The San Francisco call., 1904-08-21

mlIdr. Inere must always be one
dominating mind in the councils of a
government. A minority of my coun-
trymen has found that mind in the
person of the Duke de Montalvan. The
rest do not think; they are children Of
the sun, idlers, living to-day. An ap-
peal to their intellect goes for nothing
You must appeal to their heart and
sentiment, and the scientific mind fails
In this. When the Prince returns, L
trust that we shall unite these factions.
His absence has been greatly resented
but fortunately for him we nave snort
memories in Cadi. You observe now
little touch upon our merits 1liaue'iilS, '7
At the corner by the inn yonaer ! win
leave the city to speak for itseH' II
will not be very long now peIole YOU
hear the Duke in his own derense.
He spoke as one who would say,
my duty is done; and when ne hau
reined but an instant to look oaCN
at the road they had traVerseu' %
though to assure himself that none Io'-
lowed, he put his horse to the can't
and pressed on like one VINO Wouiu
overtake the leaders OF the troop AHo
cavalcade had entered a pleasant Woou
by this time, and many a shady glen
caught up the evening light and gave
an entrancing vista of grove and thlck-
ct and the forests heart. Beyond TINS
wood, where the trees opened out ana
disclosed a stately avenue, there stoou
a crazy inn upon the hillside; and from
the plateau before its doors Esther first
beheld the spires and roofs Of that city
wherein she was to suffer so much.
The sun was setting now, and 1t
flashed crimson stars from many a
window above the towering ramparts
and splashed with gold the lazy river
at the city's heart. The road ltseI
wound about the hillside like a silver
thread upon a field OF green Esther
could admit that the scene was De
witching one, surprising all that sne
had imagined of Cadi and its capltal.
The gentle hills, the bordering forests,
the multitude Of houses, the spires anu
turrets outstanding through the centu-
ries, the hum Of the busy life revealed
to her a world Of which she had never
dreamed. And in this city she would
find the man she loved, would answer
those tormenting questions wnlch
never ceased to present themselves VI
other ideas she had none. Her own po-
sition as the wife of Cadfs Prince must
not be remembered, nor would she per-
NIT herself to consider it. Esther be-
lieved that she was going to her hus-
band and that tonight she would lind
him. All else must give place to this;
her love was predOminating.
The Count had left her 1t the crest Of
the hill, nor did she see anything fur
ther of her escort until the city's gate
was reached. The night fell suddenly,
as ever in the Pyrenees. A cold wind
swept down from the hills; lights be-
gan to twinkle in many a homestead,
the Angelus rang out from every stee-
pie. AS the twilight deepened and
shadows fell across the road, Esther
became aware that some one had rid
den up to her carriage, and when she
turned her head, thinking it to be the
Count, and wondering that she had not
seen him fall back, she perceived, with
no little alarm, the white bernOuse and
the ill-omened face of Yussuf. the
Moor Very surprised to find him in
such a place, and, it may be, not lit
tie alarmed, she wrapped her mantilla
more closely about her face and sat
back in the carriage to avoid his
glance; but he rode up boldly to her
side, and bending over from the saddle
of a great black horse. he insisted upon
being heard.
1T is I, Yussuf. senorfta; please to
listen"
What do you want with me?" she
cried-"why are you here?"
Because 1 am your friend, lady"
Yes. yes; then what do you wish
to say?"
That your husband must not come
to Cadi-I. Yussuf. know it. Keep
him away, lady; he must not come
they will kill him"
She sat still, fumbling with the
veil about her face. From the first
this Moor had been a figure of i'll
omen. Why should she pay any at
tention TO such a madman's story?
Nevertheless, her heart beat quickly;
she felt that she must hear him to the
end.
L do not believe YOU she replied
with great composure. What has my
husband done?"
He has married a foreigner. lady:
He has broken the law Do not let
him return to his judges. They are
bringing you here because they know
that he will follow. Keep him out
OF the trap-IAey VIII Kill nlIn-
She uttered a low cry and the veil
fell from her face. At the same mo-
ment the carriage swept up to the
city's gates; guards surrounded it;
she heard many voices N arguments;
saw the lights and the life of the
streets beyond the barrier. But the
Moor had disappeared in the press of
the people. Esther knew not whether
he were friend or enemy. The shad-
ows seemed TO be closing about her
life. She entered her husbands city,
and it seemed to her that the gate
of some mighty prison closed behind
her as she went.
CHAPTER XIV.