St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-04-26
THE BRIDGE OF
ELOPEMENT.
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How Figured In the Court.
snip Of Two Mexican Lovers.

How II Figured In the Court.
snip Of Two Mexican Lovers.
\ NSELMO REJANO grew weary {
n Beatrice's reckless mind. "Giv
me some little soft thing" muttere
no.
And eatrice wrote him thus:
Without love I prefer to die. What /
the husk Of life good for? Just two thing
are worth while. Without. them-cut tn
cord and have done. They are love an
money. But false fire may yet keep u
life; and this is the false fire, that kno,
You love some other woman. Beatrice.
He was sick of that. He went t.
the stables of his father, the ric]
mayor of Silao, and ordered his hes
horse saddled. He rode up the gorg'
to Guanajuato, and arrived in tina
city of crags and silver in the even
ing as the moon rose. Behind him
unseen, had ridden some one else
following.
The street over which hung the bal
cony of little Soledad, the daughter
OF Guanajuato's governor, was SIX
feet wide. Soledad's window was on
the third floor; she was young, ten.
der, and amorous. Her father, Senior
Sedano, a man of immense wealth and
power, was as violent as rich, more
Jealous than powerful. She longed
for men. He, fearing one might car
~ her off, had guard go round his
house all night, for the house occu-
pied block by itself, and the gov
ernor was morbidly cautious.
Under this balcony in the moon
light rode Anselmo, muffled up. The
guard, who at least could not prevent
his stopping there, walked round and
round, passing Anselmo every five
minutes. In the intervals the youth
said: "Soledad! What can do? Just
die-aching for you? No, there is
way to get you'll"
She rustled whitley up there in the
balcony, trembling, and said: II love
you. I want to fly away with you.
But wouldn't they kill us, Anselmo?"
ITO be killed together is to live.
This building opposite has window
facing yours. All the balconies of
both houses, save those of the third
stories, are barred. But yours, and
the opposite one are open. Did you
know, Soledad, that your father owns
this other building, too?"
NO." she called down softly, ex-
cited. "What are you going to do?'
He laughed. II have rented it from
him! Ha! Ha! You are my crescent
moon up therein a white cloud! 1 |
can scarcely speak, have rented it.
The keys will be mine tomorrow; the
window opposite your own-six feet
from you-will be mine tomorrow"
She sighed with long rapture. He
heard her lips make the faint sound
Of kissing; and, not daring to stay
longer, she withdrew. He rode away.
Ind Beatrice, now on foot, crept
round the corner, where, dressed like
} street-yender, she had crouched and
heard.
The following morning lady, beau
;ifully appareled, was ushered into
he presence OF the Guanajuato gov
'rnor. Sedano's beardless face was
hat of an acrid, violent man.
"Who are you? Sit down." he said.
II am Beatrice Negrete, daughter
+ your dead comrade.''
"Ah, you look like him-the same
eckless eyes,"
''Senor Sedano, you have rented q
ouss to the son of the mayor Of :,
ilao. Didn't you know, discrimina-
Ing parent, that young Rejano is in s
I'VE with Soledad?"
What" cried Sedano, leaping up in
1ry. How do you know? Drop your r
7
He will run away with her; I heard
i'm tell her so,' she said, coolly. 3
He sat down, inhamed and bewil- /
cred. "Bah!" he cried, grasping at t
straw, "you have some grievance. e
his is only a lie told to harm him!" v
She laughed a low, continuous d
ugh. Here is little proof" she d
i'd. He received and read this spas fl
odic note in Soledad's writing: W
-Soledad-love!' No Il
ore. 7
Where did you get this? The son n
that plebeian upstart in Silao!" s,
"Never mind. Listen. You are X,
ltching scheme to put him out of y,
e house. Too late. You trusted
y father; trust me. I have been h
urned by Anselmo. I am cynic W
hen it comes to the husks of life. hi
our desires are equal. This is the bi
IN you will follow. You need in A
evidence. Such you can IL
t get unless you let them hatch the TT
,poment. give you woman's p,
'rd that will learn his plans. When m
. hour arrives you shall be there
th witnesses, to catch him in the
= Soledad is so young that you
vc, then, the law against him and vo
a ruin him. As for her-it will not ha
RI her; she is too little; the world da
q love her the more-the world al pr
vs. does. Are there two keys to gr
? Of the doors?"
The two rear ones" tn
Then keep those duplicates. An br
mo will not know" tel
But how can you learn the plan2" sei