The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1888-12-26


am uncomfortable idea for a joyous
imagination These virtues are born
of suffering, and Carmen was almost
quite happy
Given these conditions, it was not at
all inconsistent that the thoughts and
interest of the fisllerman's wife should
turn to Don Jamie de Mequinenza,
from the day that the news of his re-
turn to his baronial halls came to the
village at the cliff foot. And in eff
feet, when she set eyes upon his wore
ship, Carmen s butterfly brain and her
unloyal heart alike sung to her that
this was lord, f:e gentleman, and
a hero-here was man worthy OF
beauty and charm like hers.
As for the lord of the manor he was
already in love with her species, and
as the greater includes the less, he was
undoubtedly smitten with Carmen. It
was not long before they told each
other, by the telegraphic code of looks
and signals, their mutual and respec-
tive sentiments, but this platonic sys-
tenn became to both alike insupport-
able.
In the meantime Damian went on
fishing.
Now, whether it came to pass that.
the people of the hamlet, failing. to
realize and appreciate their abJect con-
temptibility, came TO criticise the do
ings of their feudal master, or whether
the fisherman CHANGED to remember
that his wife was pretty woman and
Don Jaime hot blooded gallant, and
that the castle and the cabin were not
SO widely separated-there came
time when this worthy husband dis
played les; than his usual eagerness to
make his frequent rounds of his eel
traps He developed, also, certain
rheumatic twinges III his left knee,
that impaired his agility in walking,
and so he hired a strapping lad, whom
he made his substitute in conveying
the eel baskets among the purchasers
of the vicinity. This procedure of
the fisherman was far from meeting
with the approval of Carmen and Don
Jaime.
One beautiful May evening the two
spouses sat at the door of their cabin
and watched the sinking sun-the
same sun in those days of century
and a half since that we see now above
u.s. That evening it was sinking as
slowly and majestically as if it eS-
pected never to rise again. 1t was one
of those splendid and solemn moments
in which il seems that the world has
reached for the first time its apogee of
beauty; q melancholy hour III which
the soul appears to assist at the tragedy
of the days death as at a new occur
renee, which will not be repeated.
Carmen and Dainian, regarding that
sun, whose rays dyed the horizon with
strange, prophetic light, felt their
very souls stirred within them. I'm
cultured and rude of nature as they
tN11t hot
critical hour, full of doom, of mys-
terry, of fatality.
When the sun had set entirely both
breathed heavily, as those who have
completed long and severe task. The
tacit compact was signed between
them, each to his own crime, not to be
renounced, but irreyocable, as the
death of the day that twas expiring.
They looked at each other full and un-
reservcdly. Damian lifted his eyes to
the castle, on whose topmost terrace
stood the Baron of Mequinenza, whom
he saluted. The lord had his eyes
fixed on Carmen, who also saluted him
easily. Dainian stretched his rhell-
matte leg, and, turning to his wife,
said, dryly: II think my leg is well
again. l feel the pangs no longer l
think 1 will go down to the village and
stay the night there. There is a fel,
low owes me some money; he will be
in with his pay near midnight, and !
will catch him before he spends it.
will come up in the morning in time
to take out the fish of to-night's fish.
Ea, CanneEta, God be with thee. -
'Good-by, Damian," said Carmela,
mechanically.
They had never before parted in this
way, but to both it seemed quite nat
ural. Damian took his hat and his
staff and crossed the walnut wood
bridgeway and the fosses of the castle.
The sun was still gliding the peak of
distant mountain.
Twelve hours later the sun once
more shone over the cabin. All the
sadness and foreboding of the day be-
fore had been pure farce. There was
the sun again. red and joyous as ever,
climbing up the heavens as blithely
as if this was his first journey there,
and shedding life and movement
wherever his rays reached. This was
sencc, had crossed the ocean, had
called tho MONDAY in the Americas,
had served as god for the idolators
of the Pacific, had lighted the way for
mariners in China, had gilded the
spices of Hindostan, had kissed the
stones of the Holy Scpulcher, and had
marked tho hour of death for some
modern Greeks; and now that sun
was returning. full of curiosity TO
know what had become of two fisher
people of Upper Aragon, whom he
had left the night before seated at tho
door of their hut.
AS to Damian, he, like the sun,
seemed in better humor than on the
preceding evening, if he might be
Judged by the lively and frolicsome
manner with which he ascended the
terraces of the castle, followed by
some other fishers. all singing the
most vilIainous jota that had been
produced i'll their country They
reached the drawbridge, crossed the
courts of the castle, still lying in 81
lence, and reached the plane fronting
Damian's cabin.
How loud the cascade roarsr said
one of the men.
But what has become of the
bridges" cried another t1True for you'll
Look look it has slipped from each
end! it has sunken into the cutting
it has brokenT
But how can that beG Such a
beam-so long, so well supported by
its lengthl 50 heavyi and of walnut
a wood as strong as ironF'
II shall have to buy another" said
T1r,rrr I y