Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-12-23

at their place, I should not believe you"
"There is no need for me to subject
myself to such an unpleasant test, then,
Sibyl," answered Godfrey calmly. "But
l may be allowed to remark that it
would be as sensible for me to fall in
love with royal princess as with Dona
Zarifa. She is the greatest heiress in
Mexico, and will no doubt make great
alliance"
"There is very hackneyed proverb
which it strikes me might have an ap-
plication in this case" said Halbert
"We know what is said of a faint heart
and fair lady. The fair lady is here
May not the faint heart be also?"
81 really do not see," observed Mrs.
Derwent, "why it should be supposed
that Godfrey would hesitate to offer
great heiress No one who knows him
could suspect him of an interested mo-
tive, and he has sufficient fortune of his
own
"My dear mother" interposed Der
went, with gallant attempt to laugh,
"the matter has not reached the point of
even contemplated proposal. have
the honor to admire Dona Zarifa exceed
ingly, but beyond that my presumption
does not venture"
81 am unable to perceive where the
question of presumption comes in" said
Mrs. Derwent majestically,
Derwent did not reply, for he was in
deed partly amused and partly irritated
to perceive that his mother, having been
disappointed in her long cherished hope
of seeing him marry Sibyl Lenox, had
| now conceived the brilliant idea of an
alliance with Dona Zarifa. She would
have shivered at the thought of Mexi-
can marriage before coming to the coun-
try, and especially before Dona Zarifa's
| wealth and beauty had dawned upon
her, but now her imagination was eager
| ly at work. The romance as we'll as the
solid advantage of such match allured
her greatly, and it was evident that she
would not readily relinquish an idea so
fascinating. Derwent, who felt too sick
at heart with the hopelessness of his pas
sion to argue with or laugh at her,
strove to avoid the subject, and Sibyl,
who was soon keen enough to perceive
this, kindly seconded his efforts.
When they parted after their drive,
Don Maurizio had said to him: "Come
| like to speak with you on matter of
business" And Derwent lost no time
the next day in keeping the appoint
ment. More than ever now his resolve
was set on replacing Sibyls fortune in
its entirety, and he knew that if he per-
severed in the intentions with which he
came to Mexico no one could better di-
rect him toward the means necessary for
his end than Don Maurizio.
"Mr. Derwent," Don Maurizio said,
when they were both seated, 81 have
a confession to make, as a preface
to business proposal, and / will be
quite frank in making it. Briefly,
then, when you recovered from your
wound in my house, and when !
| found that the stranger had succored
as matter of charity proved to be a
gentleman and a person of whom one
might wish to make friend, I remem
bered prudence, and / felt that before
admitting you to friendly intimacy /
should know something about you as
you are known at home. This does not
offend you, hopper"
"On the contrary" answered Derwent,
sit is what / should have desired; for,
naturally, man who has all his life
occupied distinct and unquestioned
social position is not anxious to appear
in the light of mere adventurer of for
tune. And that, as am well aware, is
what l seemed to you. We1l"-he
smiled slightly-'I suppose you made
some inquiries about me?"
eyes. l wrote to an old friend, a man
of the highest position in New Orleans.
And this, may remark in passing, 1 did
not because I needed assurance myself,
but because it was an absolutely neces-
sary step if was to help you in bust
mess point of view. Well, my friends
| reply was so fattering that some day ]
will show it to you. Only one thing in
his letter puzzles me a little. After
speaking of your social position and your
personal character in the highest terms,
he mentions that you have recently in
herited from your father large estate.
Yet notwithstanding this, am mistaken
in believing that you have come to
Mexico to make money in rather peril
GUS ventures
"You are not mistaken" Derwent re-
piled, whose resolution to be perfectly
candid was taken with quickness that
surprised himself. ~ have lately in
her1ted considerable estate from my
father, and have also come to Mexico
to endeavor to make money in ventures
which hope may not prove perilous. If
you were not SO kind l should hesitate
before intruding my private affairs upon
you; but since you are good enough to
take an interest in me, hope you will
let me explain why have found it
necessary to take this STEP"
"You spoke to my daughter, think,
of debt of honor" said Don Maurizio,
whose clear eyes were reading the young
mans face as if they would read his soul.
EYES," the latter answered, land the
story of that debt of honor is known at
present to only one person in the world
besides myself-that is my cousin, Mr..
Halbert. With your permission 1 will
tell it to you"
Then in the briefest manner possible
he told it. The few, simple words were
strong with feeling, and stronger still
with Durpose. as Don Maurizio lstanino