The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-02

rapping upon the barred door, Don |
Ramon, appareled as bravely as be- !
fore, singing softly a light song as
though all the world was happy and
serene, went straight from his apart
ment, through the court yard, through
the outer doorway and into the plaza,
with never look to the right or left
AS he went out his wife arose and
hurried to watch him from the little
window in the outside wall.
As Donna Dolores noted his manner,
his happy air, his debonair carriage,
his face unclouded by worry or anX-
iety, the little shadow that had crept
into her soul grew big and ominous;
it began to whirl, to turn and to twist
into hldeous shapes, monsters of doubt,
of suspicion, of Jealousy.
Stuzlg with the arrows of her
thoughts, Donna Dolores was quick to
act. Among her servants was an In
dian girl named Manuela, a stolid
creature, short. thick-set, ungraceful,
with little beads of eyes, whose ugli-
ness and dullnes were redeemed by
never-wavering devotion and unques-
tioning obedience to her mistress. This
girl was summoned and stood before
the lady.
'Manuela, asked Donna DOlOreS,
"have you noticed my husband to-
day?"
Eyes, my lady. He seems more gay
than he was"
Attend to me. He left the house
early last night. He stayed away
long time. DO you know where he
WASP"
Not me. 1 know he leave l not
know when he come back"
"Manuela, / want to know where he
was. He may go again tonight. If he
leaves this house, follow him. No mat
ter how far he goes, follow him, but
do not let him know. Watch where
he stops and wait there until he comes
back. Find out, If you can, what he
does, and then come back straight to
me here; will be awake and waiting
for you Say nothing about this to
! any one. l you do well what / tell you
| l will give you a red silk rebosa in the
| morning."
True enough, Don Ramon did leave
! again that evening, and, as he left, the
! silent-footed Indian stole out after him.
He came to the house of Pedro Vua-
Wis and entered, while Manuela hid in
the chaparral close by the window. A
minded it not. being Indian, and the
hours were frightened with the ever
present vision of that red silk rebosa.
But nothing shortened the weary
time for poor Donna Dolores. She sat
within her room near a window, dark
silhouette against the gray night out
side, still and motionless as the dim
shapes of the furniture. There was no
q w
tiny flame Illuminated the gilded dec
orations Of an image of the holy virgin,
Star after star rising in the east, peep
ed within the window at the lonely
dgure there, and. mounting from
square to square of the bars, passed
on to look at happier things; when the
first of these had reached the zenith OF
the high heavens Don Ramon came
home, whistling again as though tc
care and ills a stranger
Then Manuela came, as though fig.
gure formed from the night shadows
and stood before her mistress.
well, Manuela," asked Donna Dol.
ores, "where did he go What did ht
do?"
Il follow him." said the girl; che &c
to where Pedro Vuavis and his daugh
ter, Angelita live. He go in l wal
outside. / hear talk. / hear laugh.
hear music play. l hear Angelita sing
! hear the commandante sing. ! wal
long, long time. Then the command
ante he come to the door with Angelita
sse them stand there in the ligh
and he kiss her. They laugh, and thel
he comes away"
1t was but a fatherly kiss upon tn
girls pure forehead that Manuela saw
but kissing conveyed no shades of emo
tions in the Indians impressions.
You may 60" said Donna Dolores
hardly able to control her voice. "Yol
shall have your rebosa in the morn
r ing"
And when the girl had gone this un
: happy, tortured woman flung hersel
) | down in front of the altar and erie,
out in the bitterness of her anguish.
l In the morning, when the SERVING
women came to wait upon Donna Dol
u ores they found her sitting by tn
S window. They noticed her face wa
S very pale and drawn, and that her eye
n were very bright; that she had sat u
: all the night, for her bed was undisturb
ed. Being women, no doubt down i
s their secret hearts they thought abou
I these things, but, being servants, the
y held their peace. And down in the fold
T Of the gown upon their lady's bosoi
: was something they did not see ]
l they had it would have added intensit
e to their thoughts. The thing whic
5 nestled there was a dagger doubl
edged, pointed like a needle, and wit
II a Curiously carved ivory handle. Prett
|, as a love token it was, and evil as
p serpent's fang.
n And Don Ramon went from his oual
i ters again, gay as the gayest, with
e new song upon his lips-he had learne
e it the night before; something abou
the cruelty of lovely maidens and no,
y true lovers hearts Were bleedin,
J. Splendidly was he acting his part. N
Is better dissembler ever hid his fee
1t ings. Slowly across the plaza he war
e. wered, stopping here and there
S, speak with priest or layman. II
lie saw Angelita among the women
lie the well drawing water. He hastene
rs over to her, saluted her as thoue
ID she were some high-born lad
of the court, laughingly pushe
s. her aside, drew the water hin
ID self, filled her jar, and then paused
le have a word with her As he locke
a upon her face he saw that face gro
l. gray with fear; he saw the eyes di
In tend, the lips part with a scream al
rs Angelita turn and fly as though
- startled doe had heard the fierce cl
of hound in the bush beside her. ]
she ran he heard tumult behind hi
and turned. Well for him he did. H
wife was upon him, her eyes blazin
1, 1. L., s.l,.l