Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-28


fling on the staircase and the uplifting
of an jrste voice had reached her ears
and thrown her back into the arms OF
Polly Jenkinson. Even the young girl
herself turned an anxioussgaz towards
the door. Don Jose alone was unmoved.
Possess yourselves in peace. Senor-
tas," he said calmly. "We have here
only the characteristic conyalescence OF
my friend and brother, the excellent
Roberto. He will ever recover himself
from drink with violence, even as he
precipitaies himself into it with fury.
He has been premsturely awakened.
will discover the cause.
With an elaborate bow 10 the fright
ened women he left the room. Scarcely
had the door closed when the poetess
turned quickly to Polly. "The mans
stark. staring lunatic. but thank Heaven,
Ahper will see il at once. And now let's
get away while we can. To think, she
said, snatching up her scattered manu-
scripts, "that, that was all the beast
wanted"
am sure he's very gentle and kind, "
said Polly recovering her dimples with q
demure pout-" but stop-he's coming
back.
Ii was indeed Don Jose re-entering
the room with the composure of re-
lieved and self satisfied mind. alt is
even as / said, Sonora, " he began, taking
the poetess's hand, land more. You
are SdUed!
As the women only stared at each
other he gravely folded his arms and
continued: 81 will explain. For the
instant | have not remembered that in
imitation of our own delicacy / have
given to your husband in my letter, not
the name OF myself but as a mere Don
Fulano-the name OF my brother Ro-
berto. 'Bucking Bob Your husband
have this moment arrived Penetrating
the bedroom of the excellent Roberto
he has indiscreetly seized him in his
bed-without Experimentation in
without fear The excel
lent Roberto-eyer ready for such dis
fractions, have responded In a word
TO use the language of the good Jenkin-
son. our host-our father-whO was
present-he have wiped the floor with
your husband, and have even carried
him down the staircase to the street.
Believe me, he will not return. You are
free
"Fool Idiot Crazy beast " said
the poetess, dashing past HIM and ont OF
the door. "You shall pay for this
Don Jose did not change his imper-
turbable and melancholy calm. "And
now. little one," he said, dropping on
one knee before the half-frightened
Polly" child of Jenkinson, now that
thy perhaps too excitsble sponsor has IN
a poets caprice abandoned thee for some
newer fantasy-confide in me thy dis
tress-tell to me&thy knight-the story
of thy SORROWS"
"But, said Polly, rising to her feet
and struggling betimes laugh and cry,
81 haven't any sorrows. ., dear
don't you see it's only her fancy to
make me seem so? There's nothing the
matter with me-. :"
"Nothing the matter ?" repeated Don
Jose slowly. "You have no distress ?
You want no succor-no relief-no pro-
tector? This then is but another de-
lusion," be said. rising sadly.
Yes-no-that so my gracious
goodness /" said Polly hopefully di-
yided between a sense of the ridiculous
and some strange attraction in the dark
gentle eyes that were fixed upon her
half reproachfully. "You don't under
stand.
Don Jose replied only with melan-
choly smile and then going to the door
opened it with a bowed head and re-
spectful courtesy. At the act Polly
plucked up courage again and with 1t a
slight dash of her old audacity.
al am sure I'm very sorry that [ amt
got any love sorrows, she said demure-
ly. land 1 suppose it's very dreadful
in re not to have been raving and
broken-hearted over somebody or other
as that woman has said. Only she
waited till she had gained the secure
vantage of the threshold" | never
knew a gentleman to object to it be-
fore ?"
With Parthian arrow from her blue
eyes she clipped into the passage and
vanished through the door of the oppo-
site psrlor. For an instant Don Jose re-
manned motionless and rejecting. Then
recovering himself with grave precision,
he deliberately picked up his narrow
black gloves from the table, drew them
on, took his hat in his hand, and solemn
ly striding across the passage, entered
the door that had just closed behind
her