Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-07-05
CHAPTER XXII.-(Continued.)

waiting for them.
II had the honor, madam" NJ. Rallier
said. with a respectful bow, ITO send you
Yesterday by one of my servants. letter,
in which | informed you of this morn
ings visit"
YES. caballero," she at once answered,
az duly received this letter, and your sis
ter Helena is ready to go away with you,
whenever you express the wish. Still
hermit me to make one request of you"
Speak, madam, and if L can be of
any service to you, believe me, that [
shall eagerly seize the opportunity"
II know not, caballero, how to explain
myself, for what I have to say to you is
really so strange that l fear lest it should
call up a smile to your lips. Although
Dona Helena has only been a few months
in our convent, she has made herself so
beloved by all her companions, through
her charming character, that her depart
uro is an occasion of mourning for all of
u.s."
"You render me very happy and very
DrOud by speaking thus of my sister,
madam"
This praise is only the expression Of
the strictest truth, caballero. We are all
really most grieved to see her leave us
thus. Still I should not have ventured
thus to make myself the interpreter of
our regrets were there not very strong
reason that renders it almost d duty to
speak to you"
81 am listening, madam, though I can
guess beforehand what you are going to
SLY to me-"
She looked at him in surprise.
You guess Oh, it is impossible,
seDor," she exclaimed.
The Frenchman smiled.
MY sister Dona Helena, as is gen
orally the case in converts, has chosen
one of her companions, whom she loves
more dearly than the others, and made
her her intimate friend. Is such the case,
MADAME"
How do you know it?'
He continued with a smile:
Now, this young lady, so beloved not
only by Helena but by you, madam, and
all your community, is gentle, kind,
loving girl, who, in consequence of great
misfortune, became insane, but whom
YOUR tender care has restored to reason.
Still, you keep the latter fact a profound
secret, before all from her guardian,
who, not contented with having stripped
her of her fortune, now insists of robbing
her of her happiness by forcing her to
marry him"
Senior. senor," the abbess exclaimed,
as she rose from her seat, with an aston
ishment blended with terror, who are
you that you know so many things Of
which | believed the whole world ignor-
anti"
who am I, madam? the brother of
Helena, that is to say, man in whom
you can place the most entire confidence"
go on, caballero."
The guardian of Dona Anita, either
that he has suspicion, or for some other
motive wrote to you yesterday, ordering
you to prepare her to marry him within
tWenty-four hours Since the receipt of
this fatal letter, bona Anita has been
plunged in the deepest despair, a despair
further heightened by the sudden depart
ure of my sister, the only friend in whose
arms she can safely reveal her hearts
secrets. Did you not receive visit
yesterday from Don Serapio de la
Ronda"
Yes, that gentleman deigned to visit
me a few moments before 1 received the
fatal letter to which you have referred"
Did not Don Serapio, on leaving you,
say these words: BE kind enough to in
form Dona Anita that friend is watch
ing over her; that this friend has al
ready given her unequivocal proofs of the
interest he takes in her happiness, and
that, on the day when she again sees the
Franciscan monk, to whom she confessed
once before. all her miSfortunes will be
endedT"
Yes, Don Serapio did utter those
words"
Well, madam, 1 am sent to you, not
emily by him, but by another person, who
Is no less than the President of the Re
public. not only to take away my sister,
but also to ask you to deliver up to me
bona Anita, who will accompany her"
Heaven is my witness, senior, that !
would be delighted to do what you ask
Of me. Unhappily, it is not in my pow
er; Dona Anita was entrusted to me by
her sole relation, who is at the same time
her guardian, and though he is unworthy
Of that title, and my heart bleeds in re-
tuSinS you. it is to him alone that l am
bound TO deliver her"
This objection, madam, the justice of
"i"SH L LulIy appreciate, mas OeeH lore
seen by the persons whose representative
an. Hence they consulted on the means
to remove the scruples by entirely releas-
ing YOU from responsibility. Father, give
this lady the paper, of which you are the
bearer"
Without uttering word. Don Martial
took from his pocket the blank signature
Valentine had entrusted to him, and
handed it to the abbess filled up.
What is this?" she asked.
Madam" the Frenchnran answered,
that paper is blank signature of the
President of the Republic, who orders you
20 deliver Dona Anita into my hands"
u see it, she said. sorrowfully; ''un-
fortunately this blank signature. which
would everywhere else have the strength
OF the law. is powerless here. We only
indirectly depend on the temporal power,
out are completely subjugated to the splr-
ltual power. and we can only receive or