Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-20

Concha's cheeks. They were very white.
put her eyes were steady and her mouth
indomitable as she walked down the saia
and took the chair Rexanov placed for her.
except Tor her Castilian fairness, che
looked very like the martinez sitting on the
other side OF the table. The commandments
regarded her silently with brows drawn to-
gether. Dimly. he felt apprehension won
dered. in q flash OF insight, IL girls held
fast to the parental recipe. or recombined
with tongue in the cheek. The bare pos
sibility OF resistance almost threw him into
panic, but he controlled his features until
the effort injected his eyes and drew In
his nostrils Concha regarded him calmly,
although her heart beat unevenly. for she
dreaded the long strain she foresaw.
My daughter" said Don Jose finally, his
tones harsh with repressed misgiving, do
You suspect why have sent for you
Il think that his excellency wishes to
marry me-, replied Concha; and the COM
andante was so staggered by the calm
surance OF her tone and manner that his
pent-up emotion exploded.
"Dfos!' he roared. What right have
you to know when a man wishes TO marry
you? What manner of Spanish girl is this7
Truly has his excellency said that you are
not as other women. The place for you is
your room, with bread and water for a
week Sixteenr'
Ignacio was born when my mother was
sixteen" said Concha coolly.
What OF that? She married whom and
when she was told to marry"
Il have heard that you serenaded nightly
beneath her grating
80 did Others
81 have heard that when of all her suit
ors her father chose one more highly born
a gentleman of the viceroy's court she
pinned until they gave their consent to her
marriage with you, lest she die
But 1 was a Catholci The prejudice
againe; NY birth was an unworthy one
had distinguished myself. And she had the
support of the priests"
1T is my misfortune that NJ de Rezanov
is not Catholic. but II will make no diff
ference. l shall not fall Ill, for l am like
you, not like my dear mother-and the edu-
cation you have given me ia very different
from hers. But shall marry his excel
lency or no one. and whether / marry him
or live alone with the thought OF him until
the end of my mortal days, do not be-
lieve that my soul will be imperiled in the
least"
You do nott' shouted the irate Spaniard.
'How dare you presume to decide such a
question for yourself? What does a wom-
an know of love until she marries? II IL
nothing but sickening of the Imagination
before; and If the man goes. the doctor
soon comes"
You may not have intended-but YOU
have taught me to think for myself. And
l have seen others besides M. de Rezanov
the flower of California and more than
one fine gentleman from Mexico / will
have none of them. l will marry the man
or my choice or no one. 1t may be that
l know naught of love. II you wish you
may think that my choice OF a husband Is
determined by ambition, that l am dazzled
with the thought of court life In st. Pet.
ersburg. of being the consort of a great
and wealthy noble. 1t matters not Love
or ambition, l shall marry this Russian or
1 shall never marry at ALL"
Mother of God! Mother OF Cod" Don
Jose,s face was purple. The veins swelled
IN MS neck He was the more wroth be-
cause he recognized his own daughter and
his own handiwork, because he saw that he
confronted a Toledo blade, not a wo.nan's
brittle will. such as he had grown old I'm
knowledge IA
II you refuse your consent you will lose
me in another way. l may not be able to
marry as l wish. but 1 will have no worldly
alternative. l shall join the Third Order OF
the F'rancscans and enter a convent as
soon as one Is built in California. To that
You cannot withhold your consent, or
they no longer would call you Ell Santo."
Don Jose leaped from his chair Go to
your room!' he Numbered. And do not
dare to leave it without my permission"
But Concha sprang forward and flung
herself upon his neck. She rubbed her
warm elastic cheek against his own in the
manner he loved and softened her voice.
Papacito milo. papacito mio," she pleaded.
Thou wilt not refuse thy Concha the only
thing she has ever begged of thee And
l beg! beg! Papa milo! love him, / love
mimi! And she broke into wild weeping
and kissing him frantically while Rezanov
VINO mad followed her plan of attack and
resistance in silent admiration did not
know whether he should himself be moved
to tears or further admire
Don Jose pushed her from him with q
heavy sob and hastily left the room. obliyi-
Gus In the confusion of his faculties Of the
boon he conferred on the lovers Concha
dried her eyes, but her face was deathly
pale. 1t had not been all acting, by any
means, and she was beginning to feel the
tyranny of sleepless nights. and the Joy
and the wonder of the morning he'd left
her with but remnant of endurance for
the domestic battle-ground.
Go" she whispered. Return for tho
dance tonight If nothing had happened
i forgot, there is to be a bull-bear fight in
the square. So much the better, for II is in
your honor, and you could not well remain
away. There is much trouble to come, but
In the end we shall win"
CTo be continued tomorrow