The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-04-17

had thrown lace mantilla, the folds
Of which she held together in front with
one hand; she was listening, but all was
quiet in the house. The servants were
ut supper, Dona Blanca and Gloria, re-
clining, half asleep, in rocking chairs,
We're resting after the fatigues of the
day. Fansto and her uncle had gone
out to the cafe. The coast was clear,
she left the room, sped along the cor
little staircase leading to the garden.
The Velasco's house was an old one and
behind it lay large neglected garden,
in which trees aud shrubs growing in
tangled profusion had, in some parts,
almost blocked up the winding foot
paths. On three sides it was surrounded
by the walls of houses painted in fresco
in the old Spanish fashion; on the fourth,
high wall separated it from the back
which scraps and strains of music
tioated, as the performance went ON.
Towards this end of the garden Manuela
hurried, pushing aside the branches of
the shrubs, which almost blocked up the
approach to an old door in the wall. 1t
was evidently rarely used, for it's bolts
were rusty and was so completely over
1
noticeable to anyone who was unaware
of it's existence. Manuela drew back
the heavy bolts and went out. She
found herself in little plot of waste
land, not more than dozen yards
square, lying between the back of the
theater and the garden wall. 1t led no.
where, and no windows looked on it; a
could not be imagined. a man was
there already leaning against the wall,
masked and wrapped in cloak. AS she
appeared, he turned towards her. 1t
was the Black Mask of the Carnival.
He sprang forward, took both her
hands in his, and drawing her to him,
embraced her. What they could have
done next can never be known, for
round the angle of the theater appeared
another man. Manuela started, back
speechless against the wall, as she rec
ognized Ramon San Miguel. Without
casting glance at her, he advanced
straight on the Black Mask.
"DraW and defend yourself, if you
do not wish to be killed like n dog" he
Kissed between his teeth, and from be-
meath the folds Of his cloak flashed the
point of Il napier.
Ramon, Ramon! Stop, let me speak"
But she was too late Before the
words were out of Manuela's mouth the
Black Mask had sprung back, and with
marvellous quickness, by one turn of his
left arm, had wrapped his cloak round
it to act as guard, while with the other
he drew his long navajo from his belt.
One or two passes We're exchanged with
the rapidity of lightning. but the Black
Mask had no chance from the first; he
only sought to parry the thrusts of his
enemy, whereas Ramon sought his life
blood. a few moments and he sank to
the ground transixed by the rapier of
San Miguel, and Manuela, with a pierre
ing shrek, flung herself upon the life
less body. The black mask had fallen
off. 1t was the Espada. Guapito!
For an instant San Miguel stood with
horror and grief painted on his face
looking ut the PROSTATE form at his
feet; then he turned and fled from the
scene as if pursued by a thousand de-
| mons.
Manuela sprang to her feet and looked
wildly round; a figure glided out from
the corner of the theater, whence he had
before her.
"FaustOn'
He was quivering from head to foot;
fiendish triumph cleaned in his flash
ing eyes. She needed no words to re-
veal the truth to her. The tiger had
sprung; his prey lay before them.
"Maldito! 1t was you in your vile
Know then that you are the murderer
of your cousin, Of my unhappy brother
Rafael"
Fausto turned deadly pale. He saw
his diabolical scheme of vengeance re-
coiling on his own head; he staggered
back against the wall, and for a moment
all swan before his eyes. Manuela
for help. For moment he was alone
in the little waste space, with the body
of Rafael lying a few feet from him.
Close by lay the long navajo which had
fallen from the torero's nerveless hand
He stopped and picked it up; here was
an escape from the fearful position to
which his curbless jealousy had brought
to level with his heart when tall,
dark figure appeared in the doorway
leading to the garden, and deep voice
cried:
Hold, impious boy. What is this?
Blood! Murder! Is there not enough
harm t M done e+b already that a. you must seek
And man dressed in the long black
| cassock and shovel hat of a priest adj
yanced to Fausto and took the knife
| from his hand. 1t was Don Gregorio,
the family chaplain, VINO, taking his
evening walk i'll the garden, had been at
tracted by Manuela's cries. He turned
IL.
"He is not dead. Take his feet while
1 lift his head" he said, imperiously.
Fausto obeyed mechanically, and be-
tween them they bore the body into the
garden.
clay him here. 1 hear voices. Manu-
| ella is bringing help from the house,
! said the priest. CHOW come with me-"
and laying his hand on the young mans
shoulder with an action which, though
gentle. was as firm as iron, he led
him away. Fausto made no resistance.
| This unlOoked-for ending to the scheme
of revenge which his jealous madness
| had given birth to- seemed to have
crushed the life out of him. Three
| strong passions rule the Spanish breast
the two first had turned to venom in his
blood, and he felt himself passive in the
| bands Of the last.
Rafael Nalasco recovered. but he never
| again appeared i'll the bull ring of Madrid
as Guapito the Espada. The discovery
| of his kinship with Don Christobal ended
his career as torero: That this would be
the case he knew when he eXacted VOW
of secrecy from his sister SO solemn that
she dared not reveal the truth even to
the man she loved. Now, however, that
the secret had come out, by means of
Fausto's treachery. an explanation took
place between the lovers, and what the
jealous rival had hoped would forever
separate Manuela and Ramon became
the means of their union.
The morning after the encounter be-
tween Rafael and Ramon, Fausto set
out on a journey with Don Gregorio
No one knew for certain what became
of him, but in Trappist monastery
high up among the Pyrenees a monk, re-
nowned for his austerities, was found,
and the flashing eyes which cleaned
through the covering which hid the face
of Brother Antonio from the world for
ever We're strangely like those of the
Scarlet Devil of the carnival.