The Saint Paul globe., 1904-05-08

approach.
He stepped out to intercept me, and,
with great discretion, 'Senor, a word"
he said in his subdued voice "a mo-
ment ago have been called within
the door of our senorita's apartments.
she has given me this for your wor-
ship, together with many compliments.
1t is seal. The senor will under
stand"
I took it; it was tiny seal with her
monogram on it, YES" I said.
And Senorita Dona Seraphina has
charged me to repeat"-he made a
stealthy sign, as if to counteract an
evil nfluence-"the words, Two lives
one death. The senor will under
stand"
Yes" said, looking away with a
pang at my heart.
He touched my elbow. And to trust
Cesar, senior, I dandled her when she
was quite little. Let me most earnest
ly urge upon your worship not to go
near the windows especially if there is
light In your worships room. EVIL men
are gazing upon the house, and / have
seen myself the CLINT of musket at
the end of the street The moon grows
fast, too. The senorita begs you to
trust Cesar
Are there many men?" / asked.
Not many in sight; have seen only
one. But by signs, open to a man of
L
be about" Then, as I looked down on
the ground, he added parenthetically,
They are poor shots, one and ALL lack
ing the very firmness of manhood nee
essary to discharge a piece with good
aim. Still, senior, am ordered to en-
treat you to be cautious
l pressed the seal to my lips. '"Tell
the senorita how I received her gift"
l said; and the old negro inclined his
head lower still.
I shut my door and buried my face
in the pillows of the state bed. Ny
mental anguish was excessive action
alone could relieve it. 1 must have
was lion in front of me. And the lion
produced strange noise; he opened
his jaws like door. / sat up.
A glare filled my eyes. In the wide
doorway of my room, in a group of at
tendants. l saw a figure IN a short
black cloak standing, hat on head, and
an arm outstretehed It was Don Bal
thasar. Stif1ed sounds of weeping,
vast, confused rumor of lamentations,
running feet and slamming doors, came
from behind him; his aged dry voice,
much f1rmer and very distinct, was
speaking to me.
you are summoned to attend the
bedside of Don Carlos Riego at the
hour of death, to help his soul strug-
Cling on the threshold of eternity with
your prayers -- as a kinsman and
friend
A great draught swayed the lights
about that black and courtly figure All
the windows and doors of the palace
had been flung open for the departure
of the struggling soul. Don Balthaser
turned; the group of attendants was
gone in moment, with tramp of
feet and jostling of lights in the long
gallery.
ran out after them. wavering
glare came from under the arch, and,
through the open gate, saw the bulky
shape of the bishops coach waiting
outside in the moonlight. A strip of
cloth fell from step to step down the
middle of the broad white stairs. The
staircase was brilliantly lighted, and
OF ]. empty. The household was crowd
ing the uper galleries; the sobbing
murmurs of their voices fell into the
deserted patio.
The door of Carlos room stood wide
open; l saw the many candles on
table covered with white linen, the side
Of the big bed, surpliced figures NOV
ing within the room. There was the
ringing of small bells, and signing
groans from the kneeling forms in the
gallery through which 1 was making
my way slowly.
Castro appeared at my side sudden
stoicism, "he is dead. 1 have seen bat
tlefields-" His voice broke
saw, through the large portal Of the
death chamber, Don Balthasar and
Seraphina standing at the foot of the
bed; the bowed head Of two priests;
the bishop. tiny old man, in his vest
n,entS; and Father Antonio, Durly and
motionless, with his chin in his hand,
as if left behind after leading that
soul to the very gate of eternity. All
about me women and men were cross
ing themselves; and Castro, who for a
moment had covered his eyes with his
hand touched my elbow.
And you live" he said, with somber
emphasis; then, warningly, "'You are
in great danger now
looked around, as if expecting to
see an uplifted knife. / saw only
lot of people-household negroes and
the women-rising from their knees.
Below, the patio was empty.
"The house is defenseless," Castro
continued.
We heard tumultuous voices under
the gate.
O'Brien appeared in the doorway of
Carlos room with an attentive and dis
mayed expression on his face. l do
not really think he had anything to do
with what then took place. He meant
to have me killed. outside; but the
IdDDle, excited Dy MdHuS1
tory speeches, had that night started
from the villages below with the in
tcntion of clamoring for my life. Many
of their women were with them. Some
of the Lugarenos carried torches, 9TH
ers had pixies; most of them, however,
had nothing but their long knives. They
came in a disordererly, shouting mob
along the beach, intending this not for
an attack, but as a simple demonstra-
ton.
The sight of the open gate struck
| them with wonder. The bishops, coach
, blocked the entrance, and for a time
they hesitated, awed by the mystery of
the house, and by the rites going on in
| there. Then two or three bolder spir-
! its stole closer. The bishops people, of
| course, did not think of offering any
resistance. The very defenselessness
! of the house restrained the mob for
a while. A few more men from out
side ran in. Several women began to
clamor scoldingly to them to bring the
| Inglez out. Then the men, encourag-
| ing each other in their audacity, adj
| vanced further.
! For a time the motley group of ban
dts stood in the light, as if intimidated
| by the great dignity of the house, by
| the mysterious prestige of the Casa,
| whose interior, probably, none of them
| had ever seen before They gazed
about silently, as if surprised to find
| themselves there.
1t looked as if they would have re-
tired if they had not caught sight of
me- A murmur of ''the Inglez" arose