Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-30

phina's face. She stood with stiff carriage
under the heavy hang1ngs of the bed, look
ing very Spanish and romantic In her short
black skirt, a black lace shawl envelop1ng
her head, her shoulders, her arms. as low
as the waist Her bare feet thrust into
high-heeled slippers, lent to her presence an
air of fl ght, as If she had run into that
room IN distress or fear. Carlos, sitting up
amongst the snowy pillows OF eiderdown al
his back was not speaking to her. He had
done; and the flush on his cheek, the eager
luster OF his eyes, gave him an appearance
of animation, almost Of Joy, sort OF con-
Stunning, fame-like brilliance. They were
waiting for me.
Seraphinas unstrring head was lighted
strongly by a two-branched sconce on the
wall; and when l stood by her side, not
even The shadow of the eyelashes on her
cheek trembled. Carlos lip moved; his voice
was almost extinct but for all his emacia-
ton, the profundity Of his eyes, the sunk
en- cheeks the hollow temples, he remained
attractive, with the charm OF his gallant
and roma ntic temper worn away 10 an al
most unearthy fincness
He was going to have his desire be-
cause on the threshold of his spiritual
inheritance he refused. or was unable, to
turn his gaze away from this world. Father
Antonios business was to save this soul;
and with a sort Of simple and sacerdotal
shrewdness in which there was much love
for his most noble penitent. he would try
to appease its trouble by romantic sat
isfaction. His voice, very grave and pro-
found addressed me:
Approach, my Son-nearer We trust
the natural feelings Of pity which are i'm
planted in every human breast, the no
bility of your extraction. the honor OF your
hidalguidad. and that inextinguishable cour-
age which. as by the unwearied mercy OF
God, distinguishes the sons OF your fortu-
nate and unhappy nation" His bass voice,
deepened in solemn utterance, vtbrated
huskily. There was rustic dignity In his
t,, hrna fY,
gesture of the raised hand. You shall
promise to respect the dictates Of our con-
science guided by the authority OF our
faith; to defer to our scruples and to the
procedure of our church in matters which
we believe touch the welfare Of our souls.
You promise?
He waited. Carlos eyes burned darkly
on my face. What were they asking OF
me? This was nothing. OF course would
respect her scruples-her scruples-if my
the devotion of my love and youth. the
unrea soning and potent devotion, withou!
thought of hope of reward. l was almost
ashamed to pronounce the words they ex"
pected.
81 nromise."
And suddenly the meaning pervading this
scene. something that was in my mind al
ready, and that had hardly dared to look
at till now became clear to me in its aw-
full futlity against the dangers, In all Its
The priest-Carlos. too-must have known
that it had no binding power. To Carlos
1t was symbolic of his wishes. Flthe'
Antonio was thinking Of the papal '1ispea-
sation. / was hereto. What If Il were
refused? But what was that risk to me
who had never dared to hope? Moreover
they had brought her there. had persuaded
her; she had been Influenced by her fears
impressed by Carlos. What could she care
for me? And l repeated:
II promise. l promise even at the cost
OF suffering and unhappiness, never to de-
| mand anything from her against her con-
science"
| for him. good father" Then he seemed
| to wander in a whisper. which We two
caught family. He resembles his sister. c
Divine
And on this ghostly sigh. on this breath
with the feeble click of beads in the nuns
hands, a silence fell upon the room.
Seraphina had given me q quick glance
| the first glance-which I had rather fell
than seen. Carlos made an effort, and
raising himself. put her hand in NINE
Father Antonio. trying to pronounce 9
short allocution. broke down naive in his
emotion. as he had been in his dignity.
could at first catch only the words, BE.
loved child-holy father-poor priest. ."
He had taken this upon himself, and he
would attest the purity Of our intentions
| the necessity OF the case. the assent OF the
head of the family. my excellent DISPOSE.
ton. All the Englishmen had excellent
dispositions. He would. personally, go tc
the foot of the holy see-on his knees, II
! nece ssary Meantime. a document-hs
ment. The archbishop. 1t is true did not
like him on account of the calumnies OF
that man OBrien. But there was. beyond
the seas. the supreme authority of the