The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-02-15

ssNo, nor' she exclaimed, hastily
"Don say that-you only make me more
miserable. Oh, Heavenl how can bear
this? 1 am to blame | am to blamel |
have been cruel-heartless Tell me that
you despise me-that you would crush me
beneath your feetl Anything anything
would be better than your blessing! can
not cannot bear that. y And she
sobbed aloud.
was mystiied by her words
"You are mistaken, | said soothingly.
sHow have you been to blame?
II cannot let you 60 until | have told
you," she answered between her sobs.
s'I must tell you the whole story, and,
when you know how cruel false and have
been, you will not call blessing on me, but
curse the day you first met me. Listen,
she continued s.When you made my
fathers acquaintance he was on the eve
of bankruptcy, having lost nearly all he
had in visionary schemes for making more
money. He found out that you were pos
sessed of large fortune. He then laid a
scheme to entice you into speculation with
him. Don Mariana, who also squandered
a fortune in extravaganza and unlucky
speculations was the prime mover in the
plot to get your money. Fearing they
could not be successful with the scheme,
they at last hit on the idea of making me
a partner in the plot. You were to be
brought to my father house, and | was
to endeavor to fascinate you, to win your
love, gain your confidence, and aid them
in winning your fortune. That was the
plan. You were then to be set adrift and
| was to marry Don Mariana, to whom l
was betrothed in childhood. How the
plot has worked need not tell you. The
mine you bought and paid fortune for is
worse than worthless When [ consented
to the plot, | had never seen you. only
knew that you were foreigner, whom we
had right to prey upon. | had entered
into the plot against my will, and, when |
had met you, / tried to persuade them to
give up their designs on you; but it was
no use, and now they are laying another
plot to rob you of the remainder of your
fortune. My engagement with Don Mar
iano was to be kept secret from you un
til their work was accomplished. lie on
ly visited the place by night, or when you
were away. | could not stand by and see
this go on and not tell you. Now that
you know all, | know that you will hate
and despise me-
| was startled beyond measure by this
revelation. What dupe l had beenl
A wild tumult of revengeful and angry
emotions rose in my bosom. could not
speak for several moments. | turned my
ewes on her. Her head was bent forward
and she was weeping bitterly. In spite Of
everything, | was moved by her tears. |
forgot all in that moment-forgot how |
had been injured forgot the part she had
played in the plot against me. | thought
only of one thing-that was in the pres
ence of this woman and she was in dis
tress Nothing could have tempted me
to say one harsh word to her. | stopped
down and lifted up her head and looked
into her -dimmed eyes.
II forgive you freely, [ said.
She did not reply, but | felt her hand
close gently on mine.
"Mercedes, | said ''we must not
talk of W hat is past. Let it go. What
have lost or suffered need give you no
pain. | have still as much of this world s
goods as | shall ever need Oh care to have.
| If what | have lost will contribute to your
comfort in any way, | am content. Ii L
could only call you mine-if you could
ever know how love you
II do know do know, she sobbed.
''I could never be worthy of such love.
Mercedes, 1 said, 81 know it is best
for me to go away; but before go | want
to ask you one question: If you were
free tonight, would there be hope for me-?
[ felt her hand tremble in mine.
"Yes-yes, she answered, "there
would-be hope; | love you now better
than my lifer'
clasped her in my arms and pressed
kiss after kiss on her pale lips.
s'Then why will you stay here 7?
asked, eagerly. "Why not leave this
place forever? Why not go with me?
My darling, my darling, tell me that you
will-tell me that you will be mine-te
love and protect--mine forever!
"Oh, my lowell cannot dare notl
They would kill mel she answered, in
agonized and despairing voice.
"My love-" I said, ''listen: We can
leave here tomorrow night; we can soon
reach the city, where we can be united, and
be on our way to the United States before
our fight is discovered, and, once across
the line, we are safe.
[ waited breathlessly for her reply.
| She was silent. Then she looked up into
my eyes and put both her hands in mine
and said:
81 will do as you ask. | will give my
life in trying to repair the wrong | have
done you. y
"My darlingl my ownr' l exclaimed.
''This one moment of happiness has re-
paid me for all / have ever suffered in the
past.
A great wave of unutterable joy swept
through my soul. Was there ever such
perfect happiness on earth before?
thought, as she lay there in my arms.
Even now, as | think of that time, won
der how | have ever lived to bear the sor-
row that has come upon me.
How can | tell what followed? Even
now, as | sit here and think-or try to
think--of the past, it all seems like some
strange dream from which | could never
have the power to awake.
The night had deepened around us.
The pale stars had come out in the sky
one by one, and still we fingered there,
her dark, lustrous eyes turned on mine in
speechless love. How the time flew by
1t must have been ten o clock. She rose
hastily and said
II must go in now, love; good might. >
"Good might, darling, | said, press
ing my lips to hers Remember tomor-
row night.
She was turning to go when | heard a
step on the walk at our very side. |
turned my eyes in the direction of the
sound. There, before us, his dark, flash
ing eyes cleaning in the starlight, stood
Don Mariana Garcia!
For lust one moment of time neither of