Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-17

YOU should select one with some style
aJort her like my Petra or MY Ramona I;
not such an awkward. ignorant creature as
Maria who might make decent vito for
yonr stupid secretary but not for you"
"Carainba Sonora" roared the old man.
"I shall marry whom | please. | have
loved Maria ever since she was child. and
that's the end OF 1t. AS TO my secretary,
am fond of the young man, and must beg
rnr 20 sneak respectfully of him: and, let
mo tell Won. he is quite able to manage his
own love affair when he chooses to have
o" The widow trembled with rage. but she
dared not say another word. The old man
had her tight in his clutches.
At last all the preparations were CON-
plete. The villa was bower. OF luxury
and beauty, the adjoining chapel was
mecnifcently decorated, and the grounds
we're a paradise Of sparkling fountains and
| Howers' For three successive Sundays the
| La,ns between Senior Don Jose dc Iavas
and Senorita Dona Maria dc Rivera had
| been proclaimed in the Cathedral of Co
runna. and nothing remained but the cere-
| mony OF the priests blessing on the mar
riage.
On a sunny morning in early autumn
| Don .Joses carriage stood before the
widows door, and the crowd, which al
/
| imnatieutlv TO witness the departure of
the bride. She appeared at last-a lovely
onnaritJon in a cloud of white lace and
orang. blossoms. 1t was easy 10 see that
She was trembling. A bright red spot
cleaned on each of her cheeks, and she
entered the carriage without raising her
eyes from tho ground. The widow and
her daughters followed. and Maria was
wbirled away from the home where she
/ fAr L
years.
When the bridal party reached the
chapel il was already crowded with the
invited guests. Jose Benito, attired in
the most elegant fashion, was at the door
TO receive the bride and conduct her to the
altar where the priest stood waiting. The
happy bridegroom had not yet appeared.
As they assembled the altar stairs commo-
ton was seen IN the middle aisle, and an
old man clad in a sailors suit of blue fan
mel embroidered with many anchors, came
elbowlng his way through the crowd.
blessed be the day on which was born
in the shadow of the Tower of Hercules;
blessed be the bridal pair, and most bless
ed of all be the hour in which have torn
off nv toggery and put on decent clothes! "
he cried, in loud, hearty voice. which
rang 10 every corner Of the chapel.
The excitement was intense. Men sprnng
TO their feet; the guests, VINO all recOs-
nized the old man at once, thought the
bridegroom had suddenly gone insane and
began talking each to the other.
"Silence, all" Numbered the old man.
This place and this hour are. sacred.
Reverend Father, proceed with the cere-
mony."
The solemn voice Of the priest was now
heard reading the marriage service, and
the assembled guests instantly became
still. They were sJupefied with astonlsh-
ment, and not until the priest had spoken
the final words which made the handsome
young pair kneeling before him husband
and wife did even the widow recover her
self sufficiently TO speak. Then springing
to her feet she screamed:
what outrageous burlesque Is this 2
What"
She was silenced at once by tho young
bridegroom. who. after kissing his bride,
turned and faced the guests.
"Senora and friends, he SAID, camly, "
am Jose de Zayas, the millionaire; this lady
is Maria. my wife, and this dear old man -
having his hand a.iectionately on the sailors
shoulder nv noble and faithful friend,
Antonio. Reverend Father pronounce the
benedIcton.n