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

Accordingly look my place Dy my
friends hearth, and in the semi-obscur-
ity gave full scope to my imagination
on the subject of Juanita's mysterious
communication.
"What can she have to tell her bro
ther l' / asked myself over and over
again. Then the most unpalatable solu-
tion of the enigma presented itself to
my mind, and exclaimed, ''She Is go
ing to be married ~
The thought that Juanita was going
to be married gave me unmitigated vex-
alton and pain. In vain L said to my
self that it could not make any differ
ence TO me, since had resolved never
to marry. That reasoning only made
me more desperately miserable for did
| not love Juanita Toirodeas with all
my heart, and was not the idea of her
belonging to another bitterness itself 2
had sat mu5ing thus nearly an hour,
when the door suddenly opened, ,and the
object Of my thoughts entered the
room.
Fernando" she said, in an excited
manner, as she approached the corner
where L sat ''why didn't you come to
me as L requested ? The Sonora has
dismissed ME eremptorily-sh is cruel,
unjust" Then, seeing who was,
she stopped SHIRT, and exclaimed, ''Sen-
or Mendoza ~
1t was the first time we had met since
my illness. and for moment l felt i'll
at ease remembering that she had dis
covered my real name and parentage.
But all thoughts of self were forgotten,
as l saw, by the dim light to which l
had grown accustomed, that her eyes
were red and swollen. Scarcely know
ing what did or said, 1 rose and caught
her hand.
"Juanits, my darling, my darling,
have they insulted you g'
She stood abashed and silent for a
moment, then agitatedly replied
81 thought 1t was my brother sitting
there, or should not have spoken as
l did,"
but, darling, tell me what is the
matter. Tell me, for l love you dearly
oh, SO dearly tell me everything
everything, dearest"
Then in an instant my resolution
never to mary flashed across my mind,
and l dropped the little hand that had
lain so unreSistingly in mine.
Forgive me FOL what | have said, "
l resumed, in an. altered voice; ''for-
give me will never trouble you
again" And l turned TO leave the
room.
Don't 60, Alfonso" she whispered.
/ did not move, but remained near
the door, and continued
Il have said to you what ! ought
never to have said j.: but, for the sake of
my great love, you will forgive me, and
forget that the son of-of-"
The word stuck in my throat could
not give it utterance. Juanita came
and stood close beside me.
"Never mind whose son you are, AL
fonso."
''But the brand is on me-" 1 SAID, in
a quivering voice. ''If my brother and
his boy should de-
"They are living and WELL"
"But they may die, and IN that case,
/"
"Then-then Heaven help you, Al
fonso, and me too, for love you as you
love me, and shall be with you !'
She laid her hand in mine as she
spoke the last words, and l opened my
arms and clasped her to my heart.
It was the eve of our wedding day.
1 had been dining with Juanlta and her
brother, and we were sitting talking of
tee morrow, when Sener Elio, an old
friend of the Torredeas family, was an
nounced. He was starting for Burgos
the next morning, and came to offer
his congratulations on our approaching
marriage.
"By-the-bye, Senior Torrodeas," he
said, as he rose to take leave, shave
you seen the evening papers 2"
NO." replied Fernando; "is there
anything important in them ?"
"Yes the account OF the trial of
that villain ValenZO for the murder of
his wife. He is sentenced to death.
The new executioner of BurgoS will
have his hands full-that is, if they can
find him-fOr there are two women con-
demned to receive capital punishment
the same week"
"The new executioner," stammered
Fernando, turning pale, while DEATH
like sickness came over me, and Juanita
looked ready to faint-''the new execu-
TONER What has become of the old
oIe?
'sHe and his son were killed in the
railway accident near Salamanca yes
terday; haven't you heard of it d? His
successor is a younger brother who, they
say, is living in Madrid under false
name. 1t is believed Re has nervous
presentiment of coming in for the lugu-
brious Cflice, which, you know, is hered-
itary in Spain. The papers are full of
it; but l suppose you have been too
busy with preparations for the wedding
to read them. And now really must
be going-good night, Senorita. wish
you every happiness once more-good
night ~ And the Senior left the rsom.
$50 il has come at last ]" muttered.
sinking on to chair and burying my
face in my hands, while tears of agony,
which l did not attempt to conceal,
forced their way through my fingers.
1.-THE birthright has descended to me.
Oh, Heaven, that should have lived
to see this day ~
"Alfonso," said Juanita tenierly,
coming to my side and taking my cold
hand In hers--"Alfonso, my affianced
husband ~
'.They are on my track, and may be
here to take me any minute" broke
from my trembling lips. ut is all over
between us, Juanita (; give you back
your promise.
''DO you think me capable of desert
ing you in your hour of sorrow, AL
fonso 7" replied the brave girl, almost
reproachfully. mo, no this calamity
shall not separate us You must leave
this country at once and for ever-and
1 will soon be with you, come what
may"
Juanita's courage communicated it.
sell to me, and | determined on imne-
date departure. was afraid of ap-
pearing in the streets, lest l should be
recognized by those In pursuit of me ;
SO Fernando went to my lodgings for
such things as required, and for the
sum of money / had laid by to defray
the expenses of my marriage with his
sister-now, alas, to be spent In putting
hundreds of miles between us 1t was
hard to leave the girl loved so dearly,
and who was TO have been my wife in a
few hours but we c0nsoled each other
Il e -. ..I m hnr xxf