The herald., 1896-03-15

kI
about his actions.
my babies and my father and R
there, | must not say it. Oh, God,
help me!' =
eJuanal Juana! my child" came in
hoarse whisper from the bed, while the
frightened woman leaned over her
father, placing her ear clsser to his
lips, that she might not lose sound.
He struggled for breath, and catching
desperately at his throat he loosened
his neck band. then tried to rise to a
sitting posture. Juana felt that her
strength was not sufficient to give all
the assistance he needed, but she lent
him all her powers physically, and at
the same time placed little brandy
and water to his lips, of which he par
took but sparingly, for he was nearly
gone.
Padre dear. what is it? Can't you
speak TO me- she said, choking back
sob that rose to her throat, while she
held him lovingly in her slender arms.
"Juana, must tell you before | die
l have a secret ! must tell you, Ro-
mero--water! help! raise me up higher!
there-Romero--" "Yes, father, Ro-
merol Speak, Tell me, is he dead?"
THAT do not know, my child. The
night he went away--Ohl Holy Virgin
/ must k-water--quick. Juana,
am choking" She gave him water.
Her face was hot and her frame trem-
bled. What was this awful secret he
was trying to tell? Oh, Romero! Ro-
merol she cried in her heart. May
God give him strength to tell me,
Her father grew more calm, and again
he tried to speak, but only with
dreadful effort could he utter sound.
Again she pressed the glass to his
lips, and, raising him up with oil her
strength, implored him to speak once
more.
"Oh, holy mother, give him strength
to tell me-thet name which have not
heard spoken for years-that name so
dear to me-my darling! my only true
love! Father. tell me quickly, or die
of anxiety"
BE calm, my child; | do not know
where he is. suppose | shall soon
neet him, for | know he WAS good. But
the treasure, the treasure; which is all
his wealth-he intrusted me with the
guardianship of it for you. 1t is here
in this house, buried. 1t is for you, all
for V, u
Father! My God he is dead' His
head drooped on his chest, his eyes
closed, and the struggle of life was
over. Juana fell unconscious by his
side. AT that moment the belated
doctor entered and seeing at glance
the situation. soon restored the un-
happy woman to consciousness and
placed her on the couch in the room,
as silent and white as the dead. The
soul OF Don Antonio Maria had taken
"a ,uhi
by the mysterious laws Of God to re-
maia here and suffer in sorrow alone.
When the funeral was over, and
Robert Winter heard the contents of
the will, he left the house in disgust
and buried his disagreeable thoughts
in drink for several days, but being a
fellow of native pluck, be began to call
upon his cwn resources and his friends,
when they saw he WAS inclined to
'brace up assisted him to obtain a
public position which he was compe-
tant to fill. 1t afforded him self-sup
port, bat he seldom went home to his
poor forsaken heart oxen wife. She
preferred to retire to the country where
she might be alone with her children.
and net be subjected to the humilie-
ton that neglected wife must endure
from careless gosslpers who walk the
earth.
That was many years ago, and Juana
lived to be eighty. Her father died at
the mature age of eighty-hve, but his
daughter promises to outl!ve him in
years, for she is wonderfully we'll pre-
served and her soft brown eyes still
shine brightly. She is in full control
of all her faculties, and walks as
briskiy as woman of thirty. Juana
seemed at frat distressed at what she
thought was betrayal OF confidence
on her daughter Anita's part when the
latter took me to her little country
home, and told her mother that I was
there to get the facts from her in re-
gard to the buried treasure in the old
Casa on San Pedro street.
About two years ago, fearing that
she might die and strangers find the
gold and silver, she entrusted the Sc.
cret to her daughter, who is her only
confidant; but it was with the strictest
promise that she would not search for
it, OF allow it to be searched for by any
one, until she, Juana, was dead. "For,"
said she, she may come yet, some day,
and it is his and L never want to see
it," Her daughter is guarding the old
place sacredly, and no one dare touch
the ground of the earth floors while
she is here to prevent it. She is true
to her promise, and made it plain to
her mother that l could be trusted
with the secret.
felt carried back to the old days,
and when ] closed my eyes. and heard
the soft musical tones as they fell
from the lips of Juana, it seemed as if
it was our Juana as she was when
Romero knew her. There she lives,
year in and year out, with only faith
full servant girl. Each morning and
evening she kneels before the little i'm
provised altar in her room and offers
up her innocent and earnest prayers,
asking God, through the blessed Vir-
gin, to "forgive them, they know not
what they do" Poor Juana! She ia
comforted by her religion as no one
not blessed with such faith can feel.
Her wrinkled hands are clasped in gen.
tie sleep as she dreams of the past
with Romero; then a shadow comes be-
fore her which makes her cry out and
moan. Sometimes her eyes are wet
with tears, but that always passes
away, and Romero Ramon and her
father again stand before her, loving,
kind and gentle, beckoning her to
come. She arises and starts to follow
she awakes--it was a dream. But
she has sweet smile lowering about
those pale lips for hours, while she is