Warren sheaf., 1899-11-09

| True, the removal of the tons Of solid
timber which supported the masonry
was most dangerous; but the coolness
of the architect, who had vowed to
stand on the keystone and stake his
life on the result, treasured everyone.
The solemn office of the blessing of
the bridge was appointed for the fol-
lowing day, and the bells Of all the
churches of Toledo were ringing in
announcement of the coming event,
when Juan climbed to the central arch
to see that all was ready for the open
ing ceremony. He went about singing
under his breath an old ballad as he.
inspected the different preparations.
Suddenly he stopped and a strange
expression stole over his face. At the
very height of his triumph a thought
had struck him which turned his blood
cold. Without saying word to anyone
he descended from the platform and
fastened home.
Try as he would he could not hide his
agitation from his wife. His tell-tale
looks betrayed him.
Are you i'll, Juan?'' she asked, anx-
iously. @
NO." he answered.
''Sit down by the fire and will get
the supper ready. When you have
eater. and rested you will, be yourself
again. - X
He obeyed her, likea a man in dream.
She stole to his side and laid her hand
gently on his shoulder.
stE>o,, bo frc+ +;,,o
life you are keeping sorrow from me.
Am no longer worthy of your conf
dence?"
''Katrine!" T. y.
''Tell me what it isl she persisted.
II shall have no peace until know the
worst %g# s.z5
1T is hard to reveal the truth, dear,
but sooner or later you will have to
learn it, so why not now? Then hear
me. Tomorrow life and honor-an that
1 prize most but you-will be lost. The
bridge must fall into the river, and I
shall perish with it.''' WY
''No, no." she cried, clasping him in
her arms in"the anguish of the revela-
ton. TEt& " g# sSE E& ~
IL
most confident of my success, I have
discovered an error in my calculations,
and that one error will ruin every
thing - r .'f +7' s.s.s'& ,~-t p.
"The bridge may sink into the waters,
but not you, Juan. On my knees will
beseech the lord cardinal to release
you from your engagement '"& j.
~ NJ
pledged. What is even life without
honor?' "-'.t lH,. .er.~s
you shall have life and honor both.
Trust me. But it is growing dark;
lie down now and Sleep ,s.t.,.f7'@ .
He was worn out with grief and anx-
iety, and soon sank into a slumber as
placid as child's. Meanwhile his wife
sat by the bedside watching him. The
hours wore on, the city spires chimed
midnight, and then the silence was
broken by the roll of distant thunder.
She opened the window and looked
out. The night was intensely dark, but
now and again vivid flashes of light
ming lit up the sky.
She put her face between her hands
and thought awhile, then, closing the
window noiselessly, walked on tiptoe to
the fireplace. From the hearth she
took a half-burnt and still smoldering
brand, slipped a cloak over her shoul-
ders, and glided forth like a shadow
into the deserted streets. .
Whittier was she going? Was that
brand to serve as a torch, lighting her
path through the darkness? On she
sped, straight as an arrow, along the
dangerous track covered with broken
powders, Uttered with fragments of
masonry, with the reek and rubbish
of building material, to fall at last,
painting for breath, under the center
arch of the new bridge.
-, A quick shudder convulsed her from
head to foot. She was on the edge of an
abyss of seething waters. A tremen-
dous peal of thunder at that moment
resounded far and wide.
Hardly had it passed when she rose
to her feet, blew the brand fercely to
kindle it afresh, and with a firm and
steady hand applied it to the dry wood
of the scaffolding. The wood ignited
instantly; the flame spread, famed by
the wind; it grew and mounted with
fearful rapidity, involving arches and
framework and the whole structure in
one binding sheet of fire.
Then she turned and fled. Guided by
the glare and the lightning flashes, she
traversed again the space which sep
arated her from husband and home. He
was still sleeping as she had left him. A
few momentsla later there rose sound of
fnntstans and shn1ltincr WI thin the citv