The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-03-14
1Fe :, 3paDish e Teaso'e'
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A NOVEL.
@p NQrs. elizabeth G. @inter.
cAsTELAR4
ROBERT SeNs3
A NOVEL,.
nv N1rs. elizabeth G. @inter.
CHAPTER XII.
isabella cAsTELAR.l J
CONTINUED.

CHATTER A1l'd
CONTINUED.
".she might be feigning this acci-
lent, and they were notyet so far away
but she could summon her subjects
% her aid ii once assured that ne
meant to deceive her. They were
probably all asleep by this time' but
In any case it was safer to return ana
see what had befsllen her
Reluctantly, but with every ap-
pearance of affectionate solicitude,
Mendoza retraced his steps, calling
her softly with endearing words as ne
neared the PROSTATE figure. He found
Anaoaona lying full length on the
ground, stiff and rigid, her features
set, her upturned eyes wide open and
anwinking, and from her lips came a
voice that was not hers, muttering
words that caused cold chills to shake
him like an ague. She had been over
;aken by the mysterious trance; and,
although he feared to look on her, ne
was safe from her at least for the
present. But how long would it hold
ner? Dare he leave her so? Would
it not be far safer TO-
sHis hand sought his dagger and
drew it forth.
"'The dead alone never return.
''That was the thought in his mind;
that thought, in those same words,
became the motto Of Robespierre three
centuries later; but that only proves
how universal is the. sentiment.
"No iend of the French Revolution
ever looked more devilish than Men
doza looked then, as he stood feeling
the edge of his dagger, and looking
down upon the rigid face OF his Indian
wife.
"'Pedro!' she said; but the voice
was Juanita's, thou hast broken my
heart Thou hast killed me! Must
she die, too?'
with scream of rage that was
broken by superstitious fear, the man
staggered back, but mocking laugh
seemed borne past him on the air. He
raised the dagger and held it poised
above the heart Of the unconscious
woman.
1.-The dead return not; only the
dead never return to plague us, he
nuttered. .Fiend! Demon! Pos
sessed one! Die! Dier And the
dagger descended through the poor,
loving, faithful heart, whose only sin
had been to love this monster, who
had to her appeared divine.
"Again and again, as if he thirsted
TO slay hundred lives, the miscreant
stabbed her, while the crimson cur
rent flowed ont till it reached his feet.
Assured then that she was dead past
all doubt, he wiped the dagger on her
mantle, returned it to his belt and
sped onward up the mountain, nor
paused for breath till he had reached
The spot he sought.
''He did not find the rubies on the
instant, but he knew that he should
6ad them. The daylight was quite
gone now, and ut this altitude the air
seemed to have light of its own. 1t
was a glorions tropical summer night,
and perhaps on these mountainous
it was never dark. Anyway, he knew
he should find the rubies. He was
down on his hands and knees, feeling
about for them, digging in the ground
for them. All, yes, he would have
them soon!
"What was that?
Something shook him and flung
him from the place just as his hand
- had touched them. Herose and stag,
gering wildly wondered why he could
not stand-why the whole place
seemed shaking and trembling.
"With an oath, he rushed toward
the spot where, as he knew, the rubies
were waiting for him.
"Ah! What was that flaming,
luminous cloud that rose in front Of
him, causing his blood to curdle and
his teeth to chatter, while his eyes
seemed set and starting from THEN
sockets with nameless horror? The
misty whiteness of that cloud took the
form and outline of Anacaona's white.
draped figure, while its flaming bright.
ness gathered into one spot from which
looked out the luminous brow and
glowing eyes of his murdered wife.
The shrek of a madman burst from
Mendoza's lips; then crying out
Ghost! Devil! Woman! I care not
what thou art! Thou canst not frighten
nc! The dead do not return and the
rubics are mine' he rushed forward
and flung himself into the flaming
cloud, that now rose higher, broadefl
kissing with fury and hurling forth
stones, fire, steam and ashes through
the Dir. There was deep, rumbline
noise, hideous roar as Of worl1
crashing asunder; the mountain
yawned wide in its terrible awaken
ing. and down through its open jaws
sank Pedro Mendoza, swallowed up in
darkncss black and horrible as his OWE
mlscre..ut heart?"
CHAPTER XIII.