The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-09-15
4 SPANISH HEROINE,

animal of the same species. It would
have been piece of good fortune II
Geoffrey Kendall had been born to work
for his living like many better man,
since 1t is to be presumed that hardship
would have rubbed little common sense
into his soft brain. As it was, his father
had LETT him large fortune, and the use
he made of it was something between a
joke and tragedy. He was the legiti'
mate prey of all sorts of sharpers. He
got INTO terrible scrapes and had to buy
himself out of them at enormous cost.
Without any real wrong he acquired for
himself an unenviable reputation among
the scandal mongers of the town.
He was a vigorous young fellow with a
big beard, mild eyes, and hands as white
as woman's. He was, moreover, some-
thing of dandy in his dress and man
ners. Yet, withal, a kinder, better tenn
pered soul you would not find in day.
walk.
What such a woman as Alma Thorpe
could have found in him to love, is q
mystery; unless, indeed, it was on the
principle of woman's tenderness for chill
dren, birds and other weakness. She
was quite his opposite-a quiet, sober
little body, strong-willed and quickwi'-
ted, with q wonderful fund of patience
for her laundering lover. She seemed to
have no object, 40 hope or ambition
aside from his happiness. Yet like the
fool that he was, the time came when he
flung away this jewel for piece of gilt
tering sham. Luckily he was made to
pay dear for his folly.
Kendall and Alma had been engaged
for nearly year, and their marriage was
to take place shortly, when a lady ap-
peGrcd on the scene who created sensa-
ton in the town. She called herself
| Donna Sanchica, and was accompanied
| by her brother Don Marco Damas. They
were supposed to be Spaniards of dis
tinction making tour for pleasure.
Donna Sanchica was woman of 30, large
and luxuriant of figure, with coal black
hair and eyes of the same hue, as bold
and keen as & hawks She was not long
in working herself into the best circles,
where she speedily became great favor
ite.- At the social gathering her mellow
voice and charming manners made her
scores of friends and admirers. 1t was
| observed by the wiser ones, however,
| that she devoted herself to the younger
and wealthier men.
IT have one passion stupendous for
the American gentlemen" she admitted
with engaging frankness; che is so
brave, SO superb, Santissima!'
1t was at one of these gatherings that
trate his character at a glance, and turn
ed the batteries of her big black eyes full
upon his weak head. 1t was simply a
foregone conclusion. Like any other
moth he flew toward the brightest can
die. She charmed, astonished, bewilder-
ed him. He had never seen such brill
iant woman-so brilliant, so unconven-
tional. Moreover she admired him. He
could see that, and his vanity gave a
great throb of delight That night when
he went home l fear that it was of the
superb Spanish beauty that he dreamed,
and not of the pale little American girl.
Without intending any treachery to
his betrothed he spent good deal of his
time with Donna Sanchica after that
He had right to admire her, he said.
She was his friend, his dear friend, that
was all. So day after day he visited her,
aud came gradually to neglect Alma.
The towns people began to talk. Rumor
said that young Kendall ard the Spanish
lady were engaged to be married. Some
envied him, while others, more sensible,
pitted Alma, and cursed kcndall's blind
ness and stupidity.
As yet Alma had said nothing to Ken
dali upon tho subject, though it had not
escaped her. But she patiently sought
to keep him true TO his faith by the
thousand sweet devices of loving
woman.
st length even her patience gave out.
One day. after weeks absence, Kendall
found o few moments to spare from his
Spanish infatuation to call upon his be-
trothod. He met her with q sheepish
and embarrassed air, as if some con-
sciousness of his own mean unmanliness
were troubling him. He bent to kiss her
as usual, but she stepped back and con-
fronted him firmly, yet with white face
and trembling lip.
"All that is over between us, Geof-
frey, " she said quietly, This pretence
is folly for you and pain for me-there
must be an end of it.
The tone she spoke in startled him; he
looked at her in alarm.
II know | have treated you shabbily, y
he replied, depreciatingy. 81 ought to
have been here more, I know"
"Stop" exclaimed Alma, interrupting
him. 'You ought to haye done nothing
which your heart did not impel you to.
should scorn to hold you to me by your
sense of duty. Now that 1 have lost
your love, I give you back your word.
Go your way and let me go mine"
''Donna Sanchica is only a friend" he
attempted to explain. "Why should yor
be angry because she admires me?"
81 am not angry at anything which
, has passed between you and that woman,
+ she answered with q touch of irritation
: Neither is she your friend. A woman
( can see deeper into the soul of one of he
e sex than a man. [ see that hers is blacl
t ana evil; seethat she does not love YOU