Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1905-11-16

She came every day to see me, and
well, by the time | was able to sit
UP, she had promised to marry me at
next Christmas. I'm not going to tell
you just how 1t all came about. A
man doesn't like to go into details
with such matter, you know.
AS soon as l was able to hobble
about town, her visits to our house
ceased; but you may rest assured that
I lost no opportunity to return some
Of those she had already made, and
nearly every morning found me well
come and happy guest in her neat lit
tie parlor.
While visiting Belle one evening l
first met Santa Edo. He was Span.
ish. His fierce, quick-moving, black
eyes, his dark, almost swarthy face,
his every move and gesture, and his
speech and general bearing, all told
of the land of his nativity-and were,
at the same time, equally expressive
of his passionate and impetuous tenn
permanent Yet, taken all In all, he
was good-looking; that is. in his dark,
peculiar way. But there was moth
ing about him that would attract my
admiration or command my respect.
On the contrary, he repealed me, and
I did not wonder that Belle thought
him q bad man, for she had spoken
of him to me many times, telling me
Of his repeated disagreeable visits to
her, and of his desire that she would
become his wife. So earnestly and
vehemently did he press his suit that.
at last, she had resolved to tell him
Of our betrothal and request that his
visits should be discontinued; and l
thought the quicker this was done, the
better it would be for all concerned.
So, when 1 was unobserved by the
Spaniard l managed to whisper:
"Tell him now"
And in her own sweet, womanly way,
quietly, and with kindly spoken words
Of regret at his disappointment, she
told him ALL l saw long before she
had finished that Santa Eido's Span
ish blood was up. His dark eyes took
on a steely glitter; his wide, disagree
able mouth twitched convulsively; his
tall, 1.-THE form trembled under the in
fluence of his powerful emotion; and
everything told that he was in such
a towering passion as only one like
him could have in his hayward heart.
I'm going!" he said, springing to
his feet precipitately. "But l warn
you that you will yet have cause to
regret that you have toyed with the
heart of Santa Eido!"
And, before either of US could say
word, he was gone; but didn't forget
his savage look and the beast-like snarl
for a month.
One day, some little time afterward,
Belle showed me O note, Of which this
Is a copy:
Miss Belle: l want to beg your
pardon, and that of your betrothed
husband, for my ungentlemanly de-
pertinent on the occasion Of my last
call at your house. can plead no
excuse except that was deeply wound
ed at your summary rejection Of me.
Thinking of you in the way did, and
being naturally very passionate, 1t does
not appear strange at all to me that
l should have exhibited my chagrin
and modification in q manner that
seemed to you uncalled for and rude.
l beg that you will forgive me, now
that l am going far away, and al
low me to call tomorrow and receive
from your own lips, and those of my
fortunate rival, the assurance that,
when you shall know me no more
forever, you will not think too Sc
verely of Yours sincerely,
SANTA EDO"
what shall do. Carl?" asked
Belle, as | finished reading the note
and handed it back to her.
At first 1 did not say anything, from
sheer surprise. 1t seemed strange that
a man like the Spaniard should wish
to apologize for anything Of the kind.
It struck me as being unnatural for
one Of his temperament, and certainly
on my part it was entirely unlocked
for. So l thought it all over care
fully as l watched her slowly fold the
paper and put it in its envelope. But,
aside from the surprise l felt, could
see nothing to cause me to suspect
that he was not, as he had signed
himself, sincere. SO said, after a
time:
"He acknowledges that he has done
wrong. He wants to make amends,
and it would be hardly fair for us to
deny him the privilege, especially as
he is going away so soon and will
probably never bother you again"
That night I dreamed Of my sweet
heart. In my happy dreams, no
marring vision Of Santa Edo came to
dispel my peace or disturb my slum-
bers. The next day wore away quick
ly, as all days do to one actively en-
ployed, and, before l was aware Of 1t,
my train had almost completed the
return run and was rafting along
toward Melville at rushing rate. The
sun was just dipping out Of sight be-
hind the scared hills away to the left,
and the chilly autumn wind whistled
by my ears, as l leaned out OF the
cab, in a way that reminded me that
winter was coming. But didn't mind
It, for | was used to exposure. AS
usual, l kept keen lookout ahead.
An engineer can't be too careful. you
know, when he realizes that bit OF
recklessness may endanger hundreds
of lives as dear as his own.
But there l was, thinking OF the
people in the coaches behind. when,