The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-15
A Knight Of Spain

ing while other youths were idling. / have
seen you growing in knowledge while others
remained ignorant. Moreover, l have re-
joiced over your business capacity and sue
cess / will admit that your career has been
well-nigh wonderful. / saw you on the es-
tate of my old friend, Senior Ballerno, a
bare-footed child. 1 know, too, as you grew
up that you did your best TO save him from
ruin
But 1 could not do it, senior"
mo, Carlos, you could not do it, because
he refused. not only to help you, but to
allow you to do what was necessary. Then
all those splendid orange groves and vine
yards and orchards became ruin. Ballerno
discharged you, when you alone could have
saved him. Well, you got into the employ
of those English merchants, and so well did
you succeed, that you have been able to get
hold of Ballerno's estate; you got them
honestly, too. Indeed, 1 think you dealt
with your old master in a Quixotic way,
and thus made yourself many thousands of
psetas poorer Still, that was your affair.
You are now owner of the Ballerno Casa;
you have paid for it, and you are making
the grounds yield wonderfully. In truth,
for one so young, you are rich"
eyes. senior. what you say is true" SAID
the young man, with pardonable pride. L
made up my mind many years ago that L
would prove myself worthy of what hoped
to obtain. Seven years now have 1 loved
the Senorita Valentin, your daughter. and
said in my heart: L will never ask Senior
Sagasta for her hand until can place her
in a beautiful home, and until 1 can prove
my love by laying riches and honor at her
fpp t a Il
come to you and 1 say: Senior. 1 love the
senorita, have loved her seven years;
give her to me for my wife.
The young man. Carlos Saragossa, was
a representative of the best type of Span
lard. He was taller than ordinary, and
although he possessed distinctively Spanish
features. they were less fieshy and more re-
fined than was common. Moreover, he
moved and spoke with decision. The indo-
lent indifference, so common to the Span
lard, was entirely absent in him. On the
contrary, he was alert, eager. vivacious.
The man to whom he spoke was older by
many years. He was. perhaps. fifty years
of age, and was characterized by those
traits peculiar TO the middle-aged Spaniard.
He was short and stout and pompous. He
had thick neck and bullet-shaped head;
he breathed with difficulty and perspired
freely. All the same, he possessed some
thing of the dignity associated with the
Spanish gentry. He was very proud, and
knew how to treat his interiors with proper
condescension. Moreover he claimed to
belong to an old Spanish family, he was
brother-in-law to the captain general, and
was himself alcalde, or mayor, of the town
of Amarillo, situated in the ancient king
dom of Valencia. AS such he was one of
the grandees of the town and claimed ac-
quaintance, If not friendship, with los hi
dalgos, or the nobility, who lived in the
vicinity
His house, moreover, was larger and more
imposing than any other in the town, be-
ing i'm reality an old Moorish palace, and
as the two sat in the courtyard, situated
within the precincts of the house, he cast
look of pride on the marble column and
/ pavement, and noted with satisfaction the
| play of the fountain. which threw its
waters so far that the fragrance of both
| orange trees and flower beds became more
| pungent and sweet.
Yes. although you have not spoken to
| me before, 1 have seen your love for my
| daughter Valentin," said Senior Sagasta
| land although at one time 1 was strongly
tempted to forbid your coming to my house,
| 1 did not do So 1t is true am the alcalde,
| but then / am man of liberal tendencies.
and 1 said, He is good lad although of
humble birth But this is serious mat
ter. Carlos. Valentin is my only child, and
| has been sought after by many. But what
would you? | am also rich, and although
the Marquis Del Andromeda is poor. he
bears one>of the best names in SPAIN
HE is a roue." replied Carlos. warmly
He has wasted his patrimony amongst
| the most vicious people in Paris, Vienna
and Madrid. He is a spendthrift. and is
now practically pauper'
"Ah, yes, he has sown his wild oats, as
| the English call it. But what would YOU
| | am liberal man. Besides, he is a gooC
Catholic. and has still some influence. True
the lands are mortgaged; but what then
/ could put money on the place. He car
give a name, and L can give the money
After ALL ii would be no small thing for my
| daughter to be marquesa, Ell? 1t might
mean, moreover, when the young King il
crowned, that 1 might have a title. Why
not? Sagasta is good name. and am thu
alcalda."
But the Senorita,' urged Carlos. "woult
she be happy with him? He is a bad
| VICIOUS man. Sne does not love him, neither
does he love her.
AYE, but 1 am liberal man. Love? All
| but grow out of that sort of thing. Be
sides, what L will my daughter will do. Th
Marquis Del Andromeda, he comes to me
and says: Give me your daughter and i
/ say, Yes well, she will be his Wife
And the senior shrugged his shoulders.
But L love her." urged Carlos; II low
her, and believe she loves me. / am sur
could make her happy, too!'
Perhaps so, perhaps so. But there is thi
TO remember, Carlos. Your father was
nobody, your mother was-also nobody.
is true you have done well, but, then, yol
are not invited TO be the guest of los hidal
gos. My brother-in-law, the captain general
yawns when you speak to him. You ar
not altogether popular. The priests de
nounce you. 1t is true, / laugh at tn
priests as intelligent man does nowadays
That is, care not for their curses; bu
they have power, and you defy them
Since you came back from England yol
have written to La Libertad. saying tina
England grew great by throwing off tn
yoke of the priest, and that we in Spail
must do likewise. Not but what / agFe
with you, but you go too fast. Then yol
never go TO confession or to mass; you are