The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-12
claimed. ana stood aside for her to


movement to proceed. noted the
waves of color sweeping over her fair
face and the nervous tension Of the 1T
tie hands that pressed q mass of flow
ers to her bosom. Evidently she was
STRUGGLING for courage to address me-
so smiled at her reassuringly. and
again bowed ia my best manner. for,
was not ill-pIeased at the encounter
have always had a profound rev
erence for EDTI1all-esp eclaIly those
/ favored ones to whom nature has
Vouchsa1ed beauty in addition 10 the
charm of Womanhood. And here be-
fore me stood the most beautiful girl
I had ever seen. a type Of loneliness
more sweet and delightful than any
had even dreamed could exist.
1t was my tate TO recognize THIS IN
the moments that stood watching her
| lips trembIe in the endeavor to form
her first words 10 me.
You are the Americana she asked,
finally.
"Assuredly donzella Permit me to
introduce myself am Robert aar-
cliffe"
MY uncle expected you she said.
your uncIe?9
Dom Miguel is not really my un-
cle'' answered the girl; but he per-
mits me to cali him SO, since he IS
my guardian. Yet-it was not from him
learned of your arrival, but from
Francisco, who Travelled from Rio on
! the same train
My face doubtless showed that was
/ puzzled for she added, quickly:
Francisco is my brother, senior
! We are both devoted heart and soul
to the Cause. That is why felt that
I must speak with you, why must
welcome you to our fellowship, why
I must inplore you to be strong and
steadfast in our behalf!N
smiled at the vehemence that had
vanquished her former hesitation, ana
to my delight her exquisite face lighted
/ with an answering smile.
"Ah, you may laugh at me with I'M
punity, senior Americana, for / have
intuitions, and they tell me you will be
/ faithful to the cause of freedom. Nay.
/ do not protest. Tt is enough that
| have read your face"
With this she made a pretty courtesy
/ and vanished around the hedge before
/ could summon q word to detain her.
/ It is astonishing to what an extent
4 this encounter aroused my enthusiasm
/ for the Cause Heretofore I had re-
garded it rather impersonally, as an
/ affair in which I had engaged at the
request of my good uncle. But now
1 that I had met this fellow cOnspiratO
/ and gazed into the enchanting depths
/ of her eyes. I was tremendously eager
to prove my devotion to the cause Of
True. I had seen the girl but a few
mome nts. Even her name was un-
| known to me. But she was a rebel;
| Francisco, her brother, was rebel;
him uncle. Very good; very good
| indeed
When I returned to my room was
surprised to find my trunks there, they
| having arrived in some mysterious way
| during my brief absence.
1 dressed for dinner and found my
/ way to the drawing room, where my
host-or my employer, rather-was
/ conversing with a lady and gentle
/ man.
/ There was no reason my heart should
give that bound to warn me; no one
! could fail to recognize. that slender.
enveloped in dainty folds of soft white
/ MULE. But she had no intention of al
lowing her chance meeting to stand for
a formal Introduction, and as Dom Mi
gueI presented me. she shot a demure
vet merry glance at me. from beneath
/ her long lashes that might readily.
/ have effected my conquest had not
already surrendered without discretiOns
'"rhe Senhorita Ieeba sPaola, an
lnounced de Pintra, speaking the name
| with evident tenderness. Then he
| turned to the man. Senior Francisco
/ Paola+" said he.
/ Francisco Paola r3izzled me at that
first meeting nearly DIS much as he did
/ later His thin form was dressed in a
I dandified manner that was almost lu-
dierous, and the fellows affectation
was something amazing Somewhat
older than his bewitching sister, his
/ features were not without a sort of
j effeminate beauty of which he seemed
fully aware. At once I conceived him
to be a mere popinjay, and had no
doubt he would prove brainless and
! wel1-nigh insufferable. But Dom Mi
Iguel introduced Paola with grave cour-
tesy and showed him so much defer
ence that I could not we'll be ungra-
cious to the young dandy Moreover,
he had stronger claim to my toler-
ance: he was Lesba's brother.
Scarcely were these introductions
ET-l,- Tr4T4 7Erarrfs Il
the room. She gave slight start at
sight of me. and then advanced grace
fully to Dom Miguel's side.
MY daughter, Mr.. Harcliffe; SEN
bora Izabel de Mar" said ne, anu gave
me curious glance that I could not
understand.
I looked at Madam label and low
cred my eyes before the cold and pene-
trating stare / encountered. she wa s
handsome enough, this woman; bur
i her features. however regular. were re-
DeIlant because of their absolute lack
of expression-a lack caused BY re-
preston more than a want Of mobility.
Her face seemed carved of old VERY.
Even the great eyes were Ir1PenetCa-
bile. rejecting nothing OF the emoJionS
that might dwell within. found my
self shivering. and although [ sincerely
tried tc be agreea bic to Dom Miguel s
daughter. the result was little more
THAN fareical.
, Ny sudden appearance in tie l1SHse-
hold had evidently caused Madam Izs1-
bel surprise: perhaps it annoyed her,
as we'll But she drew me to Il seat
beside her AMI Piled me with questions
which I was at loss now TO answer,
in view IF the supposedly private ma
| fure Of NV mission to Brazil i9Wslfd-
N I blamed Dom Miguel Tor not tell
ing me how far his daughter and his
guests were in his confidence; but be-
fore I blundered more than a rev aim
less sentences & light voice interrupted
UP and Francisco Pacla leaned over
Madam labels chair with a vapid
compliment on the 1ady,s charms and
personal appearance that was falriy
impertinent in it's flippancy
:. / The look she gave him would have