The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-11-30

to others the credit of more than
one edifice of my construction across
the Tonnes and the Duero. And fer
the rest, | offer you my life in pledge
of my competency"
"How so? you speak in riddles.
You must know that men are no
longer put to death for failure TO
perform the conditions of a prom
ise."
"Aye, true, my lord; but when the
main arch of the bridge should he
completed the place of it's architects
on the keystone, and ifthe arch prove
false and fall, it's builder would fall
with it,"
"That offer is surely fair" said the
archbishop, "as a proof of your ear
nestness and sincerity. Let the work
be begun tomorrow"
Juan de Arevalo FASTENED to the
humble dwelling, in whose embrasur-
ed window sat watching the woman
who had accompanied him to Toledo;
a woman still young and beautiful,
Notwithstanding her face bore the
traces of vjgils and privations.
Catalina! myCatalina!" exclaimed
the architect, embracing his wife
fondly, "among these monuments
that glorify Toledo there will be one
that will transmit to posterity the
name of Juan de Arevalo."
No longer could the Toledanos,
approaching the Tajo over escarped
rocks and masses OF ruins, exclaim,
"Here was the bridge of San Martini"
for already the new bridge reared
itself in shapely proportions upon
the rent foundations, now made
solid, of the ancient structure. The
archbishop and other wealthy Toll
edanos were showering rich gifts up
on the fortunate and skillful archi-
tect who had succeeded in throwing
the three great arches of the bridge,
in spite of the gigantic daring of the
work and the furious currents of the
river.
On the eve of the day of San Vide
fonso, patron saint of the city, Juan
de Arevalo informed the archbishop
that his task was completed, saving
only the removing of the scaffolding
from the three arches. 1t was Il
perilous test-the taking down
of the complicated system
of heavy iron seaffolding
which braced the enormous mass of
delicately carved timbers; but the
calmness with which the architect
awaited the issue, which he promised
to meet standing on the central key
stone, filled those about him with
confidence. With proclamations and
pealing of bells was announced for
the following day the solemn bene-
diction and dedication of the bridge,
and the Toledanos, from the heights
commanding the vale of the Tajo,
contemplated with joyous emotion
the beloved CigarraleIs that foryears
had been sad, lonely, almost de-
serted. and which werenow to recov-
er their old-time beauty and animal
ton.
Toward nightfall Juan de Arevalo
climbed upon the scaffolding of the
central arch to see that all was in
readiness for the morrow ceremony.
Meanwhile, he was gayly singing. All
at once the song died on his lips, the
light faded from his face, and sor-
rowfully he descended, and
slowly took his way homeward.
His wife Catalina came forth to meet
him, full of love and contentment;
but a frightful pallor ~oversDread her
face at the sight of the despairing
countenance of her husband.
ooh, Father in Heaven!" she cried;
"what is it, then, my dear one? Art
thou ill?"
'Ill-no! dead-yes-in hope, in
power, in honor! Aye! in life itself!
for l will not survive the dishonor
of tomorrow. Nay, the only shred
of honor ! can wrest from fate will be
mine but in dying!"
"Nol mol" cried Catalina; Juan.
thou dreamest! Thy great excess of
labor has deranged thy thought, my
dear one Come hither, let me call
the leech and heal thee!"
"Not so it is the truth / tell thee.
When | was the most sure of success,
most confident of triumph, now on
the eve of the test, l have discovered
an error in my calculation that to-
morrow will bury in the Tajo the
bridge and the unfortunate that un-
successfully planned it,"
The bridge may fall, beloved, but
thou shalt not go with it. On my
knees [ will entreat the archbishop
to exempt thee from that horrible
promise"
"And if he yield, then will I not ac-
cept the dissolution. | care not for
life without honor"
"Now | swear that thou shalt lose
nor life nor honor!" murmured Cata-
lima, softly, yet with infinite resolu-
ton.
1t was already almost dawn. The
cocks were growing. Catalina seemed
to sleep, and her husband, soothed
in spite of himself by her. calm de-
meanor, at last fell into a titful.
feverish slumber, that was full of
nightmare horrors. Catalina arose,
as silent in her motions as the pass
ing of shadow, and, opening a win
dow looked out on the vale of the
Tajo. No sound was heard but the
murmuring current of the river and
the wind that whistled through
the timbers of the scaffolding
at the bridge. A dense and
sumbre pail of cloud over
hung the city, and from it's gloomy
bosom darted, now and then, light
ming rays of terrible brilliance that
blinded the beholder. As yet norain
was falling; and the terror of the i'm