The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-06-18

When we had passed through the
5oor on our return the chief again ex-
tinguished the light while he manipuiat-
Cd the trap. AfterwaTd the windlass al
lowed the outer plate of metal to settle
firmly into place. and We proceeded
along the passage and returned TO the
study
Many trips did I make to the secret
vault thereafter. but never could 1 I'M
deistand in what manner the great door
OF shining steel was secured, as Dom
Miguel always opened and closed 1t
while We were in total darkness
As the weeks rolled by I not only be
came deeply interested in my work, but
conceived a still greater admiration for
the one man whose powerful intelligence
directed what 1 knew to be a gigantic
conspiracy
Spies were everywhere about Dom
Miguel. One day We discovered MS
steward-an old and trusted retainer of
the family-to be in the Emperor's pay
But de Pintra merely shrugged his
shoulders and said nothing Such n per-
son could do little to imperil the cause
fer its important secrets could not be
surprised. The grim vault guarded them
we'll
Ny duties occupying me only at night.
my days were wholly my own and they
passed very pleasantly indeed. for my
acquaintance with Lesba Paola had
ripened into close friendship between
us-a friendship 1 was eager to resolve
into a closer relation
~ But Lesba, although frank and ingen-
Tsod q N Of
fectuaI way of preventing the declara-
tions Of love which were ever on my
tongue, and 1 found it extremely diff
cult to lead our conversation into chan
nels that would give me an opportunity
TO open my heart to her.
She was an expert horsewoman. and
we took many long rides together, dur
ing which she pointed out to me the
estates of all the grandees in the neigh
borhood. Dom Miguel. whose love for
the beautiful girl was very evident,
seemed to encourage our cOmpanionship,
and often spoke of her with great ten
derness.
He would dwell with especial pride
upon the aristocratic breeding of his
ward. which. to do him justice, he val
ued more for its effect upon other no
bic families than for any especial ad-
vantage it lent to Lesba herself; for
while Dom Miguel was thoroughly re-
publican in every sense Of the word,
he realized the advantages to be gained
by interesting the best families Of Bra
I'll in the fortunes of his beloved Cause,
and one by one he was cleverly sue
ceeding in winning them My familiarity
that fle
Revolution was being backed by the
flower of Brazilian uObility-the most
positive assurance in my eyes of the
justice and timeliHess of the great
movement for liberty The idea that
monarchs derive their authority from
divine sourccs-sO prevalent among the
higher eIasses-had dissolved before the
leaders powerful arguments and the
object lessons Dom Pedro's corrupt
Ministry constantly afforded All
thoughtful people had come to re-
aIization that liberty was but step
from darkness into light. bursting OF
the shackles that had oppressed them
since the day that Portugal had de-
cIared the Province of Brazil an en-
pire. and set a scion of her royal fam
ily to rule its people with autocratic
sway
And Lesba, sprung from the bluest
blood in all the land. had great in
fueEce in awakening. in those families
she visited an earnest desire for re-
public Her passionate appeals were
constantly inspiring her fellows with
an enthusiastic devotion to the cause
of liberty. and this talent was duly ap-
preciated by Dom Miguel, whose ad-
Tniration for the girls simple but direct
methods Of conversation was unbound
Cd