Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-02-02
THE
CRUISER

/. BURL1NGAME ROSS

she knows enough to parley with me any
more here. Hurry out and find a car.
riage Of some sort as soon as possible"
San Benito hurried out and had the
good fortune to find carriage just pass.
ing. He hailed the driver, and In few
moments more the insensible form Of
Irene was lifted In. When our heroine
came to herself she found Cassandra
bending over her.
Have I drcamed?" she whispered,
shuddering fearfully as she spoke.
Look up--loOk up" Cassandra return.
cd. "Alas! cannot even weep for your
Irene started up and gazed around
She found herself in well furnished
apartment, but differently furnished from
any she was ever In before. In few
moments the whole dread truth came
back to her mind; and as soon as she re-
membered all, she sank back upon the
sofa and groaned in bittercst anguish.
In a few moments more st. Mare came
In. He had probably heard the voices,
and knew that Irene had recovered. She
sat up as he entered, and would have
fallen ut his feet, but he detected the
symptoms of her movement, and waved
her back.
"My child" he said. "you know all that
has passed, SO l shall have only to tell
you Of the future. You know Martin San
Bcnito. You know he has long been one
of my warmcst friends, and that. but for
my solemn pledge to Jilok Tudcl, should
have given him your hand ere this. But
I am now released from all pledges to
Tudel, and can hence bestow this mark
Of my esteem upon San Benito. You will
become his wife ere we leave this place.
Now. mark me; this Is fixed, aud 1t can
not he altered"
A few moments Irene sat and gazcd her
father In the face, and then she clasped
her hands.
I'm the name Of heaven all just and
mcrciful," she cried, II bcsccch you to
spare me. Look upon me, my father, and
see me here weak and defenselcss. How
have ever harmed you, or how wronged
you, that you should thus curse the morn
Of my life? o, spare me! Spare me this
dread blow, and Ill bless thee while life
lasts"
"rrene," returned the man, very coolly
and calmly-like the breath Of a still
| morning In winter-"you have pleaded all
you need to plead. You have escaped
me once. and thereby threw mo into a
scrapc from which l narrowly escaped
with my life; but you cannot escape me
again. am determined now. AX-were
all the prayers of all the saints at this
moment presented to me In behalf Of your
request they would not move me an atom.
| You will be married to San BenitO to.
morrow. I am determined not to hold
| you long; and IL you escape again 1t must
| lao, In Ian IL. 80
not NINE"
"And must It be tomorrow" the maid.
en- murmured.
AS sure us tomorrow comes, 1t shall"
"No hope! no mercy"'
"Yes-both. II YOU will be wise. as l
Am, and take the things OF earth as they
come, you'll have hope and mercy
enough"
II would die powv'
II won't disturb you more now. my
child. 1t Is growing late, and you may
like to be alone. But rcmembcr--yOu
become wife tomorrow, just us sure az
the sun rises again."
And with these words Antonio st.
Mare left the room. When he was gone
Irene threw herself upon Cassandra' i
bosom and groaned aloud. She could no,
weep now. The shock was too deep-tOo
dreadful. And what could her faithful
companion say to comfort her? She could
only point to heaven.
20, Clarence! Clarcnce" murmurcd the
stricken one, "whcre art thou nOwY Shal
not see thee once more ere the frall ant
brittle cup of life passes from mey'
A few moments after this the nader
remained quiet, and then looking up int,
Cassandra's face, she said:
"And Calypso--where Is shcY'
II think she went out to meet Captain
Howard" returned the girl. "She di,
not say so, exactly, when she went away
but I thought from what she did sa,
that she feared he might not know exact
~ which way to turn, 50 she went out I,
meet him."
20. wish she were here; think ever
she might help me-"
"Then let us hope that she may come
Ay-that they both may come"
But Tomorrow. Cassandra-O, to
morrow"
II know; but between now AMI then
smart horse might easily travel frOIl
here to the capital. Ay, Buonevedeo cam
from the capital to this place In ten hour
upon only one housekeeping there II
midnight, and reaching here ut tel
o'clock on the next day."
20, IL dared to hope! But alas! wha
can they do IL they Gomez"
not answer; so her foundation for hop
was blown to the winds.