Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-04-03
fHE Spanish BLUEBEARD.

oI nlBn rauk, VINO leo very WHO ana
dissolute life, but now desired to set
tie down to bis own estate and take to
himself . wife, who would preside
over his household in q fitting fashion.
Being rich and handsome, his wicked
ness went for nsught; and soon be
was betrothed to lovely lady, whose
family were pleased with the alliance,
and who brought him a fine fortune.
The wedding was celebrated with
great pomp, and he brought his bride
home to his palace, the poor of the
place gathered as usual about the
door; and one-a withered old beggar-
woman-wss loud in her praise of the
lady's beauty, and begged to be per.
mitted to present her with boquet of
wild flowers that she had gathered in
the woods.
"A poor offering, my lady said the
woman, 'but all the poor gypsy has to
give.
The lady took the flowers with a
smile, and dropped coin into the
gypsy's hand. AS she entered the
door she bent her lovely head and
inhaled the perfume of the flowers.
The servants remembered the ac-
ton, and her smile, as she passed into
her apartment, leaning on her hus-
bands arm, for it was the lasi they
ever saw Of her. An hour after she
lay dead, and all the doctors in Mad
rid could not tell what had killed
her.
The young widower was very sad
for long time, but by and by he be-
gan t. find life bright once more, and
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 to
be very far from SO radiant Great.
ure, as she stood before the church
altar and piighted her troth to the
man with whom she hoped to pass her
life; but those who remembered the
first wife's fate shuddered as at the
fall Of even-tide she entered the gates
of her husbands villa. The same old
gypsy who had greeted the former
bride stood amidst the crowd.
Heaven and the saints bless you,
ladyP she cried. Il greeted her who
came before, and faded like a flower.
May you live until your hair is as
white as mine. Flowers are all have
to give. Will you honor me by taking
them, lady?'
The bride, as the other bride had
done, accepted the offering, and re-
paid the gilt with coin.
She held the blossoms loosely in
her hand, and passed into the hall. A
banquet was prepared, and she par
took Of it. Wine was on the board !;
she tasted of it. When the dance
began none danced more gayly than
the bride. 1t was a merry wedding
and when at last, in the hours of the
morning, the music died away, the
guests departed and the lamps extin-
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 something from the floor.
MY poor gypsy's flowers, she said,
i will not reject the humble token of
kindness and bending her face over
them, she passed out of sight.
Half an kjur afterward the husband
also entered the bridal room. All
was still, The lamplight fell over the
pillows, but no fair head rested upon
them. He looked about him; in the
corner of the room lay what looked
like heap Of rumpled satin at first
sight. He advanced toward it, and
saw hand that grasped convulsively
; 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 the people began to whis-
per 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 a widow
er; again he suffered much sorrow,
but it was not eternal He began in
time to seek another bride, but in vain.
No one would risk the fate of those
other young and lovely women. Nc
one would have this Bluebeard, the
mysteries of whose castle were so ter
rible, and for years the wldower went
a-wooing without winning, until one
morning, netting the Donna Mora or
her way to church, her black eyes
yelled beneath her black mantilla, he
made q grand impression, and was
permitted ere long to offer his hand
and heart with true Spanish gallant
ry. ..a. Ill. s..,.
Donna Mora, who was widow, lis.
tened not i'll pleased.
q do not detest you, Senior, she
said, sand ! frankly tell you so, bu,
you have had strange bridals hereto
fore. / do not feel tired Of life, and