The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-07-05

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to this Golfer; it was always attached tc
his watch chain; for it seemed to him
that he was there also preserving some
thing of the soul of the departed.
Out of his trembling fingers a small
package of letters fell on the table.
Their envelopes were all covered with
post marks which indicated the stations
Of their great journeys, and carried the
address;
'Senores Ramirez & Co., for Don Juan
Crisostomo Lopez. Habana."
He soon found the letter sought in the
package, and the date June 8, 1865.
sprang before his eyes. She had written
it on the day that followed that mystic
rious anniversary that was inscribed
on the ring.
Did he mistake, or was the letter really
written with a trembling hand?
Don Juan read:
At last, after many weeks | took
my first walk Manuel persuaded me to
do it. He tried it several times before,
but in vainl But yesterday | yielded,
and we walked along the beach.
And in postscript Consuelo added:
you may imagine that at the sight of
the pillows / thought of you, since you
live so far away, far, far beyond yonder
blue line of the horizon"
Don Juan dropped the letter. He
also was looking at distant, indefinite
point, with the unfathomable expression
of one who seeks to explore the past.
Then he read hurliedly the four last let
ters of the package The name of Man
uel did not again appear.
This silence appeared to him like lie.
The more so since he found ON his re-
turn that Manuel, his younger brother,
who looked so handsome IN his ship Off
GERS uniform, was still in Malaga. And
he was now inseparable from them and
gave them the plainest proofs of the
greatest attachment. And how intent
he was on becoming the godfather of
Garment And then only he returned to
his ship and set his sails for distant seas.
But suddenly the ship stranded, and no
one but boatswain could save himself.
But in the letter which Manuel wrote a
few days before he left the harbor for
the last time, he inquired after all with
much sympathy
And III Don Juan's memory the recol-
lections followed each other prophetical-
ly. The inconsolable pain with which
Consuelo received the report of the ship
wreck. The despai1ing effort with which
she asked his forgiveness in her last mo
ments.
Forgiveness What for?"
Don Juan struck his forehead with
terrible indignation, and he almost
screamed out when Carmen gently raped
at the door,
"What~ exclaimed the girl, entering,
"you have not yet put on your fine
coatr
Carmen was dressed to go out, with
parasol in her hand and hat on her head.
Don Juan arose violently and like a
surprised criminal. Without looking at
her, he murmured:
"Where are we going?"
"Why, to the cemetery, papa, as every
year"
Soon he was ready and the two started
on their way. On the street Carmen felt
how her fathers arm trembled in hers.
Don Juan was talking to himself.
What are you saying, papag Carmen
asked him.
Il am counting"
"Paces?"
mo, months"
"But, my God, have never seen you
like this. Of what are you thinkingy"
They entered the cemetery, and pro-
ceeded to their family graves. Before
Don Juan opened the gate, he stood still
for a moment and viewed the individual
stones.
Two names We're inscribed on them;
Manuel Antonio Lopez, ship ensign, died
on the ocean, July IL, 1867, and Consuelo
Arias de Lopez, died May 8, 1868. There
were two other stones ON the same bury
ing plot that were awaiting their inscrip-
tions.
Don Juan sank his head and knelt
down.
Carmen was already accustomed to
those gloomy meditations. She left him,
therefore, undisturbed, passed to and fro
in the little garden that surrounded the
graves, touched up the flowers and rib
bons of the wreaths, and added fresh
ones. But when about twenty minutes
later she saw that her father still did not
move, she called him with a soft voice.
Don Juan did not answer.
Poor papaT said Carmen, che loved
her so much!'
She again went away and read the in
scriptons ON the long rows of graves.
When she returned her father was in
the same bent attitude, his forehead al
most touching the earth. Already a
few curious persons We're observing him.
Carmen felt little ashamed On ac-
count Of this strange manifestation of
his great sorrow and approached him,
saying;
But, papa, you viii take cold. 1t is
time TO return home. Comet!
Don Juan did not move.
He resembled a statue. Carmen
touched his shoulder and then he arose.
HIS face was covered with a deep pallor
and his eyes reflected the bewildeIlnent
Of insanity.
He arose mechanically from the earth,
extended his arms as il towards a vision
and mwmured;
"Consuelol Consuelol How could
you love him more than mef'-" Franco
in Five Stories a Week.
Prudent Parent.