The herald., 1896-03-01

her, but on the second day after she
had been seated in the family circle,
while sitting by her father, who had
her thin little hand clasped in his, she
turned toward him, as if a sudden
thought had taken possession of her.
"Father, why does not Martinez
come near me, does he still hate me be-
cause l sometimes am not happy and
cheerful?" she asked thoughtfully.
HE said he hated to see women who
had such sensitive feelings" she con-
tinued, "oh, father, he breaks my heart
sometimes, he is SO cruel"
Tears gathered in her eyes as she
spoke and she held more closely to his
hand.
For a moment he did not answer, and
when he did his answer was so evasive
and 80 incoherent that she noticed it.
and her keen womanly instinct told her
that there was something wrong, seeing
her father was more nervous than
usual and feeling his hand tremble in
hers and his breast heave with sup
pressed excitement.
"Fsther, tell me why does he stay
from me; tell him forgive him." and
che looked more resigned as she wear
lily sank back into the cushions, wait
ing to take up her duty and love him
for her children's sake.
"My child, he cannot come" said her
father. She turned quickly toward
him. "You mean he will not" she said
bitterly, starting up.
81 say he cannot. Prepare for what
| must say; he is dead"
"Dead! deadr' That was all. Her
face turned white, her hands dropped
to her side, her head dropped forward.
| She had tainted.
| At that moment the nurse entered,
and Juana was gently placed back on
her bed and the doctor sent for. When
she WAS finally brought back to con-
seriousness she remained ever silent,
scarcely noticing those whom she knew
to be her friends. Poor old Don Anto-
MO Maria! How he suffered to see her
again 30 helpless and sad. He blamed
himself for it, and in his heart
knew there was another ordeal more
terrible to her when she should know
that Romero had also gone forever
How he dreaded the time when she
should ask for him! He wished it was
over, but hoped it would not come un-
til she had recovered from this sick
ness and grown strong enough to bear
| it. No one knew this secret but him
self, and it burned in his very soul.
But there was q change visible on
Juana's countenance which gave him
courage. Her expression was more
! hopeful, even though she WAS silent.
She seemed to have accepted her hus-
bands death as thing for the best;
she seemed to be resigned to 1t and
never mentioned it in any way.
Her father knew it was not so much
of the man, who wasted all his fortune
at the gambling table, that she was
now thinking Of, and he dared not evsn
mention the name of Romero to him.
self, lest she might guess his thoughts
and force from him the answer which
he dreaded so much to give.
The fatal day came at last, but it WAS
when she was able to walk in the gar
den supported by her proud fathers
arm. This time there was no bitter
ness or regret in her tone, as she turned
half shyly and looked up into his face.
while q modest blush mantled her
cheek and made her look for moment
like his Juana of old.
"Padre, you have not said anything
about Romero. Since / am able to
leave my room, couldn't receive him
now? Iwish so much to see our dear
friend. Does he ever speak of me or
think of me, I wonder?"
Her father turned his face awsy to
hide the tell-tale sorrow depicted there,
until he could gather courage to speak
to his child the words which must
crush her last hope, and which for days
he had dreaded to utter.
HE has gone away, my dear, and
cannot come" She stopped and looked
steadily into his eyes, as IL trying to
read in his thoughts some truth be
dare not speak.