The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-06-06
A SPANISH BLUEBEARD

of high rank, VINO let very wiiu ana
dissolnte life. but now desired 10 set
tie down to his own estate and take to
himself wife. who would preside over
his household In n fitting fashion. Be
ing rich and handsome, his wickedness
went for naught; and soon he was be-
trothed 10 a lovely lady, whose family
were pleased with the alliance, aud
who brought him fine fortune.
The wedding was celebrated with
great pomp. aud he brought his bride
home 10 his palace. the poor of the
place gathered as Il sual about the door;
and one IA withercd old besgar-wo-
loud IN her praise of the
lady's beauty. and begged TO be per-
mitted 10 present her with boquet Of
wild flowers that she had gathered Ia
the woods.
"A poor offering. my lady" said
the woman, '.but all the poor gypsy
has TO give"
The lady took the flowers with
smile. and dropped a coin into the
gypsy's hand. As she entered the door
she bent her lovely head aud inhaled
the perfume of the flowers.
The servants remembered the ac-
ton. and her smile, rs she passed into
her apartment. leaning ON her hus-
bands arm. for 1t was the last they
ever saw of her An hour after she
lav dead. aud all the doctors in Madrid
could not tell what had killed her.
The young widower was very sad for
a long time, bnt by and by he began to
find life bright once more, aud chose
for himself a second wife. This lady
was lovelier than the first. though not
SO rich. Her predecessors fate did not
alarm her, for she was strong and full
of health Death seemed 10 be very
far from so radiant creature. rs she
stood before the church altar and
plighted her troth 10 the man with
whom she hoped to pass her life; but
those who remembered the first wife's
fate shuddered as ut the fall of even
tide she entered the gates of her hus-
bands villa The same old gypsy who
had greeted the former bride stood
amidst the crowd.
Heaven aud the saints bless You.
lady!n she cried, II greeted her who
came before. and faded like a ilower
May YOU live until your hair is as
white as mine. Flowers are all | have
TO give. win you honor me by taking
them. lady?
The bride. as the other bride had
done, accepted the Offering. and re-
paid the gift with coin.
She held the blossoms loosely in her
hand. and passed into the hall. A
banquet was prepared. and she par
took of il. Wine was on the board
she tasted of il. When the dance be-
gan none danced more gayly than the
bride. 1t was merry wedding and
when at last, in the hours of the morn
ing, the music died away. the guests
departed and the lamps were eNtin-
guished. the beautiful girl turned, with
smiles and bushes To seek her place of
rest. As she crossed the Threshold OF
the hall she stopped and picked some
thing from the floor.
my poor gypsy's flowers" :" she said,
81 will not reject the humble token of
kindness" aud bending her face over
them, she passed out of sight.
Half an hour afterward the husband
also entered the bridal room. All
was still. The lamplight fell over the
pi lows. but no fair head rested upon
them. He looked about him; in the
corner of the room lap what looked
like heap of rumpled satin at first
sight. He advanced toward it, and
saw hand that grasped convulsively
a little bunch of white flowers. and
with cry of horror. cast himself be-
side the body of his bride. She was
dead; she bore no wound, no sign of
injury about her. Again the physi-
clans could not find the cause for the
death, and people began to whisper
tales of evil spirits who haunted this
fatal bridal chamber and did to death
the fair beings who braved them by
entering it.
Again the gentleman was widower;
again he suffered much sorrow. but il
was not eternal. He began in time to
seek another bride, but i'm vain. No
one would risk the fate of those other
young and lovely women. No one
would have this Bluebeard, the mys-
teries of whose castle were so terrible,
and for years th ZOO
T ing without winning >until one morn
ing, meeting the Donna Mora on her
way TO church. her black eyes velled
I beaneth her black mantilla, he made a
4 grand impression, and was permitted
ere long to offer his hand and heart
/ with true Spanish gallantry.
/ Donna Mora, who was widow, ns-
+ tened not i'll pleased.
/ 81 do not detest you. Senor." she
/ said, land | frankly tell you so, but
( you have had strange bridals hereto
1 fore. / do not feel tired of life, and
desire to enjoy myself little longer.
/ Let me know why your first wife died.
You must surely know"
On my soul, l do notr' said the
gentleman.
II believe you" said the lady. lis
ten to me, then. ] am ready to mar.
ry you, but before l do, l must be al.
lowed to inspect your house from ROO
to cellar. You must vacate it. and
I give me the keys, and must go there
alone with my sister, will discover
i the mystery, if there is ONE
Donna Mora" said the gentleman,
''do as you will. | vacate the dwell
ing at once. There are the keys. The
long one of steel opens that fata
chamber. which beg you not to en-
ter-the bridal chamber of my dead
brides. Adieu! Thanks for youl
promise, which | shall hasten to claim
when you summon me-"
He kissed her hand and rode away
She at once made ready to seek the
i dwelling of which she had heard sc
much. The numbering carriage held
her, her sister. two brothers, maid
man-servant and pet poodle very we'll
And, at last, they came in sight of the
old Moorish building. and paused tc
inspect it.
Il begin to tremble," said Donns
Anna.
Il have no fears said Donna Mora
"A