The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-08-22
A Spanish Tale,

marry Senor D'Aracene; but the fair
maiden revoltei, and the threat of her
father was uttered that, If she did not
yield to his commands, the convent of
Santa Isabel would receive another vo-
tary. Dolores yielded, but only to avoid
the convent; and to D'Aracene she ex-
pressed herself as having no love or re-
spect for him, and, when he sought to
kiss her, with frantic strength she
pushed him away, and, with flashing
eyes and fierce speech, said to him: Csc
nor D'Aracene, IL is decreed than in
two months time / shall be your bride,
and there's no other choice left me but
a nuns cell. But mark me well; until
the law binds us in.one, 10 kiss Of thine
shall press my lips, no embrace of thine
enfold me; must be left as free as air,
to enjoy, as best may, the little time
that remains 10 me ere am bound in
hated sllvery, If am not granted this
will find way to escape thee, even if
1t be my death. Shall it be as have
said?''
D'Araceno felt compelled to accede to
her demand, but he haughtily responded
than when she became his wife she
would repent Of having shown her dis
like. He hastily withdrew from her
presence,
The days few drearily yet swiftly on.
One sunny afternoon she was seated in
her fathers garden, in a lovely spot, in
a half-dreamy reverie, when suddenly
she was startled by hearing a voice cry
out to her tenderly and softly:
"Dooresl Doloresv' She started
with a scream, and soon found herself
in the outstretched arms of Valencia
Leonata. He had heard rumors of her
inten led marriage, and had fastened to
her side to rescne her from her dreadful
fate. Their interview was that of ar
dent lovers, and listening to Valencio's S
promises, she declared to him that il he
would save her from that fatal marriage
she would follow him even to the ends
of the earth. They agreed upon meet
ing the next day, when she would fly
with her lover away from her stern, re-
lentlcss father.
The hour had arrived. Valencia APP
pcared, having secured two horses sad
died and bridled. They rode away to a
neighboring padre, and were united in
wedlock. Then they departed with all
possible speed away along the broad
road, northward. As day dawncd, they
heard rapid ho0f-beats after them, and,
casting a startled lcok behind, Dolores
saw her father ana D'Aracenc pursuing
them. A race OF life and death began,
but, alas, DoloreS's horse stumbled and
fell, and Valencia, unwilling to desert
her, sprang to her assistance.
With rage and hate in their bosoms,
the pursuers overlook them, and the
Don haughtily cried:
Dolores, how is it l find thee, the
plighted bride Of Senor D'Aracene, here
at this hour with stranger?"
''He is no stranger to me, my father:
it is Valencia Leonata, and he is my
husband"
"Thy husband, foolish child; prate
not to me of husbands. The only one
l shall ever know will he the senior by
my side, and he now bids thee, as his
bride elect, to quit the arms OF yonder
man, and seek his own"
Valencia, clasping Dolores to his
bosom, firmly declared her to be bis
wife, and beseechod Don Truxillo to
take back his cruel wo IDS, and let them
depart in peace.
The impcrious Don, without a mo-
ments hesitation, drew a pistol from
his belt and fred at the unfortunate
youth, who fell at his BRIDES feet a
corpse, while she, half frenzied, lnelt
beside him. Coolly, he then gave orders
20 Senor D'Araccnc to take back his
bride; then, turning his horses, without
one glane at his distracted daughter, he
rode away.
The senior, dismounting, advanced to
he side OF the stricken girl, saying
GENTLY as he could:
"Senor.ta, this is but a sorry place for
hee, and thy father has bilien me con
,uct the home. Wilt thou Gomez"
Dolores's passionate grief had giver
place to dull stupor, and she made nj
resistance to being conducted home
From that hour to the hour appointed
for her bridal she was listless and un
concerned. When the day came, sh,
permitted them to array her in The
cleaning robes AMI place the costly
jewels upon her neck and arms. Then
when all was done, they bade her lool
ia the mirror, and with a start she ther
seemed to realize for the first time wha
al the hustle signliel. When her at
tcnd1nt doparte from the room; she
swiftly glilel to a little cabinet, an,
.ou,hinS a secret spring, tiny drawel
lew out. in which lay a cleaning dag
ger scarce six inches ia length, with tn,
little handle incrusted with gems. Sh,
co lccal,d 1t in her DO ON, and theI
calmly awaited the ceremony. Like {
beautiful, stately marble statue she
stood while it was being performed
Only once did she raise her eyes, ant
then it was to encounter the stern, re
lentloss gaze Of her father, beneatl
which her own quickly droo3ed. The
br legroom turned, with outstretched
hands. to greet his bride. As his DARK
detes el face was bent over hers, she
started back with a fierce, vengeful
scream, and raised aloft her beautiful
arm and olenchel hand, in which H. {
tiny dagger now cleaned. In an in.
stant it was uplifted, and with all the
force passion coult summon 10 her. n