Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-08

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 I He had ridden all day over the rough pad that winds over the mountains 1f0m La Guayra to Caracas. The |ltnrm which had rushed down the
 onntain side all afternoon matched Ao tumult in his soul, and the sheets " rain blown upon him by the fierce
 nd had not cooled the fever of his "A ftation. The unusual tempest was one
 the most terrific that had swept over
 Be coast in years, He had marked he rode huge ship far to seaward, taagering along under shortened can m and laboring tremendously in the sAoAyy seas. But his thoughts were so
 ntered upon the situation in which < " found himself that he had not par ecnlArly noticed the vessel, although paaeing ships were infrequent sights 'G the port of La Guayra. Pale, hag
 axd and distraught from his mental eEEuGglc, he had crossed the pass at 4D wummit of the mountain and de- {oended Into the fertile valley now
 k1p with rain and looking almost eG6 under the gray sky and had pre- ! Nnted himself at the palace of the
 1naeoy.
 He had changed his apparel after his Reception, and his old sergeant had sU11l1hed his breastplate until it fairly blaSed with light, for though the occa- lfon was one of peace he had felt that Fl could better sustain his part in the
 Hilary uniform in which he had won :. TT only title to consideration. Con {. aequently his appearance in the bril- 1; linntly lighted hall of the palace among X the. gay courtiers resplendent in mag < ntdcent attire, blazing with jewels, thRew . somber note oyer the pro- Eeedings. 4..,
 It was as a soldier he had won fame ond the consideration of the viceroy; } 1n no other capacity, so far as any :. man knew, had he the right to enter s lhat assemblage of the rich and well born. It was as soldier he would perform that hardest of all duties s which had ever been laid upon him by hts friend and patron, the governor.
 Pale, stern, composed, he stood an iron figure of repression. So severe was the constraint that he put upon himself that he had given no sign of his emotion, even at the near approach of Donna Mercedes, and the hand which signed his name beneath her fathers as the principal witness was as steady as if it held merely the sword In some deadly combat. He endured passively the affectionate greetings of the happy De Tobar, who was intoxi- cated at the assurance afforded by the betrothal of the coming realization of all his hopes. He sustained with firm |; ness the confidence of the viceroy and s the admissions De Lara made to him ,1n private of his pleasure in the suit able and fortunate marriage which i was there arranged. He even bore without breaking one long, piteous ap- peal which had been shot at him from the black eyes of the unhappy Mer- eedes.
 To her he seemed preternaturally cold and indifferent. He was so strong, % brave, so successful. She had count cd upon some interposition from him, 1. but the snow capped Andes were no colder than he appeared, their granite sides no more rigid and unsympathetic. It was with feeling almost of anger and resentment at last that she had pigned the betrothal contract.
 But the restraint on the man was more than he could bear. Pleading in disposition, he early begged leave to withdraw from the festivities which oucceeded the completion of the be- krothal ceremony and the retirement of the ladies. At the suggestion of the riceroy, who said he desired to consult with him later in the evening. he went into the deserted cabinet of the latter.
 The palace was built in the form of . quadrangle around an open patio. A balcony ran along the second story. passfng the viceroy's cabinet. beyond which was his bedroom and beyond that the apartments of his daughter. The rain had ceased and the storm had spent itself It was a calm and beau- tiful night. The moon. shining with tropic splendor through the open win dow, dispensed with the necessity Of lights. There was no one in the cabi- net when he entered. and he felt at last able to give way to hls emotion. Mercedes. though she was not mar ried. was now lost to him beyond re- course. After the women withdrew from the hall with Donna Mercedes there was no restraint put upon the young nobles. and from the other side of the patio came the sound of uproari- ous revelry and feasting. his friends and comrades with generous cheer fe- licitating the happy bridegroom that was to be. Alvarado was alone. un- disturbed. forgotten. and likely to re main so. He put his head upon his hands and groaned in anguish.
 .why should it not have been IF he murmurcd. ..Is he stronger. braver. better soldier: Does he love her mOref Riches. Can not acquire them2 Fanef Have I not a large measurel Birth. An. that is 1t. My father, My voother. If could only know, How she looked at me, What piteous ap- peai in her eyes, What reproach when | stood passive. ezsed in iron with breaking heart. Mercedes, Merce- des--
 Tn his anguish he called the name aloud- So absorted and preoccupiei in his grief had he been that he was ~ ----n or a H----n so<rFr moving