The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-05-27
THE
CR0NICLES
OF
DON O.


only When il stood in danger did il be
come endurable TO him.
But there was one thing he valued,
possession held in the secret of mis-
heart. cherished, guarded, beloved
above all else the world contained. To
this secret he could turn for solace dur
ing his long fits of dependency when
the bitterness Of the past surged back
In-torture him This secret. which he
believed to be inviOlate set safe and
high. far beyond the reach of fate,
which he never dreamed could again
be jeopardiZed. was yet to cost him
some Of the fercest moments Of his
life.
On an evening of late winter. Don Q.
rising from his fireside, drew his cloak
more closely round him, and, going
out to the terrace before the cave. be-
gan pacing up and down. As he walked.
he read from an old book Of Spanish
legends deeds Of high emprIse, carried
through with A stateliness of courage
that lends so great a distinction to
many tales Of Spanish ChivalUy. Pres
emily he closed the book upon his fin
ger, and as he walked amused his mind
by comparing his own career with the
mighty performances of old
In the midst of his thoughts he drew
up to peer curiOusIy downward at a
young man who was making his way
through the groups cooking. gambling
and smoking round the fires in the val
lev. He rushed up the path TO the ter
race, holding mOuntaineer' leather
bag a arms length. and laying il care
fully at Don Q.'s feet, sprang back to
some distance
What is this. Filipe?" The chiefs
tone was an iCe-dOUChe.
Felipe, with terrified eyes glued on
the bag. gasped-''A bottle. lord.
Corpse Of a scuuion," Don @
snatched at his knife. Fool! speak
before I cut the words from your
tongue"
1.-The fathers from san Pedro sent it.
It was found in the chapel before the
altar yesterday. No man would carry
il hither. for all said it must be an in
fernal machine Then came Maria, the
wife Of Tomas. to confession. She
brought it. lord"
Don Q. laughed till the young man
WINGED and cOlOTed-
so il came by the a. nd of woman.
after all Maria shall Int be forgotten
Show the bottle 10 me-"
Felipe jerked I'D his head and shiv-
cred like a frightened horse.
1T will blow us to fragments, lord.
The chief drew out his knife and
pricked the man sharply in the thigh
Felipe started. cast one glance at Don
=. and caught the Pickering maleVO-
Ieuce in his eyes. then leaped to obey.
He raised the bottle with shaking
hands II was of curious shape, made
of some dark-Stained thick glass. the
cork. we'll rammed home in the neck,
was further secured by a strip of paper
fastened over il. On this slip Of paper
was written. al Senior Don O."
Lay il down" The chief stood for
moment brOOdiuE. This was probably
some new scheme against his life. "Fe-
, fine" he said at last. tap that bottle
with the hilt Of your knife until YOU
fhreak il. then va viii judge whether il
he indeed an internal machine"
The lad hesitated. But his chiefs eye
compelled. White-liDped he struck at
the glass till Don O'S short patience
gave way. He seized Felipe's hand over
the knife-blade. forcing a strong blow.
From the shivered fragments of the
bottle fell out letter
Don Q. glanced at him.
Hand me the letter and go,'' he said.
BY the crimson light IF the sunset the
briEand examined the letter.
Senior" the letter ran. IT invite YOU
10 meet me on Sunday at midnight at
Las LechUzas. For the sake Of the
name YOU once bore. YOU viii not fail
me, and you will come alone"
Don O looked az the seal and looked
again, then with { grOan turned to seek
his cave
long. Here was blow we'll aimed, and
the more peTilOUs because he was a bSo-
lutely at \ loss 10 know whose hand
delivered II. The name YOU once
bore" He repeated the words under
his breath. and the first fear Of his
reckless life cTept cold and small about
his heart.
young manhood Uassed before him.
His lOveless maria &c day. he birth Of
his children, and then the dark hour
when he knew but one way remained a
carry the honor Of his ancient name
clear, and that was TO give up all his
great possessions and to die
And in the eve Of the world he had
died. but the fierce blood in his yiens
had called TO him 10 live somehow. in
some fashiOn-hidden and unknown for
ever but secretly building IN again
those fallen fortunes OF his house
At length the bTigand sighed heavily
and sank back into his seat
cit Is sealed with my signet ring.
could not mistake Il, the ring I gave
to-her on that evening OF calamity
You grow old Cesar" he whispered tC
himself; this has shaken YOU. Who
possesses the ring now2''
Afttr 4 while ne brought out his au-
tObigraphy and began 10 write
Ny name is threatened. II seems in
CTeQlbIf. TOT nave Deen long IN fnf
sierra. so long that I myself can scarce
" number the years. During those
years but three men have suspected the
name I once bore. A name of splendid
traditions. I brought the third ef these
men is years ago. When turned from
his grave, 7 thought I had had my last
dealings with such menaceS. 7 fell
safe I reveled in my security. II
appears. alas, I was mistaken. and thai
is why I must now 60 down to Las
L,echuzas alone
1T may be a trap for my life and
that viii mean defeat TO all my hopes
and my plans. 7 could indeed remain ir
safety here and let them guess as they
pleased perhaps, but for one thing
am alone in the mountains. but in the
world I am not quite alone. There i:
one other Of whom L must think. i
These animals know my name, Of E
fsUrety they must know of her existence
M they can be base enough to bait 3
trap for me with my hearts blood car
I imagine they viii show mercy 10 her