The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-07-22

cate and yet sturdy masses of pine wood
Inc satisfaction of the Archbishop
ana the people was extreme. 1t is true
'hat the removal of all the framework
on "hich the massive but artisticallv
chlselled blocks of stone appeared to
rest was work of great danger. but
the tranquil air of the architect. who
was committed to await the nerilonS
ordeal on the keystone of the centa,
arch' inspired everyone with conf.
dence.
1t was toward midnight, when Juan
de Arevalo ascended the scaffolding OF
lhe center arch of the bridge, with the
ooJect OF seeing that everything was
III readiness for the the morrow's criti-
cal work and as he slowly mounted up.
wards he gleefully hummed the refrain
OF some familiar song. Suddenly the
song ceased from his lips, the joy dis
appeared from his countenance. and be
returned to his house full of sadness
and despair. s.ss : s........
Catalina, his devoted and faithful
wlfe ran with cheerful face and LOVING
words to meet him On the threshold OF
their home. but as she saw the look of
anguish on her husbands countenance.
her cheeks caught the pallor of his ~ :.
''Tell me for Heavens sake-n she
cried, "are you ill?n
No, dear, love- replied Juan, en-
deavorlng to conceal his despair. s-Ns ;
. For the first time in your life you
are hiding something from mer' said
catalina. :" Am no longer worthy of
that love and confidence Twhich. up to
now you have ever bestowed upon me 81
Do not add to my trouble, Catalina,
by doubling my love for you."
Ihere can be no love where there
is no confidence"
" For your sake and mine do not
seek to know the secret that I. am hid
ing from you," cried Juan.
Your secret is one of sadness and I
must know it so that | may comfort you
IN your SORROW"
''Comfort me! Alas, that is impossi-
BILE. Catalina"
"To love such as mine nothing is inn
possible t
''Very well then, so be it. To-mor-
row l shall forfeit my honor and my
life, for [ shall be swept away by the
river together with the structure which
L have reared with so much mingled
anxiety and hope"
t'No, no!' cried Catalina, throwing
her arms round her husband and sitting
in her breast the grief which his words
had caused her, $50 M
g Yes,'' said he; cat the moment
when my confidence in my work was a.
its hight, discovered that an error in
my calculations will assuredly Cause the
downfall of. the bridgeo San Martin
and of him who planned and built it,"
1.-The bridge may be buried in the
stream, but not YOU. nv husband. nv
love! will 60 down on my knees to
the noble Cardinal and beseech him to
prevent your carrying out this horrible
contract"
50 You will but ask in vain, for, even
should your prayer be granted, I will
not live dishonored.n
"Then you shall preserve both life
and honor" replied Catalina, firmly.
Day was about to break. and Catalina
to slumber. whilst her hus-
band, worn out by grief and toll, had
fallen into deep sleep which almost
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 a star here and |
there broke the gloom. Towards the
bed of the Tagus no sound was to be |
heard but the rushing of the river and 4
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 clos
ing the window after her she set out,
holding. her breath even. lest a sound
should escape her! Whittier was she
goingp On what errand was she bound? /
Did she take the burning brand with
her to light her on her way amidst the
darkness? In spite of the
0bscurity around her and the dangers
If the path, perilous even in the broad
glare of day, along which she was has
.ening, Catalina was careful to conceal
under her cloak the light which alone
could show her the windings of the pre-
,ipitous track she was traversing with
speed marvellous in one so delicately
framed.
Catalina drew near to the buttress of
,he bridge,sana could not repress a cry
If horror. Perhaps it was thatshe found
herself ON the very brink of the boiling
sbyss! Or was it that in her hand, ac-
onlyto do good, she bore a
means of, destruetionp Or it might
rave been the awful peal Of thunder
which just at that moment sounded in
Ter ears; or did she think that they who
10 not understand sacrifice for love.
night hold that crime had led her to
where she stood?t iegst< asss
Be that as it may, Catalina hesitated
lot, but drawing her torch from under
Ter cloak, she set fire to the scaffolding
# the bridge. The resinous pine-wood
vas speedily in blaze, and the flames,
AIMED by the wind, tapped the timbers
With their fiery tongues and enveloped
he bridge with fearful rapidity.
No need of torchlight now-and Cata-
ina fastened back to her home, enter
ng as noiselessly and with. the same
l.. L i I. !