Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-08-01

"For your sake and mine do not seek
to know the secret that I am hiding
from you" cried Juan.
"Your secret is one of sadness, and
must know it so that I may comfort you
in your SORROW"
"Comfort me! Alas, that is impossi-
BILE, Catalina
"To love such as mine nothing is I'M
possible"
every well then; so be it. To-mor-
row shall forfeit my honor and my
life, for shall be swept away by the
river together with the structure which
have reared with so much mingled anx
iety and hope"
"No, mol" cried Catalina, throwing
her arms round her husband and sitting
in her breast the grief which his words
had caused her.
eyes," said he, at the moment
when my confidence in my work was at
it's height, I discovered that an error in
my calculations will assuredly cause the
downfall Of the bridge Of San Martin,
and Of him who planned and built it."
"The bridge may be buried in the
stream, but not you, my husband, my
love! I will go down on my knees to
the noble Cardinal and beseech him to
prevent your carrying out this horrible
contract"
"You will but ask in vain, for, even
should your prayer be granted, I will
not live dishonored."
"Then you shall preserve both life
and honor" replied Catalina, firmly.
| III.
Day was about to break, and Catalina
appeared to slumber, while her husband,
worn out by grief and toll, had fallen in
to deep sleep which almosta approached
Inconsistencies.
Catalina got up noiselessly, scarce
daring to breathe, made her way to the
kitchen, and climbed out through the
window which looked on to the Tagus.
1t was still dark, and star here and
there broke the gloom. Toward the
bed Of the Tagus no sound was to be
heard but the rushing of the river, and
the moaning of the wind as it swept
through the scafolding of the bridge of
San Martin.
Catalina, before making her exit
through the window, had seized from
the smoldering embers on the hearth a
brand still burning, and, noiselessly
closing the window after her, she set
out, holding her breath even, lest a
sound should escape her. Whittier was
she going? On what errand was she
bound? Did she take the burning
brand with her to light her on the way
amid the surrounding darkness? In
spite of the obscurity around her and
the dangers of the path. perilous even
in the broad glare of day, along which
she was fastening, Catalina was careful
to conceal under her cloak the light
which alone could show her the wind
ings Of the precipitous track she was
traversing with speed marvellous in one
so delicately framed.
Catalina drew near to the buttress of
the bridge, and could not repress cry
of horror. Perhaps it was that she
found herself on the very brink Of the
boiling abyss! Or was it that in her
hand, accustomed only to do good, she
bore means of destruction Or it
might have been the awful peal of thun-
der which just at that moment sounded
in her ears; or did she think that they
who do not understand sacrifice for
love might hold that crime had led
her to where she stood?
Be that as it may, Catalina hesitated
not, but, drawing her torch from under
her cloak, she set fire to the scafolding
of the bridge. The resinous pine-wood
was speedily in blaze, and the flames,
famed by the wind, Tapped the timbers
with their fiery tongues and enveloped
the bridge with fearful rapidity.
No need Of torchlight now-and Cata-
lima fastened back to her home, enter
ing as noiselessly and with the same
precautions as had marked her exit.
Her husband was sleeping still, and
Catalina, hurriedly diyesting herself of
her clothes, lay down beside him, just
as tremendous crash announced that
some of the huge blocks of stone in the
bridge had given way.
A few moments later dull continuous
murmur was heard throughout the city,
and from hundred steeples changed the
dread alarm of fire, while the crash Of
the falling arches drew from the Tole-
dams sounds Of grief, such as those
which their fathers had uttered when
Don Enrique set light to the structure
which in those days had been their
pride.
Juan de Arevalo awoke with a start
Catalina lay at his side, to all appear
ances asleep. Juan dressed in haste and
hurried into the street, there to learn, to