The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-28
religion and my duty. And what is so
sweet-it cannot be right"

religion and my duty. And what is so
sweet-it cannot be right"
"Do you so despise your womanhood,
the most perfect thing about your"
"Oh, let us return! wanted to kiss
you once. meant TO do that. But
should not Let us gol Oh, love you
sol love you SOL"
He drew her closer and kissed her un-
til her head fell forward and her body
grew heavy. II shall think now for
both" he said unsteadily, although there
was no lack of decision in his voice.
"You are mine. / claim You, and shall
run no further risk of losing you
Neither saw a man walking up the
trail. Suddenly the man gave bound
and ran toward them. He was Reinaldo.
"Ah, / have found thee" he cried.
"Listen, Don Diego Estenega, lord of
the north, American, and would be die
tator of the CALIFORNIA;. Two hours ago
/ dispatched a vaquero with circular
letter to the priests of the department of
the CALIFORNIA; warning them each and
all TO write at once TO the archbishop of
Mexico protesting that the success of
your ambitions would mean the down.
fall of the Catholic church in California
and telling them your schemes. Thou
art mighty, O Don Diego Estenega, but
thou art powerless against the enmity of
the church. They are mightier than
thou, and thou wilt never rule in Cali
fornia. Unhand my sister! Thou shalt
not have her either. Thou shalt have
nothing Wilt thou unhand herr" he
cried, enraged at Estenega's cold recep-
tion OF his damnatory news. "Thou
shouldst not have her if tore thy heart
from thy body"
Estenega looked contemptuously across
Chonita's shoulder, although his heart
was lead within him. "The last resource
of the mean and downtrodden is re-
he said. "Go. Tomorrow |
shall horsewhip you in the courtyard of
Fort Ross"
Reinaldo, hot with excitement and
thirst for further vengeance, uttered a
shrek of rage and sprang upon him.
Estenega saw the gleam of knife and |
flung Chonita aside, catching the driving
arm, the fury of his heart, in his mus |
cles. Reinaldo had the soft muscles of |
the caballero and painted and writhed |
N the iron grasp of the man who forgot |
hat he grappled with the brother of n
woman passionately loved, remembered |
)nly that he reioiced to fight to the death
he man who had ruined his life. Rel
laldo tried to thrust the knife into his
Jack. Estenega suddenly threw his
weight on the arm that held il, nearly
vrenching it from its socket, snatched
he knife and drove it TO the heart of his
nemy.
Then the hot blood in my body turned
old. He stood like q stone regarding
'honita, whose eyes, fixed upon him.
we're expanded with horror Between
hem lay the dead body of her brother.
lie turned with u groan and sat down
n fallen log, supporting his chin with
rs hand. His profile looked grim and
lorn and old. He stared unseeingly at
ne ground. Chonita stood still looking
I him. The last act of her brothers life
ad been to lay the foundation of her
)ver's ruin; his death had completed it.
III the south would rise did the SLAYER
I an lturbi y Moncada seek to rule
hem. She felt vaguely sorry for Rel
aldo; but death was peace; this was hell
q living veins.
The memory Of the world beyond the
orest grew indistinct. She recalled her
rst dream and turned in loathing from
le bloodless selfishness of which it was
le allegory. Superstition and tradition
lpped into some inner pocket of her
lemory there to rattle their dry bones
'gether and fall TO dust. She saw only
he figure, relaxed for the first time, the
rofile of man with his head on the
ock. She stepped across the BODY of
ar brother, and kneeling beside Estene-
/ drew his head to her breast.
THE END.