Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-17
" Whom read this letter which your ser.

man my secretary ' ''p'ou Noi'
s W 6eg vour pardon. Senior, your secre-
,.rr Men read this letter thought at
Grst II was a cruel joke some malicious per.
con waa playlng upon an unprotected
"1s II told the truth. you saw that it was
in dead earnest--eh. Sonora
az have been very unfortunate" she
sa;d nress;no her handkerchief to her
ewes. @and. much as shrink from doing
40. am compelled to accept your offered
aid. think / can make the terms salts
factory to you" she added with shipper
ing smile. e . 49,.
The letter stated that. or our business is
of an end Do Won understand? / thought
the letter was plain enough. Listen!"
Uo leaned forward suddenly. and, taking
the latter from her hand, began to read:
Resnected Sonora; / know that not
only tho house in which you live, but your
Jewels and all your property have been
mortgaged and the money squandered.
You have also appropriated 10 your own
use the property of your. niece, ana Wyard,
Maria. which has also been lost. your
creditors are pressing you ana wltnln q
head 10 satisfy their demands. will pay
OF your MORTGAGES and place you in COM
Portable circumstances on one condl-
tion-that YOU give mo the hand OF your
niece, Maria, in marriage 80,
The old man laid the letter on the table
and sat awaiting her reply,
"But Senior. / do not know who You
nre. You may be unable TO do all this"
Took" he said. drawing a package OF
papers from bis pocket, which he carefully
unfolded and held at a safe distance Tor
her to see.
They were all the mortgages and notes
which were outstanding against her.
81 have bought all these and now | am
vour only creditor" he said. chuckllng 10
himself as he saw her cheeks grow pale.
And have still more,n he went on,
have full proofs Of your theft OF your
wards money. You thought that you had
DESTROYED them, but, Sonora, such actions
are sure TO come to light. On the day that
Maria becomes my wife Will burn Oil
these in your presence. you refuse my
proposaI shall proceed against you tothe
full extent of the law. Now, take. your
choice. Meanwhile will tell You all you
need to know of my history. l went 10
South America a poor boy. lhere klnd
man took me into his service. ! nur9eu
him through O terrible illness, and he be-
came SO fond of me that, as he bad not
relative in the world. he adopted and gave
me his name, which hope TO carry with
honor as long "a ! live. When my, bene-
factor died found he had made me heir TO
his Immense fortune. ] then went 70 Gail
fornia. where by lucky investments l
doubled my money. If we were in Call
fornia now should marry Maria and leave
YOU TO starve. but l know that mere IN
Spain her marriage would not be Iegal
without the consent OF her GUARDIAN 40"
what have you 10 say!
The widow was cOrnered. She moved
uneaeilv in her chair as she replied:
But Senior, YOU arrived only few
hours 400. you have not even seen my
niece. Why do you wish to marry herr
CT have been in Corunna before. Sonora,
and know more about your niece than
Won think. And then the whole town
speaks of Senorita Maria de Rivera as
model Of beauty and virtue. l am an ola
man. and nv only wish IS to settle down
with Young and pretty wife for my. com
panion. If YOU have any further doubts
of nv wealth you are at liberty TO 60 10 my
bankers here in Corunna. But time IS
pressing, Sonora; you must give me an
answer at once"
The old man arose and stood watching
her with his small, twinkllng eyes.
The widow had no alternative. Furious
as she was over what she considered Ma
ria's good fortune, she was compelled TO
acouiesce in it. That the girl herself
would resist 10 never entered her mind,
hut Maria. hitherto the meekest and most
submissive of maidens. declared That she
would throw herself headlong from the
Tower OF Hercules sooner than become the
wife of such q hideous old man. The Wi
dow's commands and entreatles were OF no
-. ,I,-,,o,r no finally lnpEQ1 the
Young girl in her room. declaring that she
should remain prisoner until she came to
her senses.
In tho morning Jose Benito appeared
with note from his master. He was dress
ed in n new suit Of clothes as became the
secretary of a millionaire. and looked hand
somer than ever.
In the note Senior Zayas requested per-
mission TO visit his bride, which the widow
did not dare TO refuse. Then she set 10
work to prepare the obstinate girl Tor the
interview. II was not an easy task. Only
after q storm Of threats and abuse did
Maria allow herself TO be arrayed in a silk
gown belonging TO one of her cousins and
conducted to the parlOr to await the ar
rival Of the dreaded bridegroom.
The widow met him at the door. She
thought it wise TO inform him OF Maria's
rebellious state of mind before he saw her.
"Hm, So she objects to the marriage,
does she? That is serious" said the old
man. thOughtfully. "Please allow me to
see her alone for few moments. J think
can tame the little rebel, be added, with
q self-satlsled smile.
A solitary interview was contrary 10 al
laws of Spanish etiquette, but this was an
extreme case and the widow was forced 10
give wav. Although she was diving with
curiosity to be present she took the old
man to the parlor and left him alone with
the unfortunate girl.
When she returned TO the room half IN
hour later she found Maria weeping bitter
lv but the old man was sitting at her side,
holding her dainty hand in his rough, red
paws. He had evidently conquered.
In the days that followed Maria crept
about the house pale and silent. Jose Be
nito came constantly, bringing flowers and
rich presents from his master to the bride.
Every evening the old man was at Maria's
side. and strange as 1t may seem she was
evidently growing fond of HIM. Her lovely
ewes sparkled when he appeared and his
words often brought rosy
blush to her fair cheeks.
As for the widow and her daughters, the
old mans ugly face was eilded by his gold.
They declared that he was the most Gle
can't of gentlemen and their hatred and
jealousy of Maria increased every moment.
But they were helpless and dared not say
a word. -,
Not far from COrunra an elegant villa
stood in the midst of an extensive park.
It's owner lived in Madrid and the place
had been for sale for many years, but as
no one in Corunna was rich enough TO
purchase such magnificent property II
stood in solitary state, while the surround
ing grounds had become wild tangle OF
shrubbery and forest underground among
which squirrels and wild deer roamed at
will.
one morning the gossips Of Corunna be-
came wildly excited over the rumOr that
The rich stranger from America had pur-
chased the entire estate and would fit up
the mansion with the utmost splendor 20
receive his bride. That this rumOr was
true was soon proved by the armies of car
renters. masons, painters, and gardeners
which swarmed about the villa. and by the
great vans which were being loaded with
furniture of the richest description, which
a ship had brought from London to Co
runua.
Senior do Zayas and his secretary, Jose
Benito, directed all the improvements in
person, and the old man took special
interest in the renovation and decoration
of the chapel. for 1t was here that he in
tended the marriage ceremony to take
place.