The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-11

she think that it has been sent by some
high-bOrn love, who will present himself
some day to claim his reward? What q
mistake she has made! Even though she
were free TO love another than her odi0us
husband. l was much too far below her in
station TO think of claiming her haDdl
Zone evening, when she attended ball,
I stood outside of the palace. to watch for
her, and | saw her as she alighted from her
carriage. radiant with beauty, while
a murmur Of admiration burst from
the crowd as she passed by. The
eyes, the men admiringly, while an in-
voluntary cry Of establishment burst from
my lips. She had on my emerald necklace.
That night l went to bed without any
supper, for | was so agitated l could not
eat. but felt happy. During my sleep l
imagined that could hear the music from
the. ball, and see her pass before me, and
dreamed that danced with her.
"1he affair of the Qmeralds had leaked cut.
and was the theme of conversation among
some high-boTn jadies. After they had
seen the stones there was no doubt that
the occurrence Mad taken place, and the
Idle gossips began TO comment upon 1t. My
idol enjoyed an unhlemished reputation.
In spite of her husbands dissipation and
his Indifference toward her. calnmny had
never been able 10 attack her; but now the
venticillo Don Basiio sings Of in the opera
began to make itself audible. One day.
while | was chatting with a number Of
young men. they spoke Of the emeralds,
and q simpletOn finally made SneeTing
remark about the woman,
THE idiots words aroused my ire, espe-
cially because the rest agreed TO them. But
/ restrained myself. What right had / 10
defend that woman? But before quarter
OF an hour had elapsed l found occasion to
pick quarrel with him. and / c0n,radicted
1si m lot I've md VIC ha4 q
duel was the upshot of the affair.
MY friends we're astOnished that ! had
sought a duel for such simple cause, as
Nell as that | would not listen 10 any expla-
nation. l fought, but l cannot say whether
successfully or not, for though ! saw nay op-
ronent fall, yet l felt at the same moment
that my eyes were daZed. Nv ears buZZed
and l also fell dangerously wounded in the
breast. They carried me to my humble
dwelling, where / was seized with a raging
fever. / do not know all the time | spent in
bed calling wildly for her. | should have
had f0rtItude to suffer all my life. just to
obtain a grateful look from her on the brink
OF the grave
But it was sad to die without a single
word from her. These thoughts troubled
my brain, snd one night, while | was toss
ing Testlessly about on MY e0u h. burning
up with fever, the pOrtieres were drawn back,
and / saw woman standing at the thTes-
4
for she drew near my bad, where / was toss
Ing about in distress. and IS she raised her
veil, | saw tear cleaning on her cheek.
II was she,
II raised myself up with staring eyes.
and-just at that moment arrived at Du-
rams book establishment"
What 90 you mean?" / interrupted, as
my friend dverged in this manner from his
story Were you mt wounded, and lying
on your back in bed?"
I'm bedi What n0nsensei / bad forgot
ten TO tell you that this was what [ had
been imagining from Samper's. where l
really saw the set Of emeralds and heard
the exclamation | have told you Of, TO the
CarreTa Of San Geronimo, where a porter
j0stled against me and aroused me from my
reyeris as l was gazing in Duran shop win
dows at book by Merry, with the title, The
History OF What Has Never Happened
Do you understand it now?'
As / heard the denouement I could not
help laughing. In fact, | do no. know what
Mery's work refers to. but I am sure that
many books might be- written under that
title.-Gusiavo Becquer.