The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1906-09-03

His house was on a little square, OF
rather court, In the center Of which was
fountain with a cup where any one
might quench his thirst Don Roderigo
had married a girl very much younger
than himself and set her up on pedes-
tai as his mother had placed crucifx
on her dressing table, to worship. 81
gnora de Sandoval while she at first
found 1t pleasant TO be thus adored,
especially since alteration brought with
II every comfort, soon found II tire
some. Her husband devoted but brief
time to her every day, the rest being
given to affairs Of state, he being one
Of the kings cabinet. The rest Of the
time the young wife spent alone, and It
did not occur to the husband that the
time would hang heavy ON her hands
or that she would crave society, espe-
cially Of the opposite sex. Did she not
have servants at her beck and call, the
finest apparel to wear, the most savory
dishes upon her tablet What more
could any woman need7
One night when Don Roderigo was re-
turning from the palace where he had
been in conference with the king. Just
before entering the court I'm which he
lived be stopped short and fastened his
eyes on q scene before him. A young
man stood at the fountain holding the
cup In his hand and looking up at the
balcony projecting from the second
door Of Don Roderigo's house. JUST
within a window opening on to the bal
cony nuttered a handkerchief, while
the young man was making signs with
the cup. His back was toward De San
doyal. 30 that be could not be recog
nlzed.
The husband watched this pantomime
In q sort Of stupor. He could not have
been more thunderstruck had he seen
an angel from heaven alight on the
fountain and pour mud upon the wa.
ters. That the being he had worshiped
could thus dishonoT him filed him with
agony. While be looked he saw a fan
waved frantically from within the win
dow and the man drinking at the foun-
tain dropped the cup and walked rap
idly away. Don Roderigo, awakening
from his stupOF, followed, but the
stranger had only a short distance to
60 to turn a corner, and by the time
eandoval reached It the man he sought
was nowhere to be seen.
DON Roderigo went to his house,
kissed his wife (she noticed that his
lips were cold as Icel, and went to bed.
He did not accuse her nor ask the
name Of the young man who had been
making signs at her window. From
that time his manner toward her was
changed. though no one except herself
noticed .it. She was allowed the same
privileges. enjoyed the same comforts,
but somehow she felt that she lived In
the shadow Of death.
A few weeks after the episode that
had such q marked effect upon Ro-
derigo he was coming home late at
night when he saw a man drinking at
the fountain. Advancing. he knocked
the cup from the strangers hand. The
man turned, hot at the insult. and see
ing one worthy Of his steel drew his
rapier and attacked the insulter. San
doyal drew and defended himself, cast
ing from time to time an eye on his
wife's window. All was dark there,
and In time he called halt In the
fight. apologlzed for the insult, refilled
the cup and offered Il to the stranger.
The latter. puzzled. drank and went
away.
After that on numerous occasions
always at the dead Of night-some
stranger stopping to quench his thirst
at the fountain would report In the
morning that the cup had been knocked
from his hand and. sometimes after a
eight. the insulter had apologlxed and
preferred full cup. The police seemed
singularly apathetlc about the matter,
not even taking pains to watch the
fountain. Thus It became the belief
that the person who gave these insults
was high In favor Of the government
One night a man entered the square
and. seeing another at the fountain.
withdrew under the shadow Of a flight
OF steps. While the man at the foun-
tain was drinking a third figure ap-
preached and knocked the cup out
OF the drinkers hand.
"what means this lnsultF' asked the
man attacked.
~ N1AN AA0AtNAA = NAAA1NA Va WhANc
appeared on the balcony Of Don RO-
derlgo's house RoderigO saw It In an
instant
1T means that l have az last found
the man I have been 30 long looking
for" said RoderigO.
His rapler flashed. but before the
man for whom it was intended had
turned to draw his own weapon third
man shot from 4 shadow and stood
sword In hand. between the two
You are mistaken. slgnor." he said,
Il am the man you have been looking
for. l was a lover OF your wlfe's be-
fore you married her. Thrice l have
passed a few words. or rather signals,
with her from this fountain. but l
have never been nearer. She Is pure
as marble. Go and continue the wor-
ship which TIN you found me here you