The morning times., 1896-01-05


VERY well, what sit?"
Araquil W waIted moment before speaking.
as IL he had not enough saliva, and then
spoke rapidly, abruptly:
1 .You said. general, that the life Of
Zucarraga was worth fortune"
Garrido did not respond.
~ have come to claim this fortune OF
| you. have earned It.
The general frowned deeply, and asked
| himselfifhehadheardari Araqutl, very
pale, stood mot.,Iless before him.
..What? EarDed? / dc not understand
you," said Garrido. after a moment
..It is, nevertheless, very simple" said
| Juan "Zucarraga can never give an
other command to fire upon your soldiers"
| HE is dead?"
HE ought to be. II he is not dead by
evening he will be tomorrow"
Old Garrido was greatly moved. His
cheek was as white as his mustache; but he
| did not comprehend the meaning Of ''he
will be tomorrow"
Araquil then related how he had watched
the Carlist chief, intending TO plant his
knife in his heart, but this failing had bound
the poison upon his wound.
Itseenled to the general thathe was chok-
| ing, strangling i'm nightmare. His face
| was bianced aud his eyes burned like fire
us he repeated mechanically:
you have done that, you? You have
done that to wounded man."
Then Juan talked wildly. He said he
would have been willing to do much more
| to win Pepa, and that as Father Chegaray
| exacted dot of two thousand dOurOs he
was obliged TO get them where he could.
And, moreover, the general had said
that zucarraga had killed, was killing, and
would continue 80 kill brave men.
I'm battle, yes in BATTLE said Garrido,
brusquely.
But this was not even reason for Ara
quill His reason had been passion for
Pepa. He wanted Pepa, the life of Zucar-
raga gave her to him, anc that was enough.
That was the-wbole story. Garrido hf-i
promised and lie had presented himself to
reclaim the debt.
The general said: "The claim is just"
He asked where Papa lived, called an aid
de-camp, gave him the address, and, point
ing toward Araquii, said:
You will lodge this man in the Fonda
del Sol. Tomorrow you'will call a priest.
Yes, for a marriage. Co."
The time appeared long to Juan, who
passed the night in the fonda under guard.
1t was long, long night, filled with ehe
barking of dogs in the distance, that howl
ing which presages death; and shots from
the Carlist sentinels in the valley.
Toward morning he slept lightly, dream
ing OF Pepa-in his dream putting the gold
pieces in the hand of old Chegaray, which
were the dot of one living and the price of
a corpse.
1t was broad daylight when detachment
of soldiers under the command OF q ser
geant came after Juan. who wanted
him?" 1.-The General" To other Ques-
tions the sergeant did not respond Then
they started up the main street of Hermann,
between the houses pressed and heaped
close together, upon whose sandstone walls
were sculptured antique armorial bearings
which you were just adniiring. They
stopped at the great square. 1t was a
superb morning, and the sun was laughing
on the red walls of the church. and the fire
blaekened ruins of the Hotel Deville. The
square was full; soldiers in line, near the
steps OF the church, very pale; Garrido
In full uniform surruraded by officers; a
few feet away Pepa, as beautiful as a
saint in the black veil OK her cnstuSle for
fetcs. Pepa and her father near by.
Araquil saw 1t all with n glance of the
eye. The assembled troops with bayonets
flashing in the sun, the general, the beau
tifui girl. and through the open church doors
the altar glittering with sunshine and
gold.
They led him before 'Giirrido
Araqul threw searching look at Pepa,
who seemed to contemplate him strangely
from her dark eyes, shadowed by her lids.
II seemed to Juan that the prayer book,
with its cover gilded in stripes that she
held between her fingers-it was the book
upon which she had sworn to be his wife
tremilcd in her hands gloved in black.
The general said:
Let the priest come"
A white-robed priest appeared at the
| head of the stone steps, as though he had
| been waiting for an order from the general.
| and stood upon the sill like a statue,
| while the heavy bells of the campanilc rang
I out their gay songs of happiness and mar
riage.
The the general. addressing the farmer,
| said: '.Tiburcio Chegaray, here is Juan
| Araquil. who has the dot OF 1000 duros
that you expected before giving your
| daughter TO him. That which is promised
| should be paid. Do you consent to the
| marriage OF Juan Araquil with your
| child?'
Old Chegaray responded in hoarse
voice: yes"
Juan Araquil, do you consent 70 take
for your wife Pepa Chegaray?"
Yes" said Juan in an ardent voice.
He put into this yes all his life. The
priest was waiting to bless them.
"Pepa Chegaray," continued Garrido,
turning to the young W roman, do you con.
sent to take for your husband Juan Araquil
here present."
Pepa took two steps toward Juan, lifted
her beautiful black eyes upon him and re-
spoDded:
| "No!"
| In the crowd behind the soldiers there was
| a great clamor and terrible "Ah!" The
soldiers were motioDless, but attentive.
| "No," repeated the young girl, rais
| ing her voice, II Tswore to belong to no one
but you, and having sworn it will new