The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-04-06

1 intended ana Tor my Dcst lntereSt
J he allowed me to depart, with
prayer that I might be happy.
Leonia listened until l had tolt
all, and, looking into my soul will
, her dark eyes, exclaimed:
"Thcn you viii always remain
you will never leave US.
".All my dreams" replied, "could
never be compared to such a reali
tv as that. @, would it were given
me to know that here l might live
and diet Some men are unfortun-
ate; some may do as they please
for instance, is William Torris, the
American, lately settled here. He
needs no eternity to wait for happi-
ness. for he may enjoy even here
all the delights of the promised
land"
Il beg of you,n said Leonia, mot
TO mention this mans name in my
presence. ] have never given him
my heart and his eyes have never
looked down in my inmost soul. /
have always been indifferent to him.
Now | hate him, and in the future
| shall put an end to his visits; no
nuptial ring of his shall bind me to
HIM, no matter what promises
my father may have given.
Placing her hand over her heart /:
There is something stronger here"
said she than any human will. Last
night an angel with golden wings
came to me in a dream. He brought
me casket of diamonds and pre-
cious stones. No doubt the spirit
whispered JOY and future happiness
by these gifts"
This singular admixture Of weak
ness and energy was not to be Won
dered at in Leonia. Her mother
was born in Granada, and on her
side she 0as of Moorish extraction
added to this was most amiable
natural character, and her Spanish
pride and African impetuosity made
her charming. She had read but
one author, Camoens, and no DOUBT
the inspirating lines of the Portu-
guese poet had inhamed her soul.
She wept over the misfortunes of
Inez and Dom Pedro, and the faith
fulness as well as the courageous res
ignation of the former was in her
ewes perfection.
told all my plans to Fernandez,
who received me with the greatest
kindness. He would not hear of
my leaving his house and ordered
for my accommodation a special
apartment. The only difficulty /
found was to be alone with Leonia.
Noemi, however, the little mulatto
girl have already mentioned, was heE
waiting-maid. and threw her we
managed to have long and private
interviews. She also carried our let
tiers, which were not written but
symbolical. in Brazil | had learn
ed the language Of flowers-and
what deliscious poetry is contained
in the silent messengers speaking
more than aTticulate language, con-
veying the longing of the soul and
what seemed infinite in loye. 4
fortnight went by. Noemi was trust
worthy and had wonderfully sue
ceeded in keeping our secret to her
self and our relations safe from pry-
ing eyes. But this supreme happi-
ness was not to last forever.
Fernandez Correjo was not a man
to be deceived, Besides. the ex-
treme eoldness of Leania toward
William Torris and her repeated de-
nials of his suite made matters
worse, awakened his suspicious, and
one night when | was on bended
knees before my adored, Fernandez
appeared. Passing by, however, on
his evening walk, he seemed TO take
no notice of what was going on.
The next day / was summoned to
his presence. ! walked with a firm
step and a quiet nerve, for although
| knew he might reprimand me Sc
verelv. | felt sure he would never de-
spise me. Sir" said he, II have
desired TO see you. Sitdown. You
love NY daughter, she loves you.
All this know. But perhaps you
are not aware that before your ar
rival she had already been engaged
to marry William Torris. Sir, re-
spect an oath with all the honor of
old Castillian, but rs the happiness
of my child must not be sacrificed
even 20 t1lo sacfedacss Of an oath, |
now ask you, sir, WHO ave you, for |
do no. kaow y0a, and if my love
FOR my Glngter makes ne foHTear
IN honorable principle, it can not
At any cost make me forget my au-
thority and my duty"
"Sir, " | replied, 81 thank you for
the courtesy with which you have
tEeqtad me. God knows how much
/ love sogs daughter, and there is
nothing ! am not pEebaEa4 TO do to
obtain your consent. fhis is the
answer to your first question. In
the second place | ana obliged to
avow that / have 10 fortune, I
come from a good family, honOred
in France, and all | possess is the
education have received and what
1 have been able to acquire in the
wones knowledge"
"You mus obtain the consent of
your family before any pnioa, with
my daughter can take place. mild
ly answered Fernandez, and at the
same time he added that as o shin
was about to sail in few days g
might take passage in her
Fernandez Correjo was too proud
spirited. too much of man to make
aliusicps to any want of fortune
on this account he suggested my
speedy departure, arguing, nc doubt,
that absence and separation were
the best remedies for his to end
love that seemed to him, at least for
his daughter, fraught with hidden
dangorE.
In few days sstarted. Arriving
in Marseille | decided To GO 90 furth-
er. Wandering often 10 the sea |
shore, l confded my longings, my
desires TO the wild ocean breeze,
trusting that soge day its idle |
n