The Newtown bee., 1899-10-20

avowol to her, by letter, of his desire to marry her. He he Id very good position. being st the head of one of the principal business houses in Madrid. Carmen aud Ciriaca resolved to give this proposal their serious consideration, but they were care ful not to let the curate take part in their deliberations. They had not told him uf their interview with the gypsy fortune teller, Knowing that he had To patience with things of that sort, and they felt only too sure that he would ioyfllly ac- cept the merchants proposal withC ut an y discussion. They shut thems elves up tcgetht T, and Carmen read aloud the let ter which she had received.
 What do you think of ?" she sked
 "Does the young man please You?'' in terrngated the housekeeper. "Yes," IT lied the other "he Is agree sbl' and good-lnoking. Yet you wouli act un V isely if you should marry him.''
 "Why ?'
 "Because no merchant Is worthy of 1 you.'
 "Apd what if don't find a better suitof?"
 But you know it has been promised | you that you wi l marry man in high position, minister at the very least.'
 And do you rally believe in the wo ds of the old ggpsy woman?:' asked the young girl.
 { ''I am just as sure that they will come true as l am that shall die," affirmed the other. If, when I was young, had believed in these predictions, as I believe in them now, l should not have remained unmarried A fortune teller examined the lines of my hand very carefully. .nd said to ne: Young ladq, you will hs va g suitor who will be an alcade.' Some .me after hat young man, whose name I did not know, asked my hand in maria ge But az he was not an alcade, or even an alguaz l., but only 8 poor shoemaker. I rAfuaed him, thinking the gypsy woman had been deceiving me. About a year later l went to see one of nv friends, and sse had just married f, r 4er suitnr, and his name turned out to be John AL cade. So you zee I never married be- cause l did not believe in the solemn D e. dfctions of the fortune teller" | II don't want to bave the same re- proach to make to myself" returned Car men, "and I am going to refuse this pro- posal. l ebould be indeed foolish to accept merchant when I can marry an excelleDcy."
 "That is we'll said, my child" applaud ed the old woman. II am glad to see you are girl of spirit and resolution" 1 Accordingly, Carmen refused the young merchants fer, and some time after treated in like manner two other letters which came from young men of the mid. de class.
 1 One morning, however, her urcl came to her with radiant countensnc., pro- claiming that he had great piece of news I to annouBce. -=.
 What is it, pray 2 she cried.
 "Well, then, my ambitious young lady," he replied. "your dreams are at length going to be realized; you can now ma ry man who is hundred times higher than tailor"
 What do you mean ?' asked the girl. "I mean" he answered, "that the cou Ut l of AIos Humos, whom you know by sight, has asked me for your hand in l marriage"
 "Really !' exclaimed Ca rmen and Girl sca together, carried away by common emotion, ,. L.
 Now at last it seemed certain that the l old gypsy's prediction was about to be fulfilled to the letter.
 1 And what answer did you give the count, uncle !" a ked the young girl. 1 II replied that must consult you, but that If you accepted his off should be 1 delighted on my part" You did well not to pledge yourself J I said Carmen. 'tThe count is your g l man of distinction ai wealth, it fs true but to speak frankly, hope to make & bett' match y yet." '@- Y
 'In the name of the Father and of the Son." protested the uncle; "you are eithe mad OF you are joking"
 ''No." interposed CiItaca, ssshe is not mad and she is not king. The count is l certainly very worthy young man, but 1 Carmen deserves still more exalted rank than that of countess.' aF "Be quiet, Mime Ciriaca," commanded the curate. s'It is you with your silly nonsense, who is turning my niece's head" "But. sir" protested the old woman, Il am only repeating what your sister ] often used toaay herself, that her daugh- ter was born to marry prince. Enough" interposed the curate, i "Carmen, my daughter, aIiswtr me. I hope you are more reasonable and that you cannot seriously think Cf rejecting the incredible good fortune which heaven sends you"
 sUnele, let me consider the matter 7 rsplied the girl. ssVerv well,o replied her uncle, ssI give you all day to decide. But to-mor- row morning must give the count an Rnswer.1
 In the evening Carmen and Cfriaca held another consultation and decided that the count distinguished though he was, was not the high dignitary prom ised by the fortune-tf Ter; f. after all he had no other employment than that of collecting his snts.
 On the followiDg morning the curate, filed with shame and indignation, went off to announce to the noble lover the re- jeetion of his suit.
 ".
 Alter this occurrence Carmen and the