Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-07-28


one of the same nation"
lie sent for the young lady, and | waited
with Impotence. She entered bashfully
and bowed in silence. She was tall, grace
full and dignifed Her eyes were dark
and full Of expression, and her abundant
brown hair contrasted well with her light
gown. She did not look overioyed, but
that could not be expected. l conyersed
with her quarter of an hour, but her an
swers were monosyllables. Then she re-
tired. and soon afterwards Wiley and
took our leave. l expressed my satisfac-
ton TO him, and he explained to me that
Cuban etiquette prevented me from seeing
her alone, while he attributed her reverse
manner to modesty. He also told me that
he had made all the arrangements for the
| wedding with Senior di Tornos We were
to be at his house at Il the next morning
| and to proceed with him, his daughter and
| a few relatives, to a neighboring church.
All preliminary formalities would mean
while have been completed, and by noon
| | should be married man. Wiley lunched
with me, and then left me, promising to
meet me at Senior di Tornos' house in the
| morning.
passed the rest of the day in smoking
1 anu lie WIlOlt dIldlT seemed
| too strange to he true. Mary Grafton's
faithlessness would have been worse
shock to me, if had not become already
accustomed to despair, and the definite
prospect of a life differing widely from
that which | was leading was not distaste-
ful to me. My old love was partially sup
planted by feeling of contempt for its
| tickle object and a desire for revenge in
kind. | was piqued, and my approaching
marriage would have been welcome on that
account alone.
was sitting in my room alone that
evening smoking quietly and letting my
| thoughts wander on as they would when
| heard a knock on my door. Come
| IN" l said, expecting to see Wiley. The
| door opened and 4 stranger entered. He
was smooth-faced boy of about twenty,
| and he looked confused as he said some
| thing in Spanish | showed him that /
could not understand him. He went on
in French.
'Senor," he said, you must pardon ny
| visit. | have come to NEEDLE in your af-
| fairs. This morning Senorita di Tornos
sent for me. She told me that you in
tended to marry her tomorrow. She
| begged me to come and see you and tell
you all. She was to have married my
| friend Fernandez, who is now in San Do
mingo. They have always loved each
other. She was not openly betrothed, for
her father did not favor him. He is poor;
that is the reason. But he will make a
fortune. Oh, if you could have seen her
tears to-day" He stopped, as if to hear
what | had to say, so that he might shape
! his argument accordingly
had listened silently. His appeal went
to my heart or very near it. But |
| braced myself against my weakness.
"You are very kind, sir" l said in
French. "You need not apologize for
this. But | cannot think that Madem-
oiselle di Tornos will be happier with a
penniless man than with one who can sup
port her. Besides, have given my word
to her father, and, as a man Of honor,
cannot break my promise. You are too
late. What reason could [ give him."
''Give any reason" he cried. "Say that
| YOU are POOR. Say anything"
Il must decline to tell lalgehood," |
said
''Ah," he shouted, the blood rising to
his face; ''you would ruin the happiness of
an innocent girl. If Fernandez were here
you would not dare to"
My temper was stirred and it decided
the question for me. | pushed him ont of
the door with some difficulty. 'Never let
me see your face again, you young rascal"
| said hoarsely. | slammed the door and
locked it, and heard him go down stairs.
| My mind was made up, and | tried 10 set
| tie down again in the thoughts which he
had interrupted.
But the night was not pleasant one for
me. | began TO doubt whether nv argu-
ments were not sophisticul At last |
could stand the twinges of conscience no
longer. 1t is one thing to commit fault
which you may forget; it is quite another
to carry the reminder with you all your
| life. Could | ever take comfort in wife
whom | had made wretched? "No," |
said aloud, 81 will not marry her. And,
| although | was throwing away my chance
of life, felt that 4 weight had been taken
from my heart, and | slept soundly after
wards
At o'clock in the morning went to
Senior di Tornos' house. | was ushered in
by negro, and found the old gentleman
! contentedly smoking a cigarette. He saw
that | had something to impart, and his
face showed his apprehension
eslih, near lilGl NOuT
daughter was to have married another
man. | cannot marry her if she is I'M
willing"
at is false he said, "and if it were
true, 1t makes no difference. She Isl child.
| know her interests better than she does.
| do not care for money, but you are ex-
actly suited to each other. You have
given your promise, sir; for her sake |
cannot release YOU"
You are too kind" | answered 4" / am
glad to hear that you do not care for
money, as | came to tell you that there is
some doubt about mine. My uncle died
a year ago to-day, but it was at o'clock in
the morning. This year has passed away.
Mr.. Wiley mistook the hour"
| Di Tornos scowled. | am certain that
he swore to himself care you quite sure
of this?' he said.
Quite sure"
He sat still for several minutes. You
are right" he added, finally. "My daugh-
ter's sorrow for the past few days has af
fected me sadly. / am afraid she will pine
away if | do not free you"
"Very WE'LL" l said, making no effort to
conceal my contempt; will go. Do not
tell Mr.. Wiley what | have said to you.
! The discovery OF his mistake would NOR
| tify him." And l left him.
was adrift again. My one desire was
to leave Havana, but l felt bound to see
| Wiley and thank him again. l did not
wish to meet him, however, before evening.
| My uncle had really died at in the even
ing, and waited until the full year was
gone before running any risk of encounter
ing the old lawyer. / spent the day in
wandering about the narrow unpaved
streets. | stopped on my way at ship
] ping office and engaged berth on a vessel
which was to leave for Liverpool in two
days. After late dinner at a restaurant
| returned to my hotel. Wiley was wait
| ing for me. / need not describe the inter-
| view at length. He was naturally vexed.
| told him that | could not find it in my
heart to force the girl to marry me. /
1 thoy,l-aI hin, II ord 40lI