Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-06-04


home was unbearable, and resolved to
run away
A species of friendship had arisen
between Fernando Torrodeas and nv
self from the day he had told me the
oitter truth concerning my family. He
was warm-hearted fellow, and always
regretted having been the first to tell
me painful fact, although it must
have come to my knowledge ere long.
Before L carried into effect nv inten-
ton OF running away, wrote to Fer
nando, who was studying law at Ma
| drid, and asked his advice. He was
older than L, and, before leaving Burgos,
had promised tostand my friend in case
OF need. He answered my letter, saving
he was acquainted with the head of a
large publishing firm in that city, and
could procure me a situation IN the Of
nee. so, one dark night in November.
l turned my back on my native place,
with an earnest wish never to see il
again. After undergoing numerous
difficulties en- route, reached Madrid,
and went TO Fernando's lodgings. The
following day he presented me to nv
employer, and | entered on my new du-
/ ties without delay.
ears passed, and. by the time was
/ hve-and-twenty. was gaining toler-
able income on the staff of leading
| journal. l might have been happy but
for the one absorbing terror of my exist
/ ence-the fear that, by some untoward
fate, the birthriehL would eventually de-
scend to me. / leda solitary life, and stu
/ diously avoided making acquaintances.
In word, l had no friend but Fernando,
and took interest in nothing but the
daily work of my brain.
My father had been dead some Years,
and my brother had inherited the BIRTH
| right. He was married, anc had son.
l remember, when told Fernando the
news he grasped my hand in his hearty
way, ana exclaimed
bravo, Alfonso you have my con-
! gratulatioHS."
One evening a few years after my
! brothers marriage, l went to Fernan-
dos lodgings. Receiving no answer to
my knock, | was turning away, when
my friend came running up the stairs
and bade me welcome.
Don't you 60 away, Alfonso" he
said, shaking my hand warmly. My
]
] Then, as we entered the roOm-'Juan-
ita. let me introduce you to my friend,
Alfonso Mendoza"
In Madrid none knew me or my pa
rentage. From the day Of my arrival
in the capital had adopted the name l
still bear, that of Mendoza.
Take your customary place, old fel-
low," continued Fernando, land we
will enjoy ourselves together"
! Nothing loath to pass the evening
with Fernando and his handsome sister,
drew NV chair close to the fire and
glanced at the latter, 10 ascertain II
she had any recollection of me. l came
to the conclusion that the fourteen
years which had elapsed since I quilted
BurgOS had effaced every trace of my
former self, and that 1 ran no risk of
discovery as faf as she was concerned.
In fact ii could no. have been otherwise,
70. the now grown-up girl was mere
child when | left home. Juanita Tor
rodeas was very beautiful-of the true
Spanish type of loveliness-with clear
dark complexion, large liquid black
eyes, magnificent hair of the same hue,
small rosy mouth, and regular, white
teeth. She was short, but well made,
and possessed that great charm in a wo-
man an eXquisltely sweet voice.
As we sat chatting round the fire, /
thought had never seen my friends
room look so pleasant before The soft
light of the lamp fell on Juanita's face
as she uent over some delicate embroi
dery and abStracted gold thread and
sparkling beads from a work-boX on the
table beside her. The blazing logs on
tie hearth threw out ruddy glow,
crimsoning the old mahogany furniture
and making the brass nails round the
chairs and antiquated sofa glitter like
diamonds. On an old piano that had
belonged TO Juanita' s mother. and which
had arrived from Burgos the preceding
day, lay heap of music, chiefly, as
afterwards learned, quaint old Spanish
ballads that told of the glories of Ma
drid in days gone by; and few family
portraits that had also come from Ju-
anita's former home graced the walls.
and looked life-like as the Pickering
light of the fire fell on them. The
deep-crImson curtains were drawn
across the windows, making the small
salon look hOmelike and cosy. A large
bouquet of hot house flowers stood on
a slab near the fireplace, and a few
choice plants were placed here and
there about the room.
"Juanita," said Fernando, as a serv-
ant entered with a tray, when we have
had our chocolate, you must sing that
old romance l like so much-the one
about Don Qulxotte l mean"
The young girl made no reply (; ap-
parently she had not heard what her
brother said.
"What will you sell your thoughts
for, Juanita 7" asked Fernando, laugh
ing. ''You leok very serious"
Il will let you have them gratis"
she replied. 81 was thinking about
my ris a-riS IN the railway carriage yes
terday."
Indeed A lady or gentleman ?"
Neither. A horrid man, with a
most repulsive face. Who do you
think he was 2" she asked with shud
der.
Il have no idea, answered her bro
ther. But, if he was so horrid, why
didn't you get into another compart-
ment I''
"It was impossible. for he jumped
| into tne tIspn as IL was moving, anu L
had to travel with him more than forty
miles. 1t was the express. and only
stopped at the principal stations"
'But who was he 1 suppose he
didn't interfere with you in any way ?"
"Oh. no certainly not He slept
all the neutrality-suspicious. such trav-
elling-companion 1t was the man who
wears the brown uniform, and lives in
the red house near Burgo The public"
"Juanita," interrupted Fernando
hastily, with glance at my pale face,
''do sing that ballad at once, there's a
good girll'
She flushed angrily at the Interrupt
tion, but rose and went to the piano,
merely saying, as she selected the TO-
nance
Madrid has not improved your po-
liteness, Fernando"
When the song was ended, thanked
Juanita, and, having regained my COM
posure, complimented her on her ex-
uuisite contralto voice, and wished her