The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-07

which I wish you to try. 1t came but yes terday." She turned round. "Juanita, she said. bring the Senor Doctor some or the
 new wine of Oswego." And when 1t was brought, q have been told, Juanita' she said. still addressing the girl, "that lt there is anything that a doctor loves more than q case of fever or prohen uohe' 'ts glass of good wine.
 "Or q beautiful woman," supplemented
 the doctor.
 carmencita affected not to hear. And
 what is more, Juanita, I have heard II
 said that he was a connoisseur and most excellent judge.
 "Of beauty" said the doctor. Carmencita set the glass down on the
 table, "Tell me, Senor. what is the trou-
 ble. When you jest so badly know there
 is something wrong.
 ",rhere is something wrong" the doctor
 replied gravely. Tt concerns friend Of
 yours He met with an accident
 "A friend of mine?' she asked. ''Who?'
 His name is Bentley" said the doctor,
 turning away her eyes. He expected
 scene which he dread There was none.
 He looked at the woman. again. Her face
 was a little pale, perhaps, but that was
 all.
 Bentley" she repeated, thoughtfully. "As yes, l remember now, You say he was hurt, SenorY' Her tone only impneo casual interest.
 The doctor stared at her for a minute,
 then continued anxious to finish what he had so dreaded to begin. "Yes, he
 said, "he was found only mile or two from town He had evidently mistaken the trail and followed one of the COW ] paths. In attempting to turn around ms horse had fallen with him" The doctor was watching her face intently. He
 wishes to see you Carmencita." 1 Her eyes narrowed SlltS, out or | which the fire seemed to leap, but her 1 voice was quite calm. DO not ask me to | visit the sick today, senor. Perhaps to- morrow--but no, tomorrow is a saints day, and 1 must help the children sing | mass and the next day - "There will be no next day" broke | in the doctor, impatiently He can l scarcely live more than two or three | hours" He turned his head away. And may the Lord forgive me this falsehood, | he said to himself.
 The color went from Carmencita's face. For moment she sat perfectly still. | Then she got up. "I will go with you. l senor doctor" she said softly. "Come, let us make haste"
 Together and without many words they went to the doctors home where Bentley l had been taken after the accident. The | doctor showed her the room, then waited | outside.
 l It was true Bentley was a very sick
 man, but 1t had not taken the doctor long | to discover that 1t was not the broken bones that were causing all the trouble. Little by little he learned the whole | story, how his father had died, how he | had returned home and found his mother l prostrated with grief, how he, the only | son, was left to look after hls invalid mother He had kept his engagement a secret at first; then when his mother be- l came stronger he told her of his plans to f marry Carmencita Rodriguez. She would
 not listen to 1t. He persisted. She begged
 him to put the girl out of his thoughts. l He refused. Then she became i'll and he promised to give her up. So he had writ | ten her that last letter. He could not ask her to wait for him, for he did not know when he would be free. He knew
 his mother would never relent. So he, in | his letter, treated the matter lightly. He l thought she would forget him. | He even hoped he might forget her But | he could not. Ten years passed and his mother died. Then he wrote again to | Carmencita. The letter was returned unopened. Was she dead? Was she mar ried? Or was she merely indifferent?