Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-08

BURY EVENlNG DEM "The love bear your fatherv he gasped. ,sys
 Should 1t bind where mine breaks? am his daughter"
 "And Don Felipe is my personal friend" &
 And my betrothed, but hesitate not"
 My oath as suldier"-
 "And mine as woman"
 "Gratitude-duty"-
 "Oh Alvarado, you love me not" she cried. 'These are the strongest. I have dreamed dream. Lend me your dagger. There shall be no awakening. Without you cannot bear"
 As she spoke she plucked the dagger from the belt of the young soldier, lifted the point gleaming in the moon light and raised it to her heart. He caught it instantly.
 ''No, no" he cried. Give back the weapon"
 The poniard fell from her hand. M
 '"Thou hast taken me; thank thee," she murmured, thinking the battle won as he swept her once more in his arms. This time he bent his head to her up- turned face and pressed kiss after kiss upon the trembling lips. It was the first time, and they abandoned themselves to their transports with all the fire of their long restrained pas sion.
 And is this the honor of Captain Alvarado," cried stern voice as the viceroy entered the room-"my officer in whom I trusted? Death and fury! Donna Mercedes. what do you here?'
 'The fault is mine" said Alvarado, stepping between the woman he loved and her infuriated father. 'I found Donna Mercedes in the cabinet when I came in. She strove to fly. de- tained her-by force. I poured into her ear a tale of my guilty passion. Mine is the fault. She repulsed me. She drove me off,"
 ''The dagger at your feet?"
 "She snatched it from me and swore to bury it in her heart unless left her. alone am guilty"
 'Thou villain! Thou false friend" shouted the viceroy, whipping out his sword. He was beside himself with fury, but there was characteristic touch of magnanimity about his next action. So handsome, so splendid, so noble, i'll spite of his degrading con fession, did the young man look that he gave him chance.
 Draw your sword, Captain Ava rado, for as I live I shall run you through"
 Alvarado's hand went to his belt; he unclasped it and threw it aside.
 "There lies my sword. am dishon- ored," he cried. Strike and end 1t ally!
 ''Not sov' screamed Mercedes, who had heard as if in daze. "He hath not told the truth. He hath lied for me. I alone am guilty. I heard him praying here in the still night, and I came in, not he. I threw myself into his arms I begged him to take me away. He spoke of his love and friendship for you, for Don Felipe, his honor, his duty. I did indeed seize the dagger, but because though he loved me he would still be true. On my head be the shame. Honor this gen tleman, my father, as Hove him."
 She flung herself at her fathers feet and caught his hand.
 q love him!' she sobbed. q love himr'
 "Is this true, Captain Alvarador "Would she had not said so," an swered the young man gloomily. "Is it true?"
 q cannot deny it. my lord, and yet am the guilty one. I was on the point of yielding. Had you not come in we should have gone away"
 "Yet you had refusedw
 "LI-hesitated."
 Refused my daughter! And you. shameless girl, you forced yourself up on him-threw yourself into his arms?' "Yes. I loved him. Didst never love ! in thine own day. my father? Didst ] never feel that life itself were as noth- ing compared to what beats and throbs here?"
 But Don FelipeT'
 "He is gallant gentleman. I love him not Oh, sir'-
 "Press your daughter no further. Don Alvaro. She is beside herself" gasped out Alvarado hoarsely. "'Tis all my fault. I loved her so deeply that she caught the feeling in her own heart ! When I am gone she will forget me i You have raised me from obscurity | you have loaded me with honor: you have given me every opportunity. will be true. I will be faithful to you Twill be death. but I hope it may come quickly. Misjudge me not sweet | lady. Happiness smiles not upon my [ passion: sadness marks me for bel own. I pray twill be but for a little space. Give me some work to do tha,
 Is thn the honor of Captain Alvsrsdo'' | N- 1 NT