The herald., 1896-02-23

my ability. Go on" Encouraged. the
old gentleman drew still nearer and
spoke in lower tone than before,
while Romero sat silent and pale be.
fore him, drinking in the words Of the
man who had once cursed him, but
who now clung to him, as his only
"Ihe truth is," said Antonio after q
will. 1 wish to leave all my property
drunken father shall not be able to
squander it in dissipation. Poor
Juana," wiping his eyes while his voice
Juana, she will quickly follow me il he
What do you advise? Am I not right
poor girl, for then he might get it,"
chat you should leave her an annuity,
might have something to keep her
comfortable, at least until-until-"
II am fully decided that I am right"
interrupted Antonio, walking up and
down the room in an excited manner.
IL appreciate what you say, but I
should come back out of my grave if
he should be allowed to handle one
dollar of my money. Do you under
stand, Romero, that he has deceived
me, robbed me of my daughter and
abused and disgraced her and her chill
dren? tell you he shall not have one
cent; shall make my will so he shall
not have one cent?" He fairly screamed
1o nd 1nl hu oin nj
back in the cushions of sofa, COM
pletely overcome with anger and ex-
citement.
Romero sat silent for some minutes,
thinking intently. He was thinking of
her feelings when she should know that
she was penniless; that her father had
seemingly turned and forsaken her,
and she must be worse than home
less wanderer. He knew that the old
father was childish and that to argue
with him was a waste OF words. He
perhaps would become suspicious Of
him, should he oppose further, so he
determined to encourage the making
of the will at once, and see that it was
put in safe keeping.
Romero's secret visits to Juana be-
came more frequent. She poured her
story in broken words into his sympa.
thizing ears, but he told her nothing of
the will. Often his heart WAS wrung
by thoughts Of her possible future dss-
titution. Her children would be pro-
vided for, but poor Juana! Dreadful
would bs her suffering when she should
be left at the mercy of drunken, pen
niless wretch. "Oh, God Almighty,
show me the right thing to do! 1
shall go mad if continue much longer
to see her suffer without the power to
comfort or relieve. I cannot! I will
not! must settle it with him! He
must pay the penalty of his crimes at
my hands!" and as black cloud gath
cred on his handsome face he contin-
ued, "Or, by the holy Virgin, I'll bury
my knife to the hiltin his black heart!
Holy mother of God, help me to do
my duty quickly; must go away; I
l must for her sake or do that, which
would only bring her into more trouble
and finally separate US forever in dark
ness and despair! Again I ask thee,
oh God, to help mel"
"Romero, are you i'll? You look 30
dreadful and are so pale" said sweet
voice, bending over him and cRressing
his shiny black locks with tender,
gentle touch. He was lying on the
lounge in Juana's room, trying to solve
the problem. His head reeled and his
brain burned when he tried to think
about it. Romero made no reply, but
closed his eyes to shut out the tears
that came unbidden. Juana leaned
over and kissed his hot brow, and as
her soft eyes gazed into his he longed
to take her in his arms, even though
she belonged to another. He longed
to carry her away and place her in a
happy home, to be forever by his side,
but the voices of the children In the
next room restrained him. Then again
he thought of the doting old Don An
tonic, who lived only for her sake, and
he dare not break the old mans heart
by such an act. Besides, Juana would
stay with her husband. because she be-
lieved that as her duty-and in those
days divorces we're unknown in this
country-because, as her father had
chosen her husband, she felt that she
must stay with him until death.
Suddenly Romero was aroused from
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