The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-22

what OF love and seen more. ms Ii
different, quite. l only feel that there
is something In him that want. Some
times | feel that / mnst dig my nails
into him and tear him apart until hnd
what i want-something that belongs to
me. Sometimes 1t is as If he promised
1t; at others as IL he were unconscious OF
its existence-always it is evanescent.
Is he going to make my mind his own9
And yet he always seems to leave mine
free. He has never snubbed me. He
makes me think. There is the danger"
An hour later there was tap on her
door. Casa Grande was asleep. She sat
upright, her heart beating rapidly. Es-
tenega was audacious enough for any
thing. But it was her brother who en-
tered.
"Reinaldo!" she exclaimed, Mortified
to feel an unmistakable stab Of disap-
pointment.
"Yes, it is L Art thou alone?
"Sure."
81 have something to say to thee"
He drew chair close to her and sat
down. "Thou knowest, my sister," La
began, haltingly, show hate the house
Of Estsnega. Ny hatred is as loyal as
thine; every drop of blood in my veins
is true to the honor of the house Of Iturbi
y Moncada. But, my sister, is it not so
that one can sacrifice himself, his mere
personal feelings, upon the altar of his
country? Is it not so, my sisters?
"What is it thou wishest me to under
stand, ReinaldoY'
"Do not look so stern, my Chonita.
Thou hast not yet heard me, and, al
though thou mayst be angry then, thou
wilt reason later. Thou art devoted to
thy houseS"
Thou hast come here in the night to
ask me such question as that"
"And thou lowest thy brother?"
"Reinaldo, thou hast drunken more
mescal than Angelica. Go back to thy
BRIDE" But although she spoke lightly
she was uneasy.
"My sister, never drank a drop OF
mescal in my life. Listen. 1t is our
fathers wish, thy wish, my wish, that
become great and distinguished man,
y
Moncada, star on the brow Of Cali
fornia. How can accomplish this great
and desirable end? BY the medium Of
politics only; our wars are so insignif-
cant. ! have been debarred from the
departmental junta by the enemy Of our
house, else would it have rung with my
eloquence and Mexico have known me
today. Yet l care little for the junta.
wish to go as diputado to Mexico; it is
a grander arena. Moreover, in that
great capital shall become a man of
the world. which is necessary to control
men. That is his power, curse him!
And he-he will not let me go there.
Even Alvarado listens to him. The de-
partmental junta is under his thumb.
will never be anything but caballero
of Santa Barbara, an Iturbi y Mon.
cada, the last scion of line illustrious
in war, in diplomacy, in politics-until
he is either dead-do not jump, my sis
ter; it is not my intention to murder
him and ruin my career-or becomes my
friend"
"Canst thou not put thy meaning in
IeWer WOruS!
"My sister, he loves thee, and thou
lowest thy brother and thy house."
Chonita rose to her full height, and
although he rose, too, and was taller, she
seemed to look down upon him.
"Thou wouldst have me marry him
Is that thy meaning
AYE" His voice trembled. Under
his swagger he was always little afrai(
of The Doomswoman.
"Thou askest perjury and disloyalty
and dishonor of an Iturbi y MoncadaY
"An Iturbi Moncada asks 1t of al
Iturbi Moncada. If the man is read,
to bend his neck in sacrifice to the glor,
of his house, is it for the woman t
thinkY'
Chonita stood grasping the back o
her chair convulsively; it was the only
sign of emotion she betrayed. She knew
that what he said was true; that Es
tenega, for public and personal reasons
never would let him go to Mexico; HI
would permit no enemy at court. Blu
this knowledge drifted through heI
mind and out of it at the moment; sh,
was struggling to hold down a no
wave of contempt rushing upward
within her. She clung to her tradition
as frantically as she clung to her re
lgion.
60" she said after moment.
"Thou wilt think of what Ihave saidT
81 shall pray to forget it."
"Chonitaw His voice rang out so lout
that she placed her hand on his mouth
He dashed it away. Thou wiltw h,
cried, like speilt child. "Thou wilt
! shall go to the City Of Mexico, and onl!
thou canst send me there! All my ia
ther's gold and leagues will not buy m
a seat in the Mexican congress unles
this accursed Estenega lifts his hand an,
and says, Thou shalt Holy God! how
I hate him! Would that l had tn
chance to murder him! would cut hi
heart out tomorrow. And my fathe
likes him and has outlived rancor. An'
thou-thou art not Indifferent"
Cor
He threw his arms about her, kissin,
and caressing her. MY sister! My sis