Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-11-29

come to me. I am not glad of the we
come of a coward"
All through the weary days of starvs
ton In the foul village to the mort
and in the purple forests around
she had sighed to press the lips of thi
same coward; had vowed eternal fealt
at the throne Of his picturesque pei
sonality; had breathed fervent caresse
that the free evening air might waf
them over the intrenched heads Of tn
sullen armies to the vine clad balloon
where he was used to sit in the moon
| light. On the hot road homeward sh
had thrilled with joy that each heav,
step brought forward the time of bliss
full meeting and that each moment wa
messenger from the day when the,
should walk between their wealth o
| friends down the long cathedral aisle
Then had come the pair Of gray eyes
and the vaunted will Of the Cozenza
| had melted away like care at twilight.
| The face Of the youth became scarle
| as his sash, then white as his palm
| 1t is not the habit OF Latin to con
troll his passions. rather he cultivatel
them to ferceness, but Jose choket
| back his fury. Perhaps the sunken
pallid face of the girl suggested physi
! cal or mental unbalarce-perhaps b.
had learned diplomacy. Again he helt
| out his hands.
"Come, Manuela, these troublous
| times are passing, and well be happy
again as when we stroIled through the
groves by the harbor. Say a kind word
1t will warm your heart and brighten
mine. Say that you are glad to see
me-"
His tones were soft, his glances ten.
der.
But the girl knew not restraint if the
youth did. She spurned the outstretch-
ed hand with her own. A heavy gold
ring fell from her thin finger and rolled
away in the dust. She looked at it q
moment, half stopped to pick it up,
then turned and walked away. She
gave the youth nc word. The white
and red of his cheeks changed into
each other like a struggle between
right and wrong. Right finally tri-
umphed, for, although mpttering in a
rage Of anger, jealousy and humilia-
ton, he picked up the bang of gold.
He wiped the dust off gently, touched
the ring close to his lips and put it In
his pocket. He had put 1t on her finger
under the stars one night.
When Trooper Mills rode into the
city next day, but one thought animat-
ed his mind. Letters from his mother
and his sweetheart were in the bag of
mail he was to take to camp from the
postofice, and he wanted to get back
to quarters as quickly as possible to
secure them. So Trooper Mills clatter-
ed gayly through the street.
He glanced into a barred window.
His clear gray eyes met the startled
gaze Of two shining black ones. Grasp
ing the curtains did not keep Manuela
from falling down from the easement.
She heard the horse come to an abrupt
halt, then sharp rattle of iron on
stone as he was turned abruptly and
the quick, short steps which were
bringing him toward the window Air
seemed to have stopped circulating.
Her breath would hardly come as she
drew herself to her feet.
A shadow came through the window
as rough hand grasped an iron bar.
Next said a hearty voice:
''Is this the little woman l gave some
thing to eat yesterday? I'm glad to see
you again. 1t was the devil of time
you people had out yonder, and hope
another won't come like 1t. You are
all right now and will soon be as fat
and pretty as ever again. Well, good
by; l must hurry on. Hope to see you
again"
And the echoes of hoof beats soon
died away in the distance. Certainly
such q speech as that is not calculated
to overturn the common sense of rea-
sonable girl. There is in it nothing ar
dent nor inspiring, but Manuela's heart
was too big for her body before the
sound of it was out Of her ears. She
leaned on the easement for support.
Quickly her body became rigid, and all
the passion of her soul surged up. Jose
had come from out the house opposite,
and the house was not his home. His
eyes were malignant as he stepped into
the narrow street and followed after
the horseman.
Manuela followed him with intent