The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-28

Father Henriques filled In certain names
and signed them also, then. casting sand
upon them, placed them in the outstretched
hand Of 1hes.. who, although Morella never
seemed to notice. gave one TO the bride.
and thrust the other two into the bosom
OF her robe. Then both she and the priest
kissed the hands Of the Marquis and his
wife and asked his cave TO be gone. He
bowed his hoad vaguely and-ifa any had been
there TO li~sten-within ten short minutes they
might have heard two horses galloping
hard TOWARD the Seville gate.
Now. escorted by pages and torchbearers.
the new wed pair rcpassed those dim and
stately halls, the bride yelled. mysterious.
Hateful; the bridegroom empty eyed, like
one who wander in his sleep. Thus they
reached their chamber and its carved doors
shut behind them.
It was morning when the serving women
h waited without that room were sum
moned by he sound OF a silver gong within
IL. Two OF hen entered and were met
by Betty. no longer yelled. but wrapped
in a loose robe. who said to them:
MY lord the Marquis still sleeps. Come.
help me dress and make ready his bath and
food"
The women stared at her. for now that she
had washed the paint from her face they
knew well that this was the Sonora Betty
and not the Doba Margaret. whom they
had understood the Marquis was to marry
But she child them sharply in her bad
Spanish. bidding them be swift. as she would
be robed before her lord the Marquis should
wake
So they obeyed her. and when she was
ready she went with them into the great
hall where many Of the household were
gathered. waiting to do homage to the new
wed pair. and greeted them all blushing
and smiling. saying that doubtless the
Marquis would be among them soon and
commanding them meanwhile to go about
their several tasks
SO we'll did Betty play her part indeed
that although they also we're bewildered
none questioned her place or authority.
who remembered tina after all they had
not been told by their lord himself which
OF these two English ladies' he meant to
marry Also she distributed among the
meaner OF them a present Of money on
her husbands behalf and her own and then
ate food and drank some wine before them
all. pledging them and receiving their
salutatioDs and good wishes
When all this was done. still smiling.
Betty returned TO the marriage chamber.
closing its door behind her. sat her down
on a chair near the bed and waited for the
worst struggle of all-that struggle on
which hung her life.
See! Morella stirred. He sat up, gazing
about him and rubbing his brow. Presently
his eyes lii upon Betty. seated stern and up
right in her high chair.
She rose and coming to him kissed him
and called him husband" and still half
asleep he kissed her. Then she sat down
again and watched his face.
1t changed and changed again. Wonder.
fear. amaze, bewilderment fitted beforeit il,
till at last he said in English:
Betty. where is my wife,"
Here" answered Betty.
He stared at her. Nay, I mean the
Doha Margaret, your cousin and my lady
whom l wed last night. And how com
you here? l thought that you had left
Granada"
Betty looked astonished.
Il do not understand you" she answered.
at was my cousin Margaret who left
Granada. l stayed here to be married
to you. as you arranged with me through
Ihez."
His jaw dropped.
Arranged with you through Inez!
Mother Of eaven What do you mean?"
Mean" she answered--I mean what
l say. Surely'--and she rose In indigns-
tion-"you have never dared to try to play
some new trick upon me?"
-Trickl" red Morella. What a
the woman? IL ALI this a dream, or arm |
mad?-
"A dream, l think. Yes, il must be a
dream, since certainly il was ia no mad
man hat I was we'd last night. Look"
and she held before him that writing Of
marriage signed by the priest, by him
and by herself. which stated that Carlos,
Marquis of M6rella, was on such a date,
at Granada. duly married to the Senora
Elizabeth Dene Of London in England.
He read 10 twice. then sank bach gasping,
while Betty hid away the parchment in her
bosom.
Then presently be seemed to 90 mad
indeed. He raved, he cursed, he ground
his teeth. no looked round for a sword
to kill her or himself. but could find none
| And all the while Betty sat still and gazed
/ at him like some living fate.
At length he was weary, and her turn
came.
Listen" she said. -Yonder in London
you promised TO marry me I have it hid
den away and in your own writing. By
agreement | fed with you to Spain.
by the mouth Of your messenger and
former low this marriage was arranged
between us, | receiving your message TO
me and sending back mine to you, since
you did not wish 10 speak Of these matters
before my cousin Margaret and could
not we'd me until she and her father and
her lover were gone from Granada. So i
babe them farewell and stayed here alone
for love of you. as I fled ron London for
love Of you, and last night We were united.
az all your household know, for but now l
have eaten with them and received their
good wishes
And now you dare--you dare TO tell
mo that I, your wife-l who have sacrificed
everything for you, /, the Marchioness Of
Morella. am not your wife. Well. go, say
ii outside this chamber, and hear your very
slaves cry Shame upon you.
eco, say il to your King and your Bishop,
aye, and TO his Holiness the Pope himself,
and listen to their answer. Why, great as