Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-08-25

BClOuSnesS OF nlb own ~
ness were troubling him. He bent to
kiss her as usual, but she stepped back
and confronted him firmly, yet with u
white face and trembling lip.
"All that is over between us, Geof-
frey," she said, quietly. "This pre-
tense is folly for you and pain for mo
there must be an end Of it,"
The tone she spoke in startled him;
he looked at her in alarm.
"I know l have treated you shah
bly," he replied, deprecatingly. 81
ought to have been here more, know"
"Stopl" exclaimed Alma, interrupt
ing him. "You ought to have done
nothing which your heart did not i'm
pei you to. l should scon to hold you
to me by my sense of duty. Now that
l have lost your love, / give you back
your word. Go your way and let mo
go mine"
Donna Sanchica is only q friend"
he attempted to explain. why should
you be angry because she admires me-"
81 am not angry with anything which
has passed between you and that
woman" she answered, with a touch of
irritation. Neither is she your friend.
A woman can see deeper into the soul
OF one of her own sex than man.
see that hers is black and evil; / see
that she does not love you, however
skillful she affects it. She will ruin your
happiness and embitter your whole life.
Oh, my poor Geoffrey, can you not see
where she is leading your"
"You wrong her" answered Geofrrey,
taking refuge from his own conscience
in pretense of anger. "She is a noble
woman and you are jealous OF her"
She turned and looked at him silently,
with an expression OF contempt; then,
without a word, she walked quietly ont
Of the room. But when alone she burst
into tears, and wept long and bitterly
over her sore heart and broken hopes.
As for Geofrrey Kendall, he stood for
a moment bewildered with conflicting
remorse, shame and repentance, hoping
that she would return. But she did
not, and in very miserable frame Of
mind he left the house and sought the
company of Donna Sanchica.
"Ah :" cried the estimable LADY, run
ming to meet him with both hands cx-
tended, "you have returned, my friend.
Behold me happy, independent. But
what has happened, senior? Your face
is chalk and has agony into it,"
81 am very unhappy" responded
Kendall "I have been ill-treatcd.'
"SoI' cried tho lady, striking a da-
matte attitude and grinding her white
teeth. "Who has insulted my friend?
Tell me his name and I'll have his
hearts blood Carai ("
mo matter" said Kendall, with
vague perception of something false
and grotesque in all this extravaganza
ITS all over, and i come to you for
comfort"
"Ah" said tho donna, suddenly
abandoning her fierce dir for a languish-
ing one. "It is sweet for to have the
opportunity for to comfort my dear
friend. All, Dios! would Gdt de for
you ?"
"I believe you would" said poor
Kendall, looking into her dark eyes,
where he fancied he saw unutterable
things. "Here is a woman who loves
me-" he thought. "Alma has discarded
newly not secure the happiness in
my power p SO on the impulse Of the
moment he spoke.
donna Sanchica." said he, II love
you. Will you be my wife?'
To have witnessed the woman's face
at that moment would have been treat
to cynic. She looked modestly down.
She managed to get blush to her yell
low cheek her bosom hcavcd rapidly,
and tremendous sigh escaped it. Yet
all the while the traces of malignant
smile of triumph rested upon her lips.
At last she looked up with some
skillfully evoked tears in her eyes.
"No, senor," she replied, "I cannot.
Oh, the heavens what agony for me to
say it -
"Why not p cried Kendall, aghast.
"Do you not love me?'
"Ah, IDOL" she cried, Gas my own
soul All, misery But let me con-
fess. We are poor, senor-my brother
and I. We are exiles from our own
country. Because we are noble and
poor we cannot live among our equals.
We have great pride. We leave our
home and wander like the Arab"
"What difference does that make ?"