The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-11

as spoke, and she turned her eyes full
OF question and reproach on me, as her
father spoke. Then the light came back
into her eyes till they shone like dia-
monds, and the hot blood flushed her
checks once more, as she exclaimed:
"Oh, father, save him from Tomaso. 1t
was for me he came"
The Don smiled as he looked down at
the troubled face of his only child, now
lifted 10 his in impassioned appeal;
then he frowned as the full difficulty OF
the situation came over him. "Ah!" he
exclaimed, 'you children--you chill
dren, But ] must think. This il not an
easy thing, look you, my young friend.
Margarita is right as 20 this Tomaso.
His father was employed by me for
years, and was faithful. but the son Is
dangerous. I would gladly have for
hidden him TO come here, but i knew it
would be unsafe. for he has the ear of
the aptain-general, by whom he is
trusted as an agent. Yet think not he
will willingly injure me il only" and
here smile broke up the gravity of
his face. "No, It is at you he will aim.
To may even be that he will represent
himself as having led you here; but how
10 save you-that is the question"
The Don went on slowly talking, as IL
thinking 10 himself. and, in spite of the
near concern had in his conclusions,
/ found myself stealing glances at
Margarita. who still ciung 10 her
fathers arm. as IL in the hope Of quick
enlng his interest on my behalf by the
soft touch OF her little hands on his
sleeve. He stopped and seemed 10 think
for a minute; and his daughter looked
round and frowned at me. when she saw
that my thoughts were not fixed on
what he had been saying, and shook her
head at me with a gesture Of warning.
"Yes," the Don began again, II could,
indeed, get you removed in vessel of
my own that leaves tonight, but, then,
how could we escape Tomaso? Then,
indeed, he would divulge our connection
and be revenged on us, even If he could
not also stop You.
Not for the world, Don Castellano,"
/ exclaimed. ''If anyone is to suffer, it
must be me, and me alone"
Margarita grasped her fathers arm
more tightly. and looked up into his
face, but she said nothing. The Don
held up his hand deprecatingly TO me.
"Stay," he said. "Stay, children. Why
is it that youth is ever SO hot and
hasty?" He paused again, and his eyes
rested on his daughters face for a mo-
ment. Then he spoke as il me had made
up his mind, at the same time laying his
hand softly on Margarita's glossy hair.
"Yes. il will be best so. In any case, we
must risk something. But there is not n
moment to lose. You will stay here
while / arrange for safe men to get .
boat ready TO GO of TO the Cabellero,
and you will be ready TO go the moment
1 return" he added, glancing quickly
at me and then at his daughter.
In another moment the worthy Don
had disengaged himself gently and left
the room. Can attempt IA tell what
passed between us? At first, indeed,
could not. If tried. All could do was
TO soothe. by such instructive means as
natural instinct supplies to lovers, of
touch and whispered word. which imply
so little and yet so much. my companion
full bitterness of the disappointment.
tried to talk Of the future, but the
present seemed TO swallow it up; tried
TO assure her that all would be we'll, but
che only shrank and trembled, as she
whispered. in little, futtcring accents:
"Guliano--oh, Julianoi"
"But. Rita. you will be true TO me
we will be true TO one another-and
then nothing can really part us. II is
only II you shall love another-net now,
of course, but at any time hereafter
that i should really lose YOU" She
shuddered and looked at me with eyes
full OF rcproach.
"Ah, not Tomaso." said; "I don't
mean anything so low as that. But
years, perhaps long years hence, II some
man--not n spy and traitor-should
>me: ah. then. Rita. IL Won should"
She seemed not 10 have heard the last
few words, for she drew herself erect
with sudden motion, and her eyes
seemed 20 fash and blaze.
"Tomaso!" She pronounced the name
with a bitterness of contempt and
hatred such ss / could not have sup
posed il possible TO throw into a single
word: "Tomaso! Spy--traitor-muI,
dere-! Name not the base creature in
my presence. ] nbhor myself now that
/ should ever have endured his hateful
presence hate him! shall hate him
cver!"
had been spcllhound by the in
tensity Of her passion, and perhaps a
little by her glorious eyes. secn in this
new light. and cannot imagine what
strong magnetic force it could have
been that had power 10 draw my eyes
from her face TO where. behind her,
yet 90 one side the window stood open
on thc piazza. There--there. framed in
the opening. the bright light on his face.
the dark background 81 the palms and