The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-11-20
The VALE OF ARAGON


know whittier she had gone-I laughed
in the fullness of a great joy, for i
knew that De Fuentes had lost. HAS
the air of Venezuela, Your Majes
furnished your tin soldier, or perh.. -
the moonlight of New Orleans"
Can you jest so, Senior, when you
must know they are seeking you out
even now? You should never have
come mere; there is danger here for
you"
"Assuredly; yet wherever the Seno-
rita goes"
Caracas is filed with your enc
miles,"
AYE, and have friends here.
Senorita, the best friends that man
ever Indifferent patriots who are
working for the freedom of a great
empire; men whom Spain will never
conquer, soldiers who follow a man of
destiny" =
An expression of sadness touched
her eyes. yet you told me, Senior,
that you did not serve Bolivar"
Il did not serve him then, Your
Majesty, but since that time | have
looked upon the dead city Of Tucayan,
and a people who can sanction such
an act of senseless brutality"
"Ah, Senior, this nightmare of muir
der This Bolivar who has
brought about all the wars, and the
killings. Would you serve this-this
vulture, Senor? She caught the
lapels of my rough jacket in trembling
fingers. Senior" she said breathless-
ly, my father spent his life in the
service Of Spain, and Polite, my broth
er, will doubtless do the same. Ones
country is ones life. Did you come to
Venezuela, Senior, to offer service to
Bolivar?"
las you very well know, I followed
the Senorita Lamartina to Venezuela"
Did you journey to Caracas to
serve Venezuelan"
Il saw the Senorita riding toward
Caracas, and 1 followed her, as 1
would always"
Did you visit the cathedral today
because of your love for the fervent
patriots?"
I heard the sounds Of marching
men, and knew that the guards had
returned. This, then, was the end.
Il would not hurt you, Senorita, yet
must tell you; would tell you that
my worship for you has been a sort
of glory in my life, that your face
has filed my dreams, that your voice
has seemed"
Please, Senior. I cannot"
Under happier circumstances, Your
Majesty, / could have offered very
much, but with the soldiers waiting to
take me to the dungeon. / can only
tell you that l love you, can only offer
gratitude to you for the joy my wor-
ship has given me-"
She faced me, her eyes shining with
tears. There have been too many
soldiers in my family, Senior, for me
to love an enemy of Spain"
Love is not matter of national
ity."
No." she said sadly, ''it is a mad
ness, a wretched insanity"
She held our her hand and pressed
the fingers against my lips. "Ah,
Senorita, l love you SOL"
"Dios!' she gasped. To-day 1 tried
to buy yiur liberty, and ycu didn't
need it; tomorrow, when you need it,
l shall try again, for you have offered
so much. You will be rec, then, to
serve
"Ah. Dulce mia, may II"
"Adios. Senor."
AS sat through the passage of the
leaden hours a darkness settled on
my prison, and on my soul as well.
| waited with the dull fatalism of the
condemned for the coming of him
who would see to my execution. Hav-
ing lost the SenOrita, there was moth
ing more that | could lose; life with
out her would be a futile thing, a
vain effort, empty of all that which
should make a life worth while.
full moon, thrusting above the
rim of the eastern hills, had just be-
gun to spread its golden mantle over
the city when Adolfo came; his
guards, eight in number, stationing
themselves outside my door that led
into the patio. The recklessness that
comes to one whose hours are num-
bered had laid spell upon me.
WELL" | cried gaily as he entered,
'if it isn't the stranded bridegroom !"
He stabbed me with a baleful eve.
You might not deem that quite so
clever, Senior, if you had known am
familiar with your English"
CTO BE CONTINUEDD