Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-01-12

/ "Yes." said he; "at that moment when
my confidence in my work was at its
height, discovered that an error in my
calculations will assuredly cause the down
fall of the bridge of San Martin, and oi
him who planned and built it,"
"The bridge may be buried in the
stream, but not you. my husband, my
love! will go down on my knees to the
noble cardinal and beseech him To pre-
vent your carrying out this horrible con
tract"
"You will ask but in vain, for, even
should your prayer be granted, l 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, whilst her husband.
worn out by grief and toll, had fallen into
deep sleep, which almost approached
unconsciousness.
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 scaffolding of the
bridge of San Martin.
Catalina, before making her exit through
the window, had seized frnm the smould-
ering embers on the hearth IL brand still
burning, and noiselessly closing the win
dow 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 tho surrounding darknessp
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 con-
ceal under her cloak the light which alone
could show her the windings of the preci-
pitous track she was traversing with II
speed marvellous in one so deicately
framed.
Catalina drew near to the buttress of the
bridge, and could not repress a 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, accus-
toned only to do good, she bore means
of destructlonP Or it might have been
the awful peal of thunder which just at
that moment sounded in her ears; or did
she think that they who do not understand
II sacrifice for love, might hold that IA
crime had led her to where she stoodP
Be that as it may, Catalina hesitated
h,,, o,In,. h,.,
cloak, she set fire to the scaffolding of the
bridge. The resinous pine wood was
speedily in blaze, and flames, famed by
the wind, Tapped The timbers with their
frey tongues and enveloped the bridge
with fearful rapidity.
No need of torchlight now-and Cata-
lima fastened back to her home, entering
as noiselessly and with the same prccau-
tions us had marked her exit. Her hus-
band was sleeping still, aud Catalina
hurriedly divesting herself of her clothes,
lay down beside him, just as a tremen-
dous crash annouoced 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 Toledan.
sounds of grief as those which theil
fathers had uttered when Don Enrique sal
light to the structure which in those day:
had been their pride.
Juan de Arevalo awoke with start
Catalina lay at his side, to all appearances
asleep Juan dressed in haste and hurried
into the street, there to learn, to his un
bounded Joy, that the ill-fated bridge
which he had built bad fallen a prey tt
the flames, and was then in ruins.
The Toledans never knew whether The
destruction of the bridge was due to light
ming or incendiarsm, but Juan de Arevalo
who had lived a blameless life, and be
lieved that the good are ever under God
protecting arm, did not hesitate u momen
in attributing the conflagation to the tirt
of Heaven, and Catalina asserted tina
she was of the same opinion. Surely Goo
would forgive the fasehood of wife wh'
with it saved the life and honor of he
husband.
The burning of tn, new bridge merel,
delayed the triumph of Juan de Areval'
Ifor wear. When that time had elapsed
on the festival, too, of San Ildefonso. tn
Toledans crossed the river by the bridg
of San Martin to visit their believe
Cigarrales. And the Archbishop, Do
Pedro Tenorio, at the banquet given i
honor of Juan de Arevalo. who was seat
ed at his right hand, said to Catalina
"If with most men it is true that 'th
third time pays for all, may it not be SAT-
in the case of your husband and our well
beloved friend, Juan de Arevalo, this
second thoughts are bestb'