The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-18

shook HUE. n Slhu WdNo VI Waihlh
rushed over her She turned to him i'm
petuously. Tell mel" she exclaimed,
''why do feel like this for you? / hate
YOU; YOU know that. There are many
reasons-five; you counted them. And
yet feel excited. almost glad, at your
coming. This morning l was disap-
pointed when you did not. Tell me
you know everything and i so little
why is ity"
Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes terri
fed and appealing. She looked very love-
" and natural. Probably for the first
time in his life Estenega resisted temp
tstion. He passionately wished to take
her in his arms and tell her the truth.
But he was too clever a man. There
was too much at stake. If he frightened
her now he might never even see her
again. Moreover, she appealed to his
chivalry. And it suddenly occurred to
him that so sweet heart would be
warped in its waking if passion bewil-
dered and controlled her first.
"Dona Chonita," he said, like all
women-all beautiful and poiled wom-
en-you demand variety. 1 happen to
| be made OF harder stuff than your cabal-
leros, and you have not seen me for two
months. That is all"
"And if j saw you every day for two
months, would no longer care whether
| you came or went!"
Undoubtedly"
| sis il sweet or terrible to feel this
wayl" thought the girl. would l re-
gret if he no longer made me tremble, or
would | go on my knees and thank the
Blessed Virginy" Aloud she said; 1T
was strange for me to ask you such
questions: but it is as if you had some
! thing i'm your mind separate from your
self. and that il would tell me and you
could not prevent its being truthful. /
do not believe in you. You look as If
nothing were worth the while to lie or
tell the truth about; but your mind is
quite different. 1t seems to me that It
knows all things; that it is as cold and
clear as ice"
what a whimsical creature you arel
Nv mind. like myself feel as if were
twins-is at your service. Forget that
am Diego Estenega. Regard me as a
sort of archive of impressions which may
amuse or serve you as the poorest OF your
books do. That they happen to be cata-
logued under the general title OF Diego
Estenega Is mere detail-an accident,
for that natter--they might be pigeon
holed in the skull of a Bandini or Pico
happen to be the magnet; that is all"
"If l could forget that you were an
Estenega--just for week-while you
are here.' she said wistfully.
"You are woman of will and imag-
nation also of variety. Make an ex-
pertinent. 1t will interest you. OF course
there will be times when you will be Bit
terly conscious that am the enemy OF
your house; it would be idle to expect
otherwise; but when we happen to be
apart from disturbing influences let us
agree TO forget that we are anything but
two human beings deeply congenial. AS
for what said in the garden at Mon.
terey the last time we spoke together, l
will not bother you"
"You no longer carer" she exclaimed.
81 did not say that. said would not
bother you-recognizing your hostility
and your reasons. BE faithful to your
traditions, my beautiful Doomswoman.
No man is worth the sacrifice of those
dear old comrades. What presumption
for man to require you to abandon the
cause of your house, give cup your
brother, sacrifice one or more Of your re-
ligious principles-one, too. who would
open his doors TO the Americans you
hate! No man is worth such sacrifice
as that"
NO." she said, mo man." But she
said it without enthusiasm.
"A man is but one traditions are sew
enfold and multiplied by duty. Poor
grain of sand-what can he give com
parable to the cold serene happiness of
fidelity TO self? Love is sweet--horribly
sweet-but so common q madness can
give but tithe of the satisfaction OF
duty to pure and lofty ideals"
Il do not believe that" The woman
in her arose in resentment. "A life OF
duty must be empty. cold and wrong
1t was not that we were made for"
Let us talk little of love. senorita
II is dangerous subject"
But il interests me. and should like
to understand it,"
II will explain the subject to You fully
some day. i have fancy TO do that or
my own territory-up in the redwoods"-
"Here is Prudencia."
A small black figure swept down the
steps of the church. She bowed low e
Estenega when he was presented, but Mt
tered no word. The Indian servants
brought the horses TO the door, and they
rode down the valley to Casa Grande.
CHAPTER XIV.
The guests Of Casa Grande-tnere were