Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-11-08
CHAPTER XXII.-(Continued.)

'AoiSOA q oi6h W lOllOW ucT, anu leo them
to the parlor where we have already taken
the reader, and where the abbess was
waiting for them.
Il had the honor, madam" NJ. Rallier
said, with a respectful bow, ito send you
yesterday by one of my servants. a letter,
In which l informed you Of this morn
ing's visit"
Yes, caballero," she at once answered,
Il duly received this letter, and your sis
ter Helena is ready to go away with you,
whenever you express the wish. Still
permit 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"
Il know not, caballero, how to explain
myself, for what have to say to you is
really so strange that fear lest it should
call up a smile to your lips. Although
Dona Helena has only been few months
In our convent, she has made herself so
beloved by all her companions, through
her charming character, that her depart
ure is an occasion of mourning for all of
u.s."
"You render me very happy and very
<-Se~ ~ DEIlAlng 'NNN VI my slSltEs
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 l should not have ventured
thus to make myself the interpreter of
our regrets were there not very strong
reason that renders it almost a duty to
speak to you"
II am listening, madam though I can
guess beforehand what you are going to
say to me-"
She looked at him in surprise.
You guess Oh, it Is impossible,
senor," 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,
madam"
"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 a 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 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."
"Senor, 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 l believed the whole world ignor-
anti"
"Who am l, madam? the brother of
Helena, that is to say, a 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, Dona 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 a visit
yesterday from Don Serapio de la
Ronda?"
"Yes, that gentleman deigned to visit
me a few moments before l 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
ended?"
'Yes, Don Serapio did utter those
words"
''Well, madam, / am sent to you, not
only 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
Dona 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-
fusing you, 1t is to him alone that l am
bound to deliver her."
'"This objection, madam, the justice Of |
which 1 fully appreciate, has been fore
seen by the persons whose representative |
[ am. 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 a word. Don Martial |
look from his pocket the blank signature |
Valentine had entrusted to him, and |
banded it to the abbess filed up.
"Wbat is this?" she asked.