The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-18


now Iaade solid. OF he ancient -.ructure.
The archbishop and other wealthy Iole
danos were showering rich gifts lpon
the fortunate and skilful architect who
had succeeded in throwing the three
great arches of the bridge. in spite ct tho
gigantic daring Of the work and the su-
rious currents Of tho river.
On lie exc Of the day CT san lide-
fcnso. patron saint Of the city, Juan dc
Arevalo informed the archbishop hat his
flask was completed, saving only the re-
moving of the scaffoiding from the three
arches. 1t was perilous test--ihe taking
down Of the complicated system OF heavy
iron scaflolding which bracod the enor-
nous mass e delicately carved timbers;
but the cahnness with which the archi.
tect awaited the issue. which he promised
10 meet standing on the central keystone,
filed those about him with confidence.
With proclamations and pcaliug of bells
wac announced for the following day the
solemn bencdiction and dedication OF the
bridge. and the Toledanos. from the
heights commanding the vale of the Tajo,
contemplated with joyous emotion their
beloved Cigarrales that fer years had
been sad. lonely, almost deserted, and
which were now to recover their old time
beauty and animation.
Toward nighifall Juan dc Arcyalo
climbed upon the scaffolding Of the cen
trail arch 90 see that all was ia readiness
for the morrow's ceremony. Meanwhile
he was gavly singing. All at once the
song did on l,is lips, the light faded from
mi, face. and sorrOwfutiy he ccecCnded.
ard slowly took his way homeward. His
wife. Catalina. came forth - meet him.
rul az loro and contonimCnt. bat %
fricittul pailor oyCrsprcad her face at
sisM r. 40 .!csp1irins coGntenancs OF
nl husband.
'Oh, father in hcavcn.' che cried;
"what Is il then. nay lear one: Art thou
H.
"ul-roidcal-ycs-inh hope in por-cr,
In honor. I'VE En- life itself, ior viii
not rrvire She dishonor Of tomorrow.
Nay. the only shred al honor | cen wreat
from satc win Gee mine hut in dyingl
NO, ro, cried Catalina. Juan, thou
drcamc.. Thy great excess Of iator hes
dCrn1cd tiy thoughts, my dear one.
Come hiihcr; let he call the lccch and
heal ihco '
"Nct so. Il is the tru;h tell thee.
Nhcn was most sure Of success. most
confident e triumph. now on the eve of
lhc test. have discovered IN error in
my calculations that tomorrow viii
bury IN the 1aio the bridge and the IN
fortunate whounsuccessfully planncdlt.
Tho bridge may fall, beloved, but
,lou shalt not 70 with it. On my knees
viii cutrcat the archl shop to exempt
thee from that horrible promise
"And if he Weld, then viii not &C
copt thc absolutiOn. care not for life
without honor"
Now | swear that thou shalt lose not
lilc Tor horOr." mnIllurcd Catalina,
softly. yet with infinite resolution.
1t was already almost dawn. The
cocks were Growing Catalina seemed
r. sleep. ard her husband. soothed Ia
rite ol him. elf by her calm dcmcanor,
at last fell into htlul. feverish slurnber,
that was full Of nightmare horrors.
Catalina arosc, - silent IL her motions
as tlc passing OF q shadow, and. opening
"a window. looked out On the vale Of the
faro. No sound was heard but the muir
rlurine current Of the riverand The wind
that wlisilcd through thc timbcr5 Of The
sCaliolding q the bridge. \ dense and
aomtC Uall If cloud oycrhung The city,
aud n.n is gloomy bosom Gar'cd. now
and then. lightning rays OF terrible
irillia-cc th2l blinded the bchOlder. A.
vet no rain wac falling; and The terror OF
the I'M. adiug s-ugRa seemed concentrated
ID tAe lhic'. galIaJlc darkness, tho om-
iaou3 breeding ailcncc. and tho fultry,
ll,atLloss ihicknCss @ TIC close atmus.
phCrc
Closing .hc window, The vito q the
srchitcct c.Cght mp an ureXlnguished
l. nod ttef rmoidDrcd riili on the hearth
t0nc. Cut in.0 tie night size went, and.
rrr an rho Itchy ilachhc ilat marked
lhat h.t dark l0rr before The day hould
quicken, r, sought NOT ~ guide her
.,p ty lfo Lizzie IL fhc iircbrani, tu1
rather tO cOucccl a. DEAN with lAr fold
q Lcf ra.mcnt. as she hurried over lAe
trokC- and Uttered wav 90 the river, and
with rul md peril c..mlod upon tfe
p!arha &C lhe stagiug Below her The
,-iuJ shii..od aaolg tho timhcrs, and
Che r.-crroarod end beloved rs it hurled
i-Cif upon the opposition a thc piics,
ara gataiir. huddcrcd Was Il for Tie
rolitudc ari tie darknoss, for the danger
of .e inr hos footing ami tnIliling head.
long. or because shc realized Tint those
about her, overlooking the sacriiicc Of
affection. would see in her movement.
,uly the ocious decd OF eriminaH
Size recovered her calmEcss with an
effort. -ho0t Until 10 burst into blaze in
tic list tio torch that until now ID,
bed hidden. aud applied Il 90 the tighter
braces IT the staging. The rcsincu.
wood caught With q vigorous fame, and
farncd by tho wind, lcapcd abroad and
ciimpcd with terrible rapidly up iis
scah0iling.
Not lcss rwiftly. b. tho light q lh'
spreading fire. Catalina recrossed Tx
dangerous path she had iroddcn, n,
reached her bone and her chamber
while her husband was still alccping.
81 this time the massive slecpers OF
the bridge a San Martin were cracking
A little Later q dull and prolonged mw
muir was Heard throughout The city, anc
from hundred bolfries tolied the omin
Gus Grc alarm, to which lucGbrious aiS
nal cnaled % crash that called from th'
T0icdanCs the same cry of distress thai
tlev had uttered when The bridge sue
cunlbed TO- the yanlal attack 81 Don In
ri4Ie the bastard.
Juan de AroralJ aw0ke with Il specie.