The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-13
CARMEN.

| tinted with pink, bore the imprint of rare
| distinctions; large black eyes, shaded by
| long lashes, gave her at times a grave air,
| which was quickly dissipated by the smile
upon her lips A corsage garnished with
| Jet usually decked her shapely bust; heI
| short skirt revealed tiny feet with finely
| turned ankles, which more than one aristo
cratic scnorita envied her. Her voice had
melody of exquisite purity. She sang
and danced ravishingly.
| Not less handsome was Miguel, the
| youth upon whose arm Carmen was lean
! ing. In stature slightly above the medium.
admirably proportional, of lofty bearing
with bright eyes and intelligent forehead
be seemed born to protect the noble young
| girl.
They were slowly walking along a path
bordered by orange trees and nyrtles
forming a terrace above the Duero, the
waters of which flowed between thickly
shaded banks through the valley of Para
disc
1t was the anniversary of Garments birth;
on this occasion Don Luis Ayelo, her father
had invited a fewfriends TO spend the after.
noon at the country residence he owned at
the gates of Grenada In the first rank OF
C0eSe IcleuuS WAS Tile OrIeE.d 1dullIJ Vi
which Miguel was the eldest son.
Miguel and Carmen had grown up to
gether. An invincible penchant had drawn
one toward the other. For long while a
brotherly and sisterly affection had sub
sisted between them; then, without their
knowledge, this affection had been trans
formed into deep and passionate love, but
they had not as yet mutually confessed it.
OF what were they talking? OF a thou
sand insignificant things which delighted
them. Their glances were full of tender
ness, and they bent with confidence one to-
ward the other.
The young Spaniard experienced for the
first time the voluptuous thrill impaired
by the arm or hand of the beloved woman,
and when his curly locks touched Garments
forehead he felt in all his being an mex
plicable but delicious faintness. His voice,
which had grown softer and more pene-
trating, deliciously agitated the young
girls heart. In her also the flower of love
was blooming and its perfume intoxicated
her. A strange sensation, wholly new,
gradually invaded her; she chung more
closely to the arm of her childhcod's friend.
With sudden spring their lips met, they
both uttered the same exclamation; this
betrothal
Happy and blushing, Carmen, as If to re-
gain possession of herself, led Miguel to
the edge of the terrace, where they gave
themselves up to vague contemplation.
1t would be difficult to find more mar
velous landscape than that which at that
moment the fast setting sun empurpled
throughout its entire extent. Lying lazily
against it's two hills Grenada opened like
the fruit the name of which it bears, dis.
playing its houses, it's palaces, the cupolas
and spires of its churches. Upon an ele-
walton the Vermilion towers threw aloft
their shrub clad walls Not far from
there the Alhambra, that palace which
the Genii have gilded like a dream, that
gigantic playrhing, one of the marvels OF
human art, spread cut its luxury of ara
besques, its vanished and multicolorcd
faiences, its verses of the Koran carved in
relief above its thousands of colonnades. its
love knots varied in the most harmonious
fashion. To the east the Genera life ex-
hibited its admirable gardens, all gush-
ing with water which sprang up in jets,
fell in little cascades or seemed to sleep in
the marble basins.
Miguel and Carmen, absorbed in their
thoughts, saw nothing of this splendid pic
ture, which besides was familiar to them,
nor did they admire that plain of the Vega
covered with vineyards, fig trees, mulberry
trees and orange trees, a vast orchard
which, beneath the blue sky of Andalusia,
produces the effect of an immense emerald
set in sapphire. They perceived not in the
distance the huge masses of the Sierra Ne
vada bordering the horizon, casting then
severe aspect over the splendors Of the
plain and communicating secret languoi
10 the soul
The two young people finally tore them.
selves from their reflections and rejoined
their families. From that day they were
happy only when together, and when they
were separated they thought and dreamed
but of each other. All that was not Car
men was Indifferent to Miguel; all that did
net concern Miguel had no interest foi
Carmen.
This happiness lasted two months. An
unforeseen catastrophe suddenly put an
end to their joys and hopes; reverse Of
fortune fell upon the Ortega family; it
speedily found itself ruined.
Garments father would no longer hear OF
his daughters union with Miguel. But
the young man persisted; his courage,
caSon.
Your father" said he to Carmen, de
clines me as his son-in-law because l am
poor, but love you and no power on earth
can make me give you up. Since fortune
separates US | am going to Brazil: l will
create position for myself worthy of my
beloved, and when l have it / shall return
to demand your hand Until then, Car
men, be fathfult to me-"
Faithful unto deathr' answered the
young girl
Remember your oath. That may sue
coed must be sure of your love. Carmen,
swear to me that no man shall replace me
in your heart"
Il swear it. You alone shall be my hus-
band-I will have no other; will wait for
you. Go without fear, my Miguel; have
faith in the word of your betrothed."
1t was one Sunday morning at the dooi
of a church that Miguel and Carmen ex-
changed their oaths; the young man put
all his soul in the supreme embrace which
he gave his 6ancee, and. while with eyes
Redeemed by tears she went in to kneel at
prayer, he fed desperately, broken hearted
and with brain on fire, toward his fathers
dwelling
4 few days afterward he embarked at
! Cadiz on vessel ready 10 set sail for South
America The Ortega family quilted Gre
NADIA. Carmen no longer heard Miguel
mentioned; no ore could give her news Of
him
An old custom exists in Grenada Every
year grand ball takes place for the bene-
hit Of the poor. Net oaly do all the mem
6ers of the city's high society consider it
duty 70 be present, but also a great number