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


of resentment which a breath would have
famed TO flame. and which she fastened to
qnench by dwelling in its place on other
thoughts.
Her train Of thought was suddenly bro
ken by slight rustic. She turned, gave
scream, and started to her feet. Menen.
dez stood before her.
In a moment she had recovered her COM
pOsure, but not so as 10 avoid one hasty
and anxious glance at his face. His feat
ures were thin and pale, his eve dull, and
his eyes livid. He wore his cloak about
his shoulders. and travelling pouch sluns
ut his side. There he stood erect on the
threshold, though with little stoop of the
shoulders and little yielding of the limbs,
gazing at Fermina with deep, earnest
look of mingled love and sadness.
''You have been ill., she sail, with u
slight shade of pity in her tone.
Menendez hesiiated an instant, and an
swered, family. "Yes-a little"
Her head dropped and her dyes fell.
''And now am going away, the young
man added.
where she asked, without raising her
eyes.
..For Cuba"
Today"
ssNOw."
s'FOrevcr?"
ssFOrever."
With sigh Fcrmina passed her hand
over her forehead, and said, gently and
compassionately, "Well, then, gOOd-by,
Menendez. wish you all good fortune,
and-gOOd-by."
slave you nothing else to say to mes"
asked Menendez. with quivering voice.
care you still the same as ever?"
In the sad glance which Fermina turned
upon him he felt the whole pain it caused
her to have no fairer answer to give.
swell. them" said Menendez, going up
to the workable, ''as We shalt not meet
again, do me one favor. Fermina. Let me
give you this little souvenir" and he set on
the table a little mahogany box, with its
tiny key in the lock. "DOn't refuse II,
Fermina, beseech you. 1t is not a present.
1t contains only a scrap of paper, with
secret that you must know-a family secret
revealed only to you-a sacred trust. Ac-
cept it, Fermina. l swear, on my honor,
it is indispensable you should. You your
self, when you understand the matter, will
acknowledge how necessary it was, and say
l have done no more than my duty. And
now / have no more to say. GoOd-by
Fermina. Forget me and be happy,
Fermina wiped away a tear, and, with
averted face, held out her hand:
Menendez covered it with kisses, and
moved toward the door.
gerly.
He turned toward her.
"Good-by," she repeated, with broken
,,ox rocoi,to vn;co sST 0vn moro Wrnfcl,pH
than you, for my heart is empty and silent.
Go, Menendez, 60; and may Heaven guard
all your ways"
He went out, closing the door behind
him, and moved slowly down the stairs,
with ear intent, suspended breath, and
heart thrObbing as If it would burst through
his ribs.
Suddenly he heard the key turned in the
lock of the casket. Ills knees tOttered,
blackness SWAN before his eyes, and he
staggered against the wall of the landing.
A few seconds went by, and then, suddenly
and fierce rs thunder-clap, there rang
through the whole house wild scream OF
pain, terror, and love The door was DASH
ed open; with one spring Fermina was at
the foot of the staircase, PROSTATE before
Menendez, and shOwcring frenzied kisses
on his feet, knees, garments, sobbins, wall
ing. begging for pardon, praying, exclalmlng
till her voice failed, her eyes closed, and
she fell fainting before him.
Among the neighbOrs who ran up at the
noise was Don Luis de Guevara, who had
accompanied Menendcz to Seville, and was
waiting outside.
"DOn Luis" said MenendeZ, raising Fer
mina's fainting form, and turning SO that
he might look in her face, ''let me present
my wife"
A fortnight later, the box agent Of the
bull ring at Seville, having to forward to
Fermina the key Of box No. 80, del LadO
della sOmbrG Cthe shady side), addressed
his letter to -DOna Fermina MenendeZ."
This being the first letter she had received
under her new title Of DOna, with her mar
ried name, she kissed the dear envelope
again and again, and laid 1t tenderly aside
as precious relic. Any one else In Sc
vile Just then would have kissed the key
instead, for the day being the one fixed
for Queen Isabella's first appearance in
Seville since her coronation, the director
had prepared spectacle likely to be un-
ique in the annals of the Andalusian ring.
Suffice it that TatO was to lead the mGtG-
dOres, and eight bulls were to appear,
bought at almost their weight in gold in
the pastures of the Marquis de Veragua,
the best stock raiser in Spain. And SO,
though the show was not to begin till two,
the plaza was almost full at noon, and at
one O'Clock crowded to Overlooking. It
was one Of the lOveliest Of Sevilian Sep
TENDER days. The thirty tiers Of tho vast
pOlygOnal arena showed one rich and
mingled mass of dark features and raven
locks. OF fluttering fans.
At two precisely the alguazils came in to
clear the ring; atthe same moment, In one
corner OF the arena, hundreds Of faces
turned as with one accord to single point
in the gallery, and the uproar died away in
complete and sudden silence. Fermina, In
white, with::a large bouquet, her features
radiant with q tempered and dignified hap
piness in harmony with her severe beauty,
had just appeared in her box with Menen-
dez, pale but smiling, IN the midst Of q
group OF friends. On the first moment OF
silence followed presently long murmur
Of appreciation, almost Of affection, and
thousands of fresh glances turned toward
the young couple. All Seville knew the
story, and all at once q 0itanG on the first
tier under the boxes sprang to her feet,
and taking q rose from her hair, threw It
to Fermina, crying, "A Ii, DOSa FermisG
Meaendes, y Di0s te de Ia bxeHG sserte!"
In an instant another girl threw bouquet
to Menendez, crying, "A Il, DON MGHxel
Menendez! brave fellOw!' The example
was contagious, and from all the tiers near