The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-12-19


the persecution of an entire city
that had fixed its eyes upon his
love.
Leonora grew sad. She smiled
as usual: she flattered him with
the same worship, as If he were
an idol; but in moments Of dis
traction, when she did not notice
that he was watching, Rafael
would surprise a cast of bitter
ness about her Iips-and a sim
lister light IN her eyes, the re-
Election of painful thoughts.
She referred with acrid mirth
one night to what people were
saving about them. The gossip
had gotten even to the Blue House.
On another night Leonorn re-
ceived him with smile that
frightened him. She was affect.
ing a mood Of hectic chesrfuiness,
trying to drown her worries BY
sheer force; but suddenly she gave
way, and in the middle of d caresa,
burst into tears, and sank to q
divan, sobbing as il her heart
would break.
why, what's the matter? What
has happened?''
For time she could not
answer, her voice was too chohad
with weeping. At last however,
she began TO speak, completely
crushed. fainting from virtual
8 prostration.
She could stand 1t no Iongar!
The torture was becoming un-
bearabie. It was useless for her
to pretend. She knew as well az
he what people were saying IN
the city. They were spied upon
continually; there were people
constantly on the watch for
something new to to report. But,
alas, there were his moIharl
She Is Silent
Leonora sat silent for Il mo.
ment, as II waiting to see the
effect of that last word: unless.
indeed, she was hesitating, to IN.
complaint. The young man shrank
with e terrible presentment. Dona
Bernardo was not the woman 20
stand by idle and resigned In the
opposition, even from him!
81 see mother!p he said
In q stifled voice .'She has been
up to something. Tell me what
II is. Don't be afraid. You are
dearer to me than anything else
In the world. |"
well there ID auntie..
Leonora resumed; and Rafael re.
membered that Dona Pepa, re-
marking his assiduous visits 10
the Blue House, had thought her
niece might be contemplating mar
riage. In the afternoon, T1eon1rl
explained, she had had q seen !
with her aunt. Dona Pepa had
gone into town to confession, and
on coming out Of church had met
Dona Bernardo. Poor old woman.
Her abject terror on returning
home betrayed the intense emo
ton Rafael's mother had sue
ceeded in Weakening in her. Leo
nora, her niece, her idol, lay In
the dust, stripped Of that blind.
enthusiastic trust her aunt had
always had for her. All the gus.
sip the old lady had never be-
lieved, regarding them rs the
work OF envy. But now they
had been repeated to her by bona
Bernardo, by a. lady I'm good
standing good Christian, a
person incapable OF falsehood. And
the poor woman had wept like d
child in her niece's presence, ad.
juring her to abandon the wicked
path OF tratlsgression, shudder-
ing with horror at the great re-
eponsibility she, Dona Pepa, had
unwittingly assumed before God.
They've robbed me Of alI I
had in the world she murmured
desperately, "of the affection of
the only dear one left after my
father died. And just because OF
you, because love you, because
was not cruel to you. Oh, that
night! How clearly foresaw how
it would end
Rafael was humiIiated, filled
with shame and renorse at the
suffering that had fallen upon
this woman, because she had given
herself to him. What was he to
do? The time had come to prove
himself the strong, resoureefuI
man, able to protect the beloved
woman In her moment of danger.
But where should he strike first
to defend herr"
IT have made up my mind. 1t
hurts me very much to say what
am going to say; but l can't
help it. It will do you no good
to say mol cannot stay under
this roof another day. Everything
is over between my aunt and NE.
To her I am nothing but a sinner
now and my presence upsete
everything fer her. I've. already
told Beppa to pack my things.
Rafael, my love, this is our last
night together. Tomorrow, and
you will never see me again.
The youth recoiled as If some
one had struck him in the breast.
''Well. why are you going?" the
young man asked. IF you love
me, why are you forsaking me?'
Just because l love you, Rafael.
Because / want you to be happy"
For her to remain would mean
ruin for him: q long battle with
his mother, a merciless foe. Dona
Bernardo might be killed, but
never conuuercdi Leonora knew
what filial cruelty was! How had
she treated her father? She must
not now come between a son and
mother.
mo, you must be good, my
heart. / must go away. We can't
go on loving each other here. III
write to you; I'll let you know all
I'm doing. You'n hear from me
every day, If have to write from
the North Pole! Don't drive your
mother to despair. Shut your eyes
to the poor woman's injustice. For
after all, she is doing it all out
of her immense love for you. DO
you imagine / am glad to be
leaving you--the greatest happi-
ness / have ever known?" And
she threw her arms about Rafael
kissing him over and over again.
"Ynu shall not go" he answered