited by
Don Luis de Guevara, ayoung physician,
one of his schOOl-mates, to pass the heated
term. When all was in order, he threw
himself on his bed, and, for the first time
since that first fatal evening, fell asleep.
Waking ut daylight somewhat calmer, he
ran to the win low and hailed the first pass
ing carriage; then, finishing his toilet, he
mad his luggage taken down, and getting
into the vehicle, ordered the driver TO take
him to the right bank, opposite the Golden
Tower. A great change had come over
him since ne day before. His face kept
no traces of anxiety or pain; though pale
and marked with the signs of the tempest
he had been through, it was resOiute and
almost naughty. Getting out at Fermina' S
lodging, he walked up stairs with firm step,
pushed open the door, and stood erect and
motiOnless on the threshold. With ges-
ture of surprise and displeasure Fermina
turned again to the window.
"Only one word, Fermina," said Mcnen-
dez, gen ly. She turned her head toward
him, still keeping her eyes half closed, as
usual. "Are you entirely sure9' he said.
'Can you swear to me on your honor, by
your mothers memory, on your eternal
salvation, that your present state of feeling
is not due to any violence or restraint you
put on yOursclf-tliat you feel thoroughly
and irrevocably certain you love me no
longer2"
Eyes," was the firm reply.
'GOod-bye!" he said, and withdrew.
With sigh Fermina dropped her work,
and bent her head upon her hands. She
could let him 60 without pain. bet not
without certain sadness-not for the lover,
but the long cherished image, the human
shape in which she had caught her first
glimpse of blessedness, the visible form
henceforth inseparable from the remem-
brance of her happIest youthful days. At
first, indeed, before the echo of his CARR
age wheels had yet died away, bearing him
from her. she thought, forever, a sudden
tremulOus doubt overcome her, and reused
in the depth of her soul some anxious