Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-12-09

bon which the Spanish girl had once worn in her hair, and thrustlng the packet into his bosom, prepared to accompany the officer.
 As they wern about leaving the apart mcnt, a low rap sounded upon the panel Of the door.
 The person who thus demanded ad- mi;tance was the French goye,ness, Paul line Cursi
 ''Let me speak to your prisoner-aione --.if only for a few moments? she said, pleadirGly, and with all the fascination peculiar to her manner, ''let me speak to him, monsieur, 1 imp.ore!
 You arc welcome to speak to him, madamoiseiie, replied the officer, "but l regret to tell you that whatever you have to say, must be said in my pres ence.'
 Tho Frenchwoiran shrugged her shoulders with graceful gesture.
 That Is very hard, monsieur, sho said. looking thoughtful.
 "Nay, Mildemoiseiie Corsi, interposHd Paul, who could not understand the Frelchwoman's desire to see him alone, "you can have nothing to say which this man may not hear. Speak freely, l have no secrets"
 But perhaps have," answered Pau line. "See, moneicur.' she added, ex- tending her plump little hand upon ono finger of which there spariiled a superb diamond riuS, tell me what you tnlnk of those diamonds
 Paul Lisimon started, for he recog- niZed the ring. It was one he had often seen CaIniliia wear.
 The French governess had been sent to him then by the devoted girl?
 They arc magnificent stones, are they not, monsi0ur?" repeated Pauline, still addressing the officer. "They are, inadeinoisello. s.Hbn ,in ic Ai<yhf h,,rHrah In1- lars, and it is yours for eight minutes private convcrsatio ion with the prisoner" Impossible. nndemoselle.
 Flight hundred dollars fer eight min utes. That is at the rate of hundred dollars a minute" True, mademoiselle,' replied the officer, "but If in those eight minutes | my prisoner should take it into his head to jump out of that window, am ru- | ined man."
 ..l pledge you my honor will make no attempt to escape!" said Paul. caay- erlY.
 The officer reflected for few momoncs, and then looking searching'v into the l face of the young Mexican, he said, en- | erSeticaily, "pve known many a gentle man pledge his ssord and break 1t as if 1t was a bit of cracked china; bat our pro- | fession teaches us to reckon Up a man by the cut of his phiz, and l think you're l an honorable man, NJ. Llsinon, and don't think you guilty of this business | that's brought against you. so g i've me the ring, mad"moiselie," he added. holding out his hand for the valuable | trinket. "Ill step outside and wait while you say what you've got to say"
 He walked out of tho room and closed the door behind him, leaving Pauline | and the Mexican together. l "Paul Lisimon 1 came to save you, | said Madden oiselle COrSi. l "YOu come from Camillia?"
 "No, come of my own a cord. That ring is Camilla S; che gave it to nr ;:t | my request, as a bribe for Nnur taller
 Noble girl !"
 "Avn noble girl P exciaimvd the Frcnc!l- | woman bitterly; "because she gave ot,. | from the costly heaps of jeW"s her fu.''- ish father has lavished upun he:: but l. whose brain devised tho plan. ,eserve no word ot praise"
 Pardon me, MademoiS sell. Corsi. be- lieve me, ] am not ungratcful.
 Paul LiSimon.' said Pauline, fixing her limpid blue eyes upon the face of the Mexican, ''you love CamiIlit. Moraquitos?"
 ''Love her"
 "Nay, why seek to dssemblc? Do you think 1 have not read your shallow secret from the very first You sought to blind and hoodwini1 mo, but laughed at the pitiful deception. Paul, tell me, Is this love a lasting one?'
 ''Since you know my secret" replied the Mexican, ''cOntealment is useless. It is lasting love--sternal as wonder blue heaven"
 "Foolish boy. Then ruin and destruc- tion will track your footsteps
 "Ruin! Through my love2'
 "Yes; you have not one friend in this house, save her who now speaks to yo Camilla loves you, voi will answer! Yes :; but with the feeble passion of capricious beauty, which may change with tomor- rows sun. How long think you will her l love endure when she hears every crea- ture in New Orleans brand you d, 8 thief and ingrate? Will it outlast the hour when she sees you placed in a criminal dock, side by sdo. With tho lowest thief in the city? Will it su.vivs degradation and shame? No; Camilla NJ raquito5 is proud, and from tho hour that you leave this house with the ctaaklng letters on your wrists, she will despise and hate you-hate you for the very memory of her past love-
 Paul Lisimon knew the pfi t, whict. formed the leading princip!a in Cani!tia' $ character, and he felt that there mi sht be truth in these bitter words.
 "Oh, Heaven," he cried. "thts Is in. deed terrible r
 .Hear me, Paul. It Is in my power tc save you from these letters aid this shame. It is in nay power to hrins Siia4 Craig and his naughty employer, Don Juan Moraquitos, sroveiing to your feet to emplore you for mercy-to entreai your forbearance to save them from the fate of felon."
 ssYou are mad!' exclaimed Paul "What in mercy's name mean you by these words?"
 "Listen to me, Paul Lisinon, for thes few minutes, bought from the vigilano of tho officer without yonder door must decide the fate of both of us. Thir cen years ago, Don Tomaso Crivoili expired
 in the arms of his brnthsr-in-law, iu au apartment at the end of tho gallery out side this door. You have often been i!
 that room."
 II have. It Is sacred to me, for i
 was thore my earliest friend breathe : his last sigh"
 "That chamber is hung with Indiul embroidery of shells and feathers upol
 leather. These hangings are about tS' feet from the wall leaving an apertUr
 behind large enough to admit of a slon ; der persons hiding behind the embroid = cry. On the night of your benefactor death was concealed behind thes hangings."
 s.YOu A sOy?' But for what reaSoD [