The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-20

take OF myself VIII not DO worm ieaV-
ing"
"Aye, and what thou leavest thou
never shalt have again"
There is my hope of heaven, senorita."
He turned from this glittering conver-
satiop to Chonita
"You are a little tired" he said in a
low voice. your color has gone, and
the shadows are coming about your
eyes"
The suspicion was borne home to her
that he must have observed her closely
10 detect those shades of difference which
no one else had noted.
"A little, senior. | went TO bed late
and rose early Such times as these tax
the endurance. But after q siesta i
shall be refreshed"
"You look strong and very healthy"
ave. but ami am not delicate at
all. | can ride all day and swim
which few of our women do. ! even
like to walk and can dance every night
for week. Only this is an unusual
time"
Her supple, elastic figure and healthy
whiteness of skin betoked endurance and
vitality. and he looked at her with pleas
ure. "Yes, you are strong" he said
you look as if you would last-as If
you never would grow brown nor stout"
What difference, If the next genera
tion be beautiful she said lightly.
Look at Don Juan de In Borrasca. See
him gaze upon Panchita Lopez. who is
lust sixteen. What does he care that
the women Of his day are coffee colored
and stringy or fat? You will care as
little when you. too, are brown and dried
up, afraid to eat dulces, and each month
seeking a new parting for your hair"
You are hopeful seerl But you
are you resigned to the time when even
the withered old beau will not look at
you-you who are the loveliest woman
in the CALIFORNIA;"
IL was the first compliment he had
paid her, and she looked up with swift
blush, then lowered her eyes again.
with truth never imagine myself ex-
cept as am now; but / should have
always my books and no husband to
teach me that there were other women
more fair"
"And books will suffice them
Sure" She said it little wistfully.
Then she added abruptly, II shall go to
confession this week."
"Ah~
"Yes, for although hate you still
that is, do not like you-I have for
given you. believe you to be kind and
generous, although the enemy of my
brother; that if you did oppose him and
cast him into prison you did so with a
loyal motive. You cannot help making
mistakes, for you are but human. And
do not forget that if it were not for
you he would not be bridegroom today.
Also, you are not responsible for being
an Estenega: so although do not forgive
the blood in you-how could /, and be
worthy to bear the name of Iturbi y
Moncada?-I forgive you, yourself, for
being what you cannot help and for
what you have unwittingly and mis-
takenly done. Do you understandY'
II understand. Your subtleties are
magnificent"
"You must not laugh at me. Tell me,
how do you like my friend ValenciaY
"Well enough. want to hear more
about your confession. You fall back
into the bosom of your church with joy,
IsupposeY"
"Ayep
"And you would never disobey one Of
her mandates"
Holy God, mol"
"WhyY'
"Why? Because am Catholic"
"That is not what ] asked you. Why
are you Catholic? if / must make my
self more plain. Why are you afraid to
disobey? Why do you cling to the
church with your back braced against
your intelligence? 1t is hope of future
reward, suppose-or fear?"
Sure want to go to the heaven Of
the good Catholic"
do not waste this life, particularly
the youth of it. preparing for legend
airy hereafter. Granting, for the sake of
argument, that this existence is supple
mented by another, you have no knowl-
edge of what elements you will be COM
posed when you lay aside your mortal
part to enter there; your power of en-
JOytneHI may De very tnln lnueeu, ike
the music of band without brass, the
sor, of happiness one can imagine hu-
man being to experience out of whose
anatomy the nervous system has by
some surgical triumph been removed,
and in whom love of the arts alone ex-
lists. abnormally cultivated. But one
thing we of earth do know; you do not,
but will tell you; we have slight ca
pacity for happiness and large capacity
for enjoyment. There is not much in
life, God knows, but there is something.
One can get reasonable amount out of
IL with due exercise of philosophy. OF
that we are sure. OF what comes after
we are absolutely ignorant"
She had endeavored to interrupt him
once or twice. and did so now, her eyes
flashing Are you an atheist" she de-
manded abruptly. "Are you not Cath
olicY"
II am neither an atheist nor Catho-
lie. The question of religion has no in
torost for mo xvbntavar I xy,sh N bal