The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1880-06-18

S SIT is-trle, for am tile messenger t
It the architect to whom the work is be com
mittcdf
e '"'' Toledo will pray forever for Don Petlr
Tenorio if he carries out this design.
+, Such was fragment Of conversation il
the streets of Toledo, in the year 1880
The ancient bridge, broken down by th
floods of 1903, and afterWard rebuilt, wa
now to be restored with great magniiicence
7 The architect was one whose fame had ex
tended far and wide, but this promised It
5 be the crowning achievement of his art.
ssSpare not said the archbishop, s'bu
let the bridge be worthy of the town, o
its artist, and fits founder. Let it typifl
my muniticence, thy genius, and the
strength and beauty of the city,
sItshall be worthy of all three, proud
ly responded the artist.
Troops Of workMen were now engaged
: piles were driven, immense stones, select
eel with great care, We're brought to the
river banks, and wrought into shape,
i The architect spent much of his time in
watching the gradual realization in con-
crete form of his design. At first he was
1 blithe and cheerful, animating the men
with his own spirit, and full of devices for
smoothing away all the many difficulties
+ that arise 70 impede such undertakings :;
but after Il while his manner changed, and
| in proportion as the bridge advanced to
completion, he became sad and moody
One day he sat and yazcd for hours at the
bridge, wrapped i'll sorrowful thought
taking no heed of the bystandcrs, like one
i'll an evil dream. a soft hand was placed
on his shoulder, a low shy voice gave ut
torrance to his name.
'ELuis -
'sJuanita!'' -.
! 1t was the girl to whom lie was betrotll-
ed, and whose fate was to be linked to his
own on the completion Of the bridge.
"Why are YOU SO sad, luis? What is
darken all your life: .tm the causcf
DO YOU no longer love me?.'
81 love YOU dearer than life
She gave a little sigI, OF pleasure and
relief.
ssI was afraid some stately, dame had
stolen your llcartaway from poor Juanita."
'Inpossible | have no heart. It is in
your keeping. "
''Ihat's Il pretty compliment, but it is
not true; tor II, had Your heart, | could
read i'll it the secret cause which has con-
vertcd my gay lover into II melancholy,
moody man.
IL will tell You the cause, Juanita, and
L my confidence will show you how much
love you, for it place my life and my hon
or in your hands. Both alas, will soon
be blasted" I"
90, say not 50, Luis. know yoll are
incapable Of crime, and every thing else
can be relnedictl.'
''Find me remedy for this. IN the
plans for the construction Of the bridge
have made Il fatal oversight. The mis-
take is known only to myself, and only
became conscious of it after all possibility
Of correcting it was gone. The bridge
now is incased in 4 network of scatfolding,
snoring, and supports ofevery kind; but the
moment these are cleared away the centre
of the structure will fall into the river,
and that which was to have been the
monument of my skill will be ii liitlcous
ruin, IA fit symbol ofny folly and disgrace"
juanita was stunned by this uncXpect-
ed revelation. The vague fear inspired by
mined her question, but She had not
dreamed Of Il ruin so near and SO complete.
In il moment she saw fade from view all
the happiness of the future that had been
living in her day dreams and giving a
roseate hue to the widening horizons of
womanhood. The glowing colors of life
changed before her eyes into the blackncss
of death and despair. Then, with tile
others, regardless of her own anguish, she
sought 10 console him.
GLOW cruel | have been to reproach
your sadness How little did think it
had so terrible u cause! But tell me,
Luis, can you devise no remedy y
'sNone.'
Nothing but taking down the bridge
and rebuilding it?:'
.'Nothing less will avail
s'Well, let us trust in God. Perhaps He
will point out some way of escape. For
me, will go and pray to Our Lady Tor
her help and guidance | feel sure, Luis.
that this evil will be ayerted.''
There WAS no foundation for her hope.
and yet it comtortcd linn.
1t was the night before the day fixed
for the final inspection Of the bridge. To-
morrow the archbishop will pronounce
his solemn blessing on the work: to-mor-
row the bridge will stand forth in ali its
#iglory; !; proud addition to the til;tny beau-
ties of the city: to-m0rr0W-The night
was stormy; wind and rain had swollen
the river into Il torrent, and Luis, us he
tossed restlessly upon his bed, almost pray
ed that its force Eligi{ sweep AWAY the
entire structure. 1t would be Z, less dis
grace tllln that which awaited him*on the
+ morrow. He areSe, and stool ut the Will
ttiow Of his room. He looked out into the
night His eyes naturally sought the
+ direction Of the bridge, but there was
nothing 10 he seen but blackncss. Stay.
What VAS that wandering flame: His
/ heart seeinc;to stand still as d dim white
passed over the bridge. \ light WAS
/ thrown ever one Of tile parapets. As the
/ figure glided about the doomed bridge its
progress was marked by the springing mp
Iof lurid flames. Then the white and
mystic figure vanished from sight, and--
/ the bridge was in flames.
The tinber-Mork burned tiercely: the
wind fanned the flames into fury, and the
rain, instead Of quenching, seemed to
stimulate its power. Then, as the FIRE be-
gan to flood the sky with its lnrid light,
the city ;tWoke. The great alarm bell was
rung. and hundreds of anxious citizens
thrcngea the rivers bank, anxioHs to help
i and save. 1t vas i'll vain. Among the
latest arrivals were the architect and the
archbishop.
stI'l1is Isl, sad end of your work, my
son, said the ecclesiastie, sbit be not
least down. The bridge shall be rebuilt,
and ifin the course. Of the erection Of this
lone you have found any thing that could
be improved, the new one shall be even
more magnificent than we had purposed
] this 70 be.
As the architect was gratefully :teknowl-
edgiug the arthbishop.s generosity, he