The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-08-31


his enemy, dagger in hand.
A brief but desperate struggle ensued,
in which the count twice struck the
landlord with his dagger but by dex-
ferrous movement Hernandez eluded the
grasp of the infuriated nobleman, and
jumping into the wall pulled the mirror
after him.
For moment the count could scarcely
believe he had lost his foe, and it was
only by looking at the mirror as 1t fitted
close to the wall that he could realize
that the landlord had escaped. He went
to the window and called for assistance,
but there were few persons abroad at
that hour of the night, and the window
of the room was far from the street. He
went to the door and used all his efforts
to force 1t open without success. Ex-
hausted in the unavailing attempt, he
sat down to await the break of day.
Hour after hour passed away, and at
length the welcome gray dawn began to
appear. Presently his ear caught the
sound of light step, and he herad
bolt fall from the outside, then the door
opened and Isabella stood before him.
She certainly looked beautiful as she
walked into the room, clad in simple
white robe without any ornament.
Thank you, thank you," cried the
count, 81 shall not forget the service
you have done me, and if crave kiss,
1t is in token of the love which I bear
for one who has been the means of pre-
pairing me to defend my life."
Isabella bowed her head, and the
count kissed her on the forehead.
you know all that has happened ?"
questioned the count.
Yes senor," she replied. " My un-
Gle is seriously wounded, but the contra
bandists carried him off to the frontier
before daybreak. Senior, now that you
are safe and free to depart, will you not
do me the favor to conceal this matter
You have dangerously wounded my un-
Gle, and heard Jose, the chief of the
contrabandist gang, say, that if Antonio
reached Segovia alive he would be much
surprised.
The count was thoughtful for few
minutes and then asked, Why, my
dear girl, do you desire to shield this
wretch? Certainly not because he is
your relation. You do not love him, for
last night he said he would surely kill
you if he knew you had betrayed him."
Listen, senior, and 1 viii explain"
said the girl. "Antonio " Hernandez is
the only brother of my mother. When
she died he took me to his home, and
brought me up after his rough fashion.
He used to belong to Jose's gang. If he
didn't treat me with affection, neither
did he beat me. Once he saved my life
periling his life to save mine. was at
the bottom of the sea when he dived
and brought me to the surface again,
and the water was full of sharks, too
Great sea monsters, senior. Certainly
he must have cared something for me,or
he would have allowed me to be eaten
up. She looked up in his eyes with a
pleading expression as she spoke, and
the count drew her near him and again
kissed her brow.
"For your sake, 1 make the PROMISE"
he replied Z" but with this condition,
that your uncle never returns to Mad
rid"
AT that moment there was jingle of
spurs in the court, and call for Isa-
bella. The count descended the stair
way with her, and at the landing met q
swarthy fellow, with a face half con-
cealed in a slouch hat, who called Isa-
bella aside and spoke to her in a low
and rapid tone. This done he jumped
upon his mule and galloped quickly
away.
The girl stood leaning against the
doorway with her cheeks blanched and
hands tightly clasped, while great tears
rolled down her cheeks.
Divining at once the cause, the count
approached and said, "You have bad
news, I fear 7"
"He died before they reached the
Mountains she replied. "Jose sent
me word. Alas, alas !" and she wept
bitterly.
The count endeavored to soothe her
grief, and made inquiries as TO her
future life.
81 am alone in the world now" she
sobbed.
Il will see that you are cared for, he
said, and will send kind person to you
before night Come, cheer up; all will
be well"