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

II know It," she answered. hanging her
head.
TT was his wish,' 1 said And de-
ferred."
ut was his wish" she repeated
Remember he had asked you for no
promise
Yes 1t is you only he has asked. You
have remembered 1t very well, senior. And
you-you ask for nothing"
NO" l said; II owe you gratitude for
having condescended to stand with your
hand in mine-if only for moment-if only
to bring peace to dying man: for this
wonderful instant, that, all my life, shall
remember as those who are suddenly strick-
en- blind remember the great glory of the
sun. And promise never to mention 1t to
you again.
Her lips were slightly parted, her eyes
remained downcast, her head dropped as
If in extreme attention.
Il asked for no promise she murmured
coldly.
My heart was heavy. THANK you for
that proof of your confidence" I said II
am yours without any promises: Wholly
yours. But what can offer? What help
What refuge? What protection? What
can do? I can only die for you All. but
this was cruel of Carlos when he knew that
had nothing else but my poor life to give"
I accept that" she said, Unexpectedly.
'senorita, 1t is generous of you to ac-
cept so worthless a gift-a life 1 value
not at all save for one unique memory
winch owe to you.
I knew she was looking at me while 1
swung open the door with n low bow. I
did not trust myself to look at her. 1 felt
an almost angry desire to- seize her in my
arms-to go back to my dream. If I had
looked at her then. believe I could not
have controlled myself.
She passed out; and when I looked up
there was OBrten, booted and spurred,
but otherwise in his lawyers black. in
Ginning his dapper figure profoundly be-
fore her in the dim gallery She had stop
ped short. The two maids huddled to-
gether behind her, stared with terrified
eyes.
closed the door quietly Carlos was
affair, and the necessity of coming to an
immediate decision almost deprived me of
my power of thinking.
He stepped back, with ceremonious
bow for Seraphina. La Chica ran up close
to her elbow. I heard her voice saying,
sadly: You need fear nothing for your
self. child and they moved away slowly
remained facing OBrien, with a vague
notion of protecting their retreat
He said: Won't you give me that light 2"
And 1 understood he demanded a sur
render.
Il would see you die first where you
stand. was my answer.
He lifted his head; the light twinkled in
his eyes. "Oh, 1 won't die" he said, with
that bizarre suggestion of humor in his
face. In his subdued voice. But it is a
worth your while to try and please me
this time"
Before I could answer Seraphina, from
some little distance, called out, hurriedIy:
Don Juan, your ARM.
Her voice. sounding little unsteady.
made me forget O'Brien. and, turning my
back on him, I ran up to her. She needed
my support; and before us La Chica tot
tered and stumbled along with the light,
moaning:
.Madre de Dios! What will become of
US now! Oh. what will become of US
nowH
You know what he had asked me to let
him do" Seraphina talked rapidly. II made
answer, No: give the light to my cousin.
Then he said DO you really wish 1t, seno-
rita? am the older friend I repeated,
Give the light to my cousin. senior He.
then, cruelty. For the young mans own
sake. reflect. senorita.' And he waited be-
fore he asked me again. Shall surrender
1t to him? / felt death upon my heart, and
all my fear for you-there." She touched
her beautiful throat with a swift move
ment of hand that disappeared at once
under the lace. And because l could not
speak. / Don Juan. you have just offered
me your life-I-Misericordia What else
was possible? / made with my head the
sign Yes
In the stress. hurry and rapture encom-
passing my immense gratitude I pressed
her hand to my side Familiarity, as If we
had been two lovers walking in lane on
serene evening.
have been worse than death-in my heart. -
I said. '.He had asked me, too, to renounce
my trust. my light"
We walked on slowly. accompanied in our
sudden silence by the splash of the foun-
tain at the bottom of the great square of