The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-23

ma - sbe exclaimed, "what Is 1t In You
that 7 want9-thst ! need? 1t is some
thing that belongs to me. oive ~ 70 mo
and go away" u,.su GA
"Cbonita. give it to you gladly, God
knows. But YOU must take me too. You
want In me what is akin to you and what
vor viii find nowhere else. But cannot
tear nv soul out Of my body. You must
take both or neither"
AVE- / cannot! You know that
cannot"
81 ignore your reasons" II
"But do not"
"You shall, my beloved. Orif you do
not ignore you shall forget them.
"When am dead, would that wereF'
She was excited and trembling. The
confession had been an ordeal, and Es-
tenega was never tranqulllizing. one
wished 10 cling to him, bu' was sun
mistress of herself. He divin her Inn
nnlse and drew her arm throu his and
across his breast. He opened er hand
and pressed his lips to the palm. Then
he bent his face above hers. She was
trembling violently; her face was wild
and white. His owr was ashen, and
the heart beneath her arm beat rapidly
~ love YOU devotedly," he said. "You
believe that, ChonitaT
"Ah. mother of Godl Do notl can
not listen"
But you shall listen. Throw on
your superstitions and come to me.
Keep the part Of your religion that is
not superstition; would be the last TO
take it from you, but i will not permit
It's petty restraints to stand between US.
AS for your traditions, you have not even
the excuse of filial duty; your father
would not forbid you to become my wife.
And / love you very earnestly and pas
sionately. Just how much might con-
vey to you if we were alone =.
He was obliged to exercise great self
restraint, but there was no mistaklng
his seriousness. When such sclentihc
trifiers do find woman worth loving,
they are too deeply sensible OF the fact
not 10 be stirred to their depths, and
their depths are apt to be in large dis
proportion to the lightness OF their
ordinary mood. "Come to me-" he con-
tinued. II need you, and Will be as
tender and thoughtful a husband as !
will be ardent as a lover. You love me;
don't blind yourself any longer. Do you
n;cture. in a life of solitude and cold de-
yotion to phantoms, any happiness equal
70 what YOU would find here in my
armsY'
"Oh. hush, hush! You could make me
do what you wished. have no will
feel no longer myself. What is this ter
rible power%
ut is the magnetism of love: that Is
all. am not exercising any diabolical
power over you. Listen. / will not trou-
BILE you any more now. am obliged tc
90 to Los Angeles the day after tomor'
row. and on my way back to Monterey
in about two weeks-I will come here
again. Then we will talk together; but
/ warn you, will accept only one an
swer. You are mine, and shall have
you.'
They reached Casa Grande a moment
later, and she escaped from him and rar
to her room. But she dared not remain
alone. Hastily changing her black gowI
for the first her hand touched-it hap
pened to be vivid red, and made he
look as white as wax-she returned u
the sala, not to dance even the squar
contradanza, but to stand surrounded b,
worshiping caballeros, with curling hal
tied with gay ribbons and jewels In thei
laces.
Valencia regarded her with bite
jealousy that was rising from red hea
10 white. How dared woman wit
hair of gold wear the color OF the bru
nette? 1t was a theft. 1t was the las
indignity. And once more she chaine
Reinaldo, in default of Estenega, to he
side. And deep in Prudencia's hear
wove a scheme of vengeance. The loor
and warp had been presented unwittine
ly by her uncle and defender.
Estenega remained in the sala FEY
moments after Chonita's temperance
then left the house and wandere
through the booth in the court, wher
the people were dancing and singing an
eating and gambling as if with the moi
|, row an eternal Lent would come, an
thence through the silent town to tn
pleasuY. grounds of Casa Grande, whi
;, Law about half a mile from the hou'
, He had been there but short VIII
when he heard rustic, light footfa
and turning he saw Chonita, unatter
ed. her bare neck and gold hair gleal
ing against the dark, her train draggir
She was advancing swiftly toward hi
His pulses bounded, and he sprang
ward her, his arms outstretched. but 6
waved him back.
Have mercy" she said. 81 am alol
brought no one, because l have that
tell you which no one else must hear.
He stepped back and looked at
ground.
Listen" she said. II could not W
until tomorrow, because moment i
might mean-might mean the ruin
your career, and you say your envoy
not gone yet. Just now-l will tell y
the other first. Mother of Godl tina
should betray my brother to my enen
y But it seems to me right. because J