La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-10-08
DISENCHANTMENT.

granddaughter decision, he WAS very
much disI leased. but yet it was. In the
main, the surprise which irritated him
How was he to explain to himself this
sudden willful rupture which would put
an end to marriage arranged to the en-.
tire satisfaction of two families and. above
all, of the lovers themselves What had
passed between thems What had actuntcd
this step on the part of tho young girlf
Considering her intelligence, goodness
and discretion, thought the poor old man
undoubtedly 1t was = grave and sufficient
cause So the good gentleman, irritated
by this turn Of affairs and spurred on by
affection, determined to know the truth
Throwing aside the newspaper that he was
holding In his hand and onfronting his
daughier-in- law, who had just given him
the disagreeable news, he inquired:
"Is she In her roomf"
'Ycs. senior; finishing her toilet. so
that We may go out for walk in the air
Heard you ever the likc,'' replied the
mother. with an expression OF utter dis
gust
ITO walk-tho same day that this scan
dal has occu rreds"
'.Just as you hear
Then shall spcak to her Do you go
drst. tell her she may expect me and leave
Us alone"
In a few moments and in a very bad
humor. though without losing his outward
calm, Don Luis entered the apartment Of
his granddaughter. where everything WAS
extremely simple, but In which there wns
nothing great or small but revealed to the
most casual observer the wealth of the
family and tho exquisite taste of the girl.
The walls were covered with u delicate
tapestry. almost pure white, with tiny
Rarlnnds OF roses and bnda running In
slender lines from ceiling to floor; the fur
niture was Upholstered with the same and
the carpet very light in tone. On the
Mantel stood clock Of antique porcelain
between two tall, slim Venetian glasses.
filed with white chry The
little accessories Of tho toilet table were Of
cut glass and /, ,ory benring monogram and
crest. and upon the table ieside . Sevrcs
vase and an elegant workbox there were
thrce photographs. two recent ones Of the
parents Of the young girl and one. yel.
lowed with time, OF Don Luis In the uni
form OF lieutenant general. his breast Gov
ered with crosses and the medal Of Africa
The little senorita was seated on . low
chair fastening the buckles Of her shoes.
whom. observing the entrance Of Don Luis,
abe instantly sprang to her feet, darted to
his side, and, putting her arms about him
exclaimed with the utmost Tenderness:
Little grandfather, dearest, why hast
thou climbed up herei was just going tc
thy room When do ever go out without
first going to give theo a kissY"
The two faces. pressed close together in
an affectionate embrace, wero a marked
contrast. Tho old mans still bore amid
its wrinkles the traces Of an arrogant
youth. and the beautiful girl Of go sum
Mers. kissing him tenderiy. appeared eager
to impart TO him something of her own
abundant life and freshness. But present
ly Don Luis. recollccting What had brought
him to bis grandchild's ROOM, disengaged
himself with gentle frmness. aud. en-
deavoring to assume n tone OF great sever
ity, though with little success. said con
fusedly:
"But what 10 thiss What has happened.
Thinkest thou men are puppets that thou
canst play withs Dost know the scandal
thou has causedf In It nothing II at at
this moment all Madrid is talking Of us
and blaming thee. God knows howg'
do not Ls vexed with me. little grand
father
But to. appear so flcklei With the
house nearly ready, the presents made
and to break it In this manneri What arc
people going to thinks"
'.Oh, have cause!'
nht OuAt tuOu 10 OlY
It appear to thee that young man of an
ago proportionate to thine. Of good family.
handsome. rich and disposed to marry
thee Ii q thing to be encountered every
dayf What has he done to theer Who has
broken, he or thouy''
He has done nothing TO me, and a. for
the breaking, have done 1t all .
''Sensible girli''
"What wouldst thou. little grandfatherf
We may be intimate with persons for
months, whole years, believing that we
know them, and suddenly we find they
have deceived u, and we knew them mot
at all Better to learn the truth while
there u yet time
but has he done anything ugiyY
Knowest thou anything dishonornbley''
"A little thing. which to me signifies
much. Some people will say have made
myself ridiculous am satisfed that
have done right But, come here-ct,ne
and do not quarrel with me till you know
ALL
She said this between smiles and tears
but with much earnestneas; then drew an
armchair near the chimney, where a cou-
pie Of logs were cracking, made Don Luis
accommodate himself therein, and one
moment seating herself on his kners. the
next pacing the door, she spoke thus:
Handsome, rich, Of good family, all
this h true. and, moreover, confess
loved him. And nevertheless have bro
ksn with him for little thing, for son,s
thing which for many women would have
NO Significance and represent nothinG"-
.But WHAT Relate itr'
'.You know already that We have been
In lore for more than year and . half
Il Ill began soon after papa bought this
houA From the windows Of this room
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