The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-07-28

tTa Sonora del Carmine-the host, who
 introduced himself as Don Reblera, said:
 "Ah, my daughter Agnes can then coll
 verse with him. She was educated in
 Spain. We are closely related to q noble
 house of that country and she was edu-
 cated in a convent near Tarragona
 After breakfast, when they were walk
 ing in the garden Donna Clara, the
 mother. again spoke of her daughter, a
 subject to which Jack, it must be con
 fessed, led the way. The old lady spoke
 Spanish imperfectly, but by putting in an
 Italian word now and then managed to
 carry on the conversation.
 Yes" said she, my daughter has seen
 English naval officers before. She had q
 narrow escape once The ship O, which
 she and her uncle, aunt and cousins were
 returning from Genoa was captured in tie
 night by the English; but the officer in
 command of the attacking party wsls
 very polite and allowed them to depart
 next day, very handsomely permitted
 them to take all their effects"
 "Oh, hoi thought Jack 'I thought
 l had seen the fair face of Donna Agnes
 before. So l misunderstood the old don
 of the Neustra Sonora del Carmine, and
 only one of the young ladies was his , daughter
 Just then Agnes joined them and they
 took a seat In a rustic pavilion. Al,
 said Jack it is very pleasant to be here. l little thought this morning that such good fortune was in store for mel can tell the fortunes of others, but not my
 own"
 You can tell fortunes 2" exclaimed Don-
 na Clara.
 Yes replied Jack. Permit me to tell your daughters. Allow me to see the palm of your hand. Donna Agnes.
 With an incredulous smile Agnes ex- Tr,r. Itatyg n n her all the details of the capture of the ship on which he had first seen her. The beautiful girl listened at first with woli- der, and finally looking long and earn estly at the Middy, exclaimed, on, mother. it is he! l recollect now; 1t Is
 the young officer who captured us ana was so kind.
 Meantime Don Reblera had been telling Gascoigne the story of his life or at least that part of 1t which accounted for the strange and perlous position in which inc youne man had found him. Don Rep 1era began oy stating that his Father hai contracted a marriage arranged Tor nm
 by his family and that his married He had not been a happy one T nave often thought that such much be the case III countries where young person IS taken from A convent and mated according 10
 what her family or her wealth may coh- slider as the most eligible connection, remarked Gascogne.
 "On that subject there may be two opinions," replied the don. It Is true that when a marriage of convenience IS arranged by the parents the disposition of the parties is secondary point but then again it must be remembered that when the choice is left to the parties themselves. it Is at an age when they
 have little worldly consideration and. led a way bv their passions, they form connec- lions with their interiors In station which are attended by eventual unhappiness; or if they choose in their own rank. they make quite as bad a choice as If their ma rtners were selected for them The young man is attracted by person and he admires: the young lady Is hattered by admiration and is agreeable. Neither of them display their faults to the other be- cause they arc not called out. They Tall fin love and exalt each other into perfec- tion which human nature has never yet attained. They become annoyed after marriage on finding out by degrees that thev were in error. and in the reaction that takes place they are apt to as far underrate each other as before they over rated. Now if two young people marry without this violence of passion they do not expect to find each other perfect and have perhaps a better chance of happi- ness.
 "I cannot agree with you.' said Gas | coiene. What young man or 1S would have agreed with him?
 Don Rebiera then proceeded with his