Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-05-19

the last and highest bidder that the lady
is compelled to dance.
No woman can escape this obligation, no
husband can prevent his wife from dancing
with stranger unless he offers larger
sum than his rivals on the moment.
Such is the law Of the fete; all are aware
on entering that they VIII be compelled to
submit to it. Don Ramon Moreno was not
ignorant Of this when he took his young
wife to the annual charity ball, II would
have been great disadvantage in truth,
had she not appeared there, 50 remarkable
were her grace and beauty. Nevertheless,
In her dreamy eyes one a,;W tt shade of sad
ness which accentuated still more the pal,
lor of her complexion and the delicacy Of
all her person. She replied only in mono
syllables to the questions addressed to her
by her husband and with Il smile of deep
melancholy to the compliments of her nu-
merous admirers.
"My love- said Ramon, Offering her his
arm to take her upon the terrace that she
might enjoy the cool evening air, 'can
nothing divert you from your thoughts"
She arose without answering, placed her
hand upon her husbands arm and was
preparing to accompany him when she was
shaken from head to foot by violent com
motion; her eyes, opened TO their widest
extent, were fixed ON a stranger whom she
had not noticed until then, but whose
ardent and passionate glance had not
quilted her since her arrival at the ball.
"lIe" muttered she, with joy mixed with
fright. "He! Miguel!"
And she sank down upon the chair she
had just quilted
what ails you, Carmen" asked Ramon
Moreno, Are you ill.,"
"Why did you deceive meg" cried the
young wife. why did you assure me he
was dead? Oh, what you have done, Don
Ramon, was unworthy Of an honest man
you bought my consent ut the price of a
tiep'
"Of what are you talking, Carmen, and
what signifies your languageY
ut signifies that idid not wish to marry
you; that wished TO remain faithful to
my old and sole affection My father in
sisted that it was my duty to renounce it,
You know to what threats, to what prayers
he had recourse. His fortune and his hon
or were Mt stake. For long while | re-
sisted and never would have yielded had
not he and you affirmed TO me Miguel's
death. Well, Miguel is not dead, since
there he stands"
And her glance shot toward the stranger
Don Ramon had no time TO answer, for
Miguel had quilted his place and was ad-
vancing with a calm but resolute air
When he reached them he said, bowling
respectfully TO Carmen:
MADAME, will you do Inc the honor to
dance with me?"
She grew faint and put her hand to her
heart rs if to RESTRAIN its throbs; then real
izing that all eyes were fixed upon her and
feeling her husbands arm trembie but re-
solved to have an immediate explanation
with Miguel she demanded of him accord
ing to the usage:
How much do you olfery"
"A thousand pasters," replied he,
at is |, senior, who will have the pleas
ure of dancing with my wife" replied Don
Ramon, land do not believe shall pay
too much for that pleasure by giving to the
poor two thousand piastres"
And | will give ten thousandp coldly
resumed Miguel.
A sullen rage took possession Of Don
Ramon MorenO's heart.
you are making this a personal affair,
senorm cried he. 80 be i'll | will give
twenty thousandr
"A hundred thousand" said the impas-
sible voice Of Miguel
The spectators could not repress muir
mer of appreciation. Don Ramon realized
that by pcrsistine further he would render
himself ridiculous. Besides, he was there
and would not lose sight Of his adversary.
What danger could there be in letting him
dance with Carmen? 1t was upon another
field that he counted on taking his revenge.
Hence he strove to compose his features
and said in the most amiable tone he could
assume;
Indeed, senior, should with i'll grace
deprive you Of a satisfaction which fiattcrs
as much IA IL honors me. Your persistence
! would prove to me, were | not already
aware Of il, what value | should attach TO
the possession of n wife whom a cavalier so
/ perfect esteems sufficiently to pay hun
dred thousand piasters for tho mere favor
of dancing with herl"
! Miguel drew checkbook from his
pocket, filed up check for a hundred
( thousand piastrcs tore II out aud handed
/ it to one Of the commissaries OF the fete;
then he offered his arm TO Carmen.
! During this colloquy the young woman
had not made "A movement Faint, half
/ dead, she nevertheless had the strength to
arise and follow her cavalier. Miguel en-
I circIed her waist with his strong arm and
J the waltz bore them away in its whirl.
"Ahl madame" murmured the young
man In Garments ear, mot only a hundred
| thousand pirstrcs, but all my fortune the
I millions I have amasscd in order to lay
them ut your feet, my very life, which
| henceforth has no charm for me, would
/ have given for this momentl Not that
now attach the slightest value TO the honor
of dancing with you. but because want to
tell you that despise your
/ lave mcrfyt'i Xvhigperpd Carmen WbOae
J heart BLEED beneath the insult.
There is no mercy for II perjurerl You
/ promised TO wait for me, TO remain faithful
to me until death. aud you nave broken
/ your oathsW
But Miguel, you do not know
/ 81 know but Que thing, Carmen-that
( you are the wife of another and lost 20 me.
| am deyoured by jealousy and wish to
| nYenge mYseIfW