St. Paul daily globe., 1888-07-29

finally limited to him that l would try
to bring you together. The consul
here has explained my documents to
him. In short, all is settled. Di
Tornos has waited for you as anxiously
as | have. This afternoon | was down
stairs in the cafe by accident-my
hotel is some distance Off and
1 looked through the door and
saw you. You were not alone, so l
postponed speaking to you and went to
see di Tornos instead. Thank heaven,
all has turned out well. You can marry
Senorita di Tornos on Thursday morn
ing-t the day after tomorrow"
1t is needless to say that | did not
cheer up. | could not be untrue to my
old love. 'It cannot be-" said without
hesitation.
"And why not, pray?"
81 am not at liberty to marry-at least
| not here"
He looked perpIexed for moment,
but then his face broke into smile.
us it that old Grafton affair?' he
inquired.
YES"
"She married George Gibson six
months ago."
l was confounded. We sat in silence
for long time. l tried to reason with
myself. My mind was unmanageable.
One idea alone was clear. ut is a
question of life and death,'' thought.
Il must have life"
'Mr. Wiley" said: 81 will follow
| your advice"
We visited the di Tornos mansion on
| the following morning. Our host re-
| ceived us alone. He spoke English flu
| emily and was very affable.
Il am delighted to see yOu," he said;
"do not say word about your errand.
| know it all. Of course as father l
could make no promise until L had seen
| you, but now l consent willingly.
Money is no object to me, but | recOg-
niZe worth in your face. My wife was
| American. 1t will be pleasure for me
to give my daughter to one of the same
nation"
He sent for the young lady and |
waited With impatience. She entered
bashfully and bowed in silence. She
was tall, graceful and dignified. Her
eyes were dark and full of expression,
and her abundant brown hair cOntrasted
well with her light gown. She did not
look overjOyed, but that could not be
expected. | cOnversed with her for a
quarter of an hour, but her answers
were monosyllables. Then she retired,
and soon afterwards Wiley and | took
our leave. L expressed my satisfaction
to him, and he explained to me that
| Cuban etiquette prevented me from see
ing her alone, while he attributed her
reserved manner to modesty. He also
told me that he had made all the ar
rangements for the wedding with SenOr
di TOrnos. We were to be at his house
| at IL the next morning and to proceed
with him, his daughter and few near
relatives to a neighbOring church.
/ passed the rest of the day III smOk-
ing and thinking. The whole affair
seemed too strange to be true. Mary
GraftOn'S falthleSsneSS would have
been a worse shock to me if l had not
become already accustomed to despair,
and the definite prospect of a life differ
ing widely from that which | was lead
ing was not distasteful to me. My old
love was partially supplanted by feel
ing of contempt for its tickle object and
desire for revenge in kind. l was
piqued, and my approaching marriage
would have been welcome on that ac-
count alone.
was sitting in my room alone that
evening, smoking quietly, and letting
my thoughts wander on as they wOnld,
when | heard knock on my door.
"Come in,' | said, expecting to see
Wiley. The door opened and stran-
ger entered. He was a smooth-faced
boy of about twenty and he looked con-
fused as he said something in Spanish.
| | showed him that | could not under
| stand him. He went on in French.
'Senor," he said, 'yOu must pardon
my visit. / have come to meddle in
your affairs. This morning Senorita di
Tornos sent for me, She told me that
you intended 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 Domingo. They have always loved
each other. She was not openly be-
trothed, for her father did not favor
him. Heis poor-that is the reason.
But he will make a fortune. Oh, if you
could have seen her in tears to-day
he stopped, as if to hear what / had to
say, so that he might shape his argu-
ment accordingly.
[ had listened silently. His appeal
went to my heart, or very near it. But
l braced myself against my weakness.
''You are very kind, SIR" / said in
French. "You need not apologize for
this. But cannot think that Mile. di
Tornos will be happier with a penniless
man than with one who can support
her. Besides, have given my word to
her father; as man of honor, cannot
break my promise. You are too late"
'.Ah," he shouted, the blood rising to
his face: s'you would ruin the happi-
ness of an innocent girl! If Fernandez
were here you would not dare to-"
My temper was stirred and it decided
the question for me. Ipushed him out
of the door with some difficulty. "Never
let me see you again, you young rascal -
| said. hoarsely. l slammed the door
and locked it, and heard him go down
stairs. My mind was made up, and /
tried to settle down again in the
thoughts which he had interrupted.
But the night was not a pleasant one
| for me. | began to doubt whether my
arguments were not sOphistical. AT
last could stand the twinges of con-
science no longer. 1t is one thing to
commit fault which you may forget:
it is quite another to carry the remind
er with you all your life. Could | ever
take comfort in wife whom / had
will not marry her" And although /
was throwing away my chance of life, /
felt that a weight had been taken from
| nv heart, and l slept SOundly after
wards.
Ats o'clock in the morning l went to
Senor di TornoS' house. L was ushered
in by negro and found the old gentle
man contentedly smoking cigarette
He saw that | had something to impart,
and his face showed his apprehension
''Senor." l said, Il hear that your
daughter was to have married another
man. | cannot marry her her if she is
unwilling"
sit is false" said he, "and if it were
true it makes no difference. She is d
child. l know her interests better than
| I,1,r 1oO, Il do fn,. l.