Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-08-03

llOulDR eyes IOllOWtu MN, anu nc
paused, saying; What must be done
may as well be done to-day" and dis
appeared.
Marcella scarcely heard the re-
Proaches of her mother, SO intent was
she upon her bitter meditation. Even
Mariana was forgotten for the moment.
1t was only Jose, her lost and dearly
loved brother, who dwelt in her
thoughts.
Ii might have been ten minutes be-
fore Saliva appeared again, pale and de
termined. He spoke fast and low.
The captain general has been to the
harbor without an escort. He is even
now on his way to the palace. There
fore-time is precious. In half an hour
the sun will be set"
you calculate finely, Moriano. Your
shot will fall Immediately before sun
set and-then-the darkness viii swal-
low YOU" she whispered.
In vain were the senora's entreaties.
With a gentle tenderness he led her
back TO the sofa. do not hold yourself
responsible for this in any way,
senora-nor anyone else. 1t is entirely
my own will which decides the mat
ter"
Marcella stood near the door as he
passed, and through some unaccount-
able impulse she held out her hand to
him. He grasped il with a sudden
ferceness, but into the fire of his'eyes
there stole look which left her pale
and trembling after he was gone.
Mother" she whispered, her eyes
wide and dark as night, what"
Here she broke of and went into the
adjoining room, a feyerish haste in all
her movements. When she returned her
whole form was enyeloped in a sort Of
dark tunic.
do not be anxious, mother. / will
be back soon" she said, hurriedly.
Rapidly she walked along until she
reached the corner of the Gale del
Ray Here she stood irresolute. The
sun was quite low, and the streets were
somewhat deserted. Most of the
houses also were empty, the inhab-
tants having left the capital. Marcella
hurried on.
Suddenly, upon turning another cor
ner, she saw but single man few
steps ahead. Ii was Saliva. just then
he stopped; and, lest he should discover
her, Marcella retreated into an open
door, where she could observe his move
ments unseen.
Her ear caught the sound of horses
hoofs in the distance. At the same time
she saw Mariana also disappear within
the nearest doorway. Not a soul re-
NAMED m the street. The rider mean
while was approaching. Mareella COW
cred her face with her hands and
listened TO the horses feet coming near
er-nearer, and a tremor ran through
her frame. "It is Blanco, and yonder-
Mariana is-waiting," was the one
clear thought that ran through her
mind How was IL all TO end? With
Moro Castle OF wedding-day? And her
feverish brain pictured Mariana amid
the terrible night and solitude of the
dungeon. From its depths his eyes
seem TO fash at her with an ominous
fire and a look-not of accusation-but
of scorn and mockery.
She shuddered. She lifted her eyes
and took step forward, only TO fall
back against the wall in terrified 81
lence. She stared wildly at the horse
man directly opposite her. She wanted
10 cry out. to move-rush at the rider
and stop him in his path; but her
tongue failed her, and her feet refused
70 go.
The captain general rode on in quiet
unconcern. His brow was thoughtful
His ewes were bent upon the ground.
Once he looked up and, as if aware OF
the lateness of the hour, gently urged
his horse to a faster pace.
"Now he has passed him." flashed
through Marcella's mind. She ven
tured out Of her hiding-place TO keep
Mariana in view. She saw him leaning
against the doorpost not far away, his
eyes turned upon Blanco few steps
past him.
With heart wildly beating she waited
for Salva's next move in an agony of
suspense. Her eyes dilated as she saw
him raise his gun. His right hand
how she watched it-seemed TO become
fixed at certain point. Now-now!
Like a noiseless whirlwind she
rushed down to the silent man. With
all her force she caught his arm-a shot
an outcry-the galloping of horses
fe.t-and two dark figures fed on into
the blackness Of night; for the sun was
set. Marcella gasped. Her body
,rembled violently. But for Mariano's
arm she would have sunk TO the ground,
and he stopped, holding her close. She
felt the wild throbbing of his heart
against her own. and, in a reaction of
feeling, she buried her head upon his
shoulder and burst into tears. Perhaps
IL was his consciousness of possible
danger which prompted him TO press
her head close to him that her sobs
might be smothered.
mariana. Mariana, | am so glad. she
whispered.
Because the charge went into the
nirP" he whispered back. "And what