The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-30
READY! AIM! FIRE!
From the French of De Lduziere Themdines.
In London Spare Moments

III AOnIOH DDuTc 4hOUlcntS.l
!.
Dolorita was poor orphan girl to whom
the Comtesse c. had given a home, and
for whom, as she was good and gentle. she
bad formed a strong attachment. More
over, there we none to interfere with the
| comtesse's swhims, even had there been rea
son to do so, for, like Dolorita herself, she
was wholly without relatives save solitary
nephew, whose home was in the Spanish
colonies, and who made but rare appear
ances at Madrid.
Twice, only. had he returned to see his
aunt in the past five years. and then only
for fortnight at a time. On the first visit
he made Marcel had brought her as a pres
ent a splendid Brazilian parrot by the name
Lorito, and, so far from being displeased,
was greatly relieved to find that his aunt
had at last found a companion that suited
her.
The second time he came he was not only
surprised to find Lorito greeting him with
shrill cry of "Vive MARCEL" the begin
ming of an accom- plishment that ended In
his talking as fuently as pirate, but also
to find the child Dolorita grown to a
superbly beautiful girl of II years. This
recalled him to the colonies was OF very
decided character.
In a word, he was head over heels in love
with the comtesse's protege and constantly
repeating TO himself that she was the wife,
she and no other, Intended for him by
heaven. At all events. he came to the firm
decision to quit the colonies as soon as he
could close up his business and wind up his
affairs and return for good to his native
country.
Meanwhile, they understood each other
he could always slip into his letters to his
aunt a message to Dolorita that he knew
she would read with eyes of love, and with
that he must be content till the moment
came when he would be able to demand her
hand and make her his wife with the sane.
ton and blessing Of their mutual benetact-
ress.
But, alas when this moment came, with
full avowal from Marcel of his love
for Dolorita, the Confess C. was
on her death-bed and the letter remained
unanswered. She knew the truth, how
ever, and was not displeased. Dolorita had
been a good girl and would make her
nephew an equally good wife. Diminishing
her from her side with a tender kiss and a
blessing, she shut herself into her room
with her notary, dictated a will that left
everything she possessed TO the two whom
she loved 50 well, and that night she died.
The coIntesse's illness had been serious
from the first. Dolorita had long since
written to Marcel to come as soon as possible
if he would see her alive, but with all the
speed that he could make, for it took long,
long while for letter to 20 and for a per-
son to come at the time we write Oft was
impossible for him to reach Madrid till
nearly two months from the time of his re-
call.
Well, see you what happened IN those two
months of waiting.
The comtesse dead and seals placed upon
all the property of the deceased pending the
settlement upon Marceps arrival. Dolorita
had Withdrawn into a small pavilion built
as an annex to the stately dwelling that
had been her home and whose single street
window looked directly into the Madrid
public plaza. Here she passed the day read
ing, and dreaming of Marcel and the friend
that she had lost.
Not entirely alone, either, for we forgot
Lorito; he was with her always, amusing
her with his calls, his petulant chattering
aud his constant shrieks of "Vive Marcel |"
Madrid in those days, have forgotten to
tell you, was garrison town, and Lorito,
inclined already to martial ardour, imi
tated with fidelity that was simply start
ling the roll of the drum and fife and the
entire manual Of arms. You can fancy If
this brilliant accomplishment was the de-
light of the passers-bY, and especially of the
young conscripts daily arriving at Madrid
and daily drilling on the plaza under the
pavilion window, on the leoge of which
was installed the feathered mllitaire
Lorito's cage.
Dolorita had kept with her, beside Lorito,
single servant, devoted old woman who
had been Marcels nurse, but who, I'M
fortunately, was three-quarters deaf. More
than enough, nevertheless, for her modest
needs and the retired life she led, going no.
where save to church or the cemetery to
kneel at the tomb of her benefactress.
Unhappily, however, a cloud was rising
on the horizon of this peaceful existence
An officer of the Madrid garrison, of good
family, but reckless roue and spendthrift,
who bad killed his mother with grief and
devoured in mad orgies his entire patri-
mony, met her one morning as she was re-
turning from the cemetery. The long black
veil that covere ed her features was unable tc
hide her beauty or disguise her distinguished
air. Inflated at once, he followed and spoke
to her. Dolorita did not deign even to turn
her head or to quicken her steps, opposing
only to the lieutenant's advances a cold
contemptuous silence Sure of safety in the
street aud in broad. open day. she went heI
way calm and undisturbed to her dwelling
the officer pursuing her still and pouring
into her ear ear his barrack madrigals.
lie mace no neaQWey WITH Tue DeautIu
unknown, but he had learned where she
lived.
With this to go upon, 1t was not difficult
task in place like Madrid to soon know al
about her and exactly how she was situated.
An Inquiry, resulting in details exceedingly
gratifying to the lieutenant, who resolved,
come what might, Dolorita should be his
wife, and that he would have revenge upon
the proud orphan for the slight. He made
his plan, then assured himself OF the little
resistance she would be able to oppose tc
him and decided to risk the attack.
willing or unwilling" he said to himself
''she shall be minew
II.
How did he get into the walled Enclosure
upon which, as in all Spanish houses, the
pavilion near the windows looked? Dolorite
Iaa.rar. l.rannr He antnrad-thak Is annI1nrh