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

+ UxAu L1ESG aCBllAuEO11s
As he entered the old mansion,
entirely made over now, he felt
the same sense Of well.beinE and
power. Eight years Of unbroken
familiarity had finally i1oculated
him with most OF the obsessioTls
and most Of the predictions Of
his wife.
The shrinking, tilnorous little
she.goat that used to gambol abo'lt
with him in pursuit, the poor child
who had been so wistful and down
cast during the days of his wan
tonness, had now become a W0m-
an with all the irpperious OBJ
stinacy, all the domineering SUI
periority OF the species az e has
evolved in the countries Of the
south.
"A jewel for the home! And
didn't I tell you so?" her father.
would whisper. satisfied with his
daughters obtrusive qualities.
Rafael, for his part, found them
intOlerable. He had tried to love
his bride iii the early months CT
their marriage. He made an
honest effort to forget and recall
the playful, passionate impulses
he had felt on those days when
he had chased her around the or
chards. He hunted, took long
horseback rides over the district,
dispensed justice In the patio OF
the house, Just az his father Don
Ramon had done. His three little
ones, finding him strange after
his long absences in Madrid, and
more at home with their grand
parents, would group themselves
with bowed, bashfuI heads around
his knees, silently waiting for his
paternaI kiss. Everything attain
able around him was within his
reach for the asking; and yet
he was not happy.
From time to time the adven-
ture Of his youth would come back
to his mind. Leonora's face had
slowly faded in his memory, till
all he could remember were her
two green eyes and her blonde
hair that crowned her with b
crown 81 gold. Her aunt had died
some time since leaving her prop
erty for the salvation Of her soul.
The orchard and the Blue House
belonged now to RafaeHs father
in-law who had transferred to
hts own home the best Of ITS
equipment.
When the deputy was alone IN
Madrid, as much at liberty as
before his marriage; he could
think Of Leonora freely, without
those restraints which seemed to
disturb him back at home In the
bosom OF his family. What had
become of her? To what limits Of
mad frolic had she gone 1fter
that parting which even after
years had passed. still brought a
blush to Rafael's cheeks? She had
sung in Paris in Frenoh, with az
much success as a native artistic.
In Rome she had played the
lead" in an opera, and her com
ing had been announced by press
agents as a great event.
After that silence, no news
whatever! She had disappeared.
A new love affair Rafael sup
posed.
Chapter III
Order Of the day. Resumption
Of debate on ecclesiastical appro-
priations!''
The Chamber had been packed
from the opening of the session.
It was day of intense excite
ment; a debate between the leader
OF the Right and a former COM
rade who was now In the oppo-
sition. All eyes turned toward the
extreme left of the chamber,
wr1t{%n I40d r%faiFaur a 1f2xrn
the red seats over spectacles and
a gently ironical smile, was com
ing into view. He was on his feet
at last. All his vital energies had
been concentrated in that huge,
nobly proportional head OF his,
pink at the top, with shocks of
white hair combed back over 1t.
Rafael was sitting at the head
Of the committee bench, some
what apart from his companions.
They were giving him ample room.
He had bundles Of documents and
bundles piled up at his seat, in
case he should need to quote
authorities. Rafael was studying
the old man admiringly AMI in
silence. What a strong, sturdy
spirit, as hard and cold and clear
as ice! The old man was in
flexible and Interchangeable. For
thirty years he had been saying
the same thing over AMI over
again. Rafael had read that
speech any number of times.
1t was now time for the reply.
Rafael arose, pale. pulling lat his
cuffs, waiting a few, minutes for
the excitement in the Chamber to
subside. II Rafael was depending
on the sympathy of an audience
to encourage him, things looked
promising indeed! The hall began
to empty. Why not? Who Is
interested in q committees reply
to the Opposition? Besides, Erull
had O. bundle of documents on
hand. A lond winded affair! Let's
escape, That strange woman in
the diplomatic gallery had also
risen to go. But no: she was Civ
ing her hand to her companion,
bidding him goodbye. Now she
had resumed her seat, continuing
the busy movement of ner fan
that annoyed Rafael so. Thanks
for the compliment fair one!
Rafael's eyes turned anxiously
upon the clock. He wanted to be
long, very long. If he did not
talk for an hour and a half or
two hours he would feel dis
graced. He had gained quarter
Of an hour without making any
reply to the previous speech what
ever, and literally burying his IL
lustrious antagonist in flowers.
And it's worth sitting an after
noon even in that Chamber to
hear the sighting tone of scorn
with which the member from Al
cira emphasized that word ideo-
logue and that phrase about ,
theories dug out Of books" and
Giving removed from reality"