The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-14

garet presently, and being your prisoner,
l have come because | must. What Is your
pleasure with me2"
"Doda Margaret" he answered gravely
~can you not guess? Well, I will tell you,
lest you should guess wrong. First, il In
to ask your forgiveness, as l ave done
before, for the many crimes to which my
love, my true love, for you has driven me.
This time yesterday | knew we'll that !
could expect none. To-day dare TO hope
that it may he otherwise"
why 40. Marquis'"
Last evening you looked into a certain
garden and saw two people walking there
-yonder IL one Of them" and he nodded
toward Inez. shall I go on2'
NO." she answered In a low voice and
passing her hands before her face. only
tell me who and what IL that woman" and
In her turn she looked toward Ihez.
rs il necessarily" be asked. We'll. IL
you wish to know she is a Spaniard Of good
blood who. with her sister. was taken cap
tive by the Moors. A certain priest who
took an interest in the sister brought her
to my notice and | bought her from them,
80. as her parents were lead and she had
Nowhere else to go, she elected to stay in
my house. You must not Judge such things
too harshly: they are common here. Also
she has been very useful 10 me, being clever.
for through her ! have intelligence of many
things. OF late. however. she has grown
tired Of this life and wishes to EARN her
freedom. which | have promised her in
return for certain services and to leave
Granada"
Was the nursing Of my betrothed one Of
those services, Marquis?"
lie shrugged his shoulders.
As you will. Sonora. Certainly | forgive
her this indiscretion IL at least she has
shown you the truth about that man for
whose sake you have endured so much.
Margaret. now that you know him for what
he is. say. do you still cling to him?"
She rose and walked a few steps down
the arcade, then came back and asked.
Are you any better than this fallen man."
81 think so. Margaret. for since | knew
you | am a risen man; all my old self il left
behind me. | am a new creature. and my
sins have been for you not against you.
Hear ma. | beseech you. | stole you away
il is true, but | nave lone you no other
harm. and will do you none. For your
sake also | have spared your father when
! had but to make a sign to remove him
iAl olh 4 hlNi' balh w rNbD
from the prison where he was confined.
and | know the place where he think him
self hidden to-day among the Jews Of Ora
NADIA. Also | nursed Peter Bronze bach to
life when AT any hour | could have let him
die lest afterward / might have it ON my
conscience that but for my love for you
he might perhaps still be living. Well. you
nave seen him as he is. and what say you
,,,ug uil mi Gtin raiaof t,a9 Lob ~.
me" and he drew up his tall and stately
shape. "and te me am | such a man az a
woman should be ashamed to own as hus-
band? Remember. too. that | have much
to give you in his land OF Spain, whereof
you shall become one Of the greatest aides,
or perhaps in the future" he added, sig
%nifcantly, even more. War draws near,
Margaret; this city and all its rich territories
will fall into the hands of Spain. and after
ward | shall be their Governor. almost
their King"
And if | r~efuse?" asked Margaret
Then" he answered sternly, you bide
here, and that false lover Of yours bides
here, and your father bides here 20 take
the chance OF war IA Christian c~aptives with
n thousand others who languish in the dun
geons OF the Alhambra. while, my mission
tilAltu' i ko "a w lldy my ptIl ia Ddltlc
among my peers as one Of the first cap
tains of their Most Catholic Majesties.
Yet it is not to your fears that I would
appeal. but to your heart. for I seek your
love and your dear companionship through
life. and. if | can help it. desire to work
you and yours no harm
You desire TO work them no harm,
Then. il | were TO fall in with your humor
uyn,,ll ", Lat tharn M IN oafatxy n,,t fothn,
and the Seior Bronze and my cousin Betty,
whom. il you were as honest as you pretend
10 be. you should ask to bide with you as
your wife. and not myself?'
The last / cannot do he answered,
flushing. God knows I meant her no
hurt and only used her to keep near to you
and win news for you, thinking her, TO tell
truth. somewhat older than she is"
Are no women honest in Spain. then,
my lord Marduiss"
"A few. a very few. Dona Margaret.
But l erred about Betty. whom I took for
a simple servant girl, and TO whom. il
be. | am ready to make all amends"
Except that which is due to a woman
you have asked TO be your wife and who
in our country could claim the fulflment
of your promise. or declare you shamed.
| w JOu bdNt " "ouIu Itlt1
go free?"
As free as air-especially the Sonora
Betty" he added with a little smile. "for
TO speak truth. there is something in that
woman's eyes which frightens me at times.
I think that she has "A long memory, Within
an hour of our marriage you shall look
Down from your window and see them
depart under escort, every one. to go
whittier they will"
May" answered Margaret, 1T is not
enough. I should need TO see them 20
before, and then, if | consented, not till
the sun had set would | pay the price Of
their ransom"
"Thcn do you consent"- he asked eagerly.
My lord Marquis, il would seem that
| must. My betrothed has played me false.
For "A month or more ! have been a pris-
oner in your palace, which | understand
has no good name. and If | refuse you
tell me that all of us will be cast into yonder
dungeons to be sold as slaves or die as
prisoners of the MoorS. My lord Mar
quis. fate and you leave me but little choice
I'm this dDy week will marry Won hint