LITERATURE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7000, 1 November 1890, Page 1

LITERATURE.

THE STRANGER FROM AMERICA. A TALE OF GALICIA. {Translatcdfrom the Spanish of Fulgosio.) (Concluded.) "But Senor, I do not know who you are. You may be unable to do all this," she era9ped. "Look!" he said, drawing a package of papers from his pocket, which he carefully unfolded and held at a safe distance for her to see. They were all the mortgages and notes which were outstanding against her. " I have bought all these and now I am your only creditor," he said, chuckling to himself as he saw her cheeks grow pale. "And I have still more," he went on, "I have full proof3 of your theft of your ward's money. You thought that you had destroyed them, but, Senora, such actions are sure to come to light. On the day that Maria becomea my wife I will burn all these in your presence. If you refuse my proposal I shall proceed against you to the full extent of the law. Now, take your choice. Meanwhile I will tell you all you need to know of my history. I went to South America a poor boy. There a kind man took me into his service. I nursed him through a terrible illness, and he became so fond of me that, as he had not a relative in the world, he adopted me and gave me his name, which I hope to carry with honour as long as I live. When my benefactor died I found he had made me heir to his immense fortune. I then went to California, where, by lucky investments, I doubled my money. If we were in California now I should marry Maria and leave you to starve, but I know that here in Spain her marriage would not be legal without the consent of her guardian. Now, what have you to say ?" The widow was cornered. She moved aneasily in her chair as she replied : "But, Senor, you arrived only a few hours ago; you have not even seen my niece. Why do you wish to marry her ? " I have been in Corunna before, Senora, and I know more about your niece- than you think. And then the whole town speaks of Senorita Maria de Rivera as a model of beauty and virtue. lam an old man, and my only wish is to settle down with a young and pretty wife for my companion. If you have any further doubts of my wealth your are at liberty to go to my bankers here in Cornnna. But time is pressing, Senora, you must give me an anßwerat once." The old man arose and stood watching her with his small, twinkling eyes. The widow had no alternative. Furiou3 as she was over what she considered Maria's good fortune, she waß compelled to acquiesce in it. That the girl herself would resist it never entered her mind, but Maria, hitherto the meekest and most submissive of maidens, declared that she would throw herself headlong from the Tower of Hercules sooner than become the wife of such a hideous old man. The widow's commands and entreaties were of no avail, and in despair she finally locked the young girl in her room, declaring that she should remain a prisoner until she came to her senses. In the morning Jose Benito appeared with a note from his master. He was dressed in a new suit of clothes as became the secretary of a millionaire, and looked handaomer than ever. In the note Senor Zayas requested permission to visit his bride, which the widow did not dare to refuse. Then she Bet to work to prepare the obstinate girl for the interview. It was not an easy task. Only after a storm of threats and abuse did Maria allow herself to be arrayed in a silk gown belonging to one of her cousins and conducted to the parlour to await the arrival of the dreaded bridegroom. The widow met him at the door. She thought it wise to inform him of Maria's rebellious state of mind before he saw her. " H'm ! So she objects to the marriage, does she ? That is serious," said the old man, thoughtfully. " Please allow me to see her alone for a few moments. I think I can tame the little rebel," he added, with a self-satisfied smile. A solitary interview was contrary to all laws of Spanish etiquette, but this was an extreme case, and the widow was forced to give way. Although she was dying with curioaity to be present, she took the old man to the parlour and left him alone with the unfortunate girl. When she returned to the room half an hour later, she found Maria weeping bitterly, but the old man was sitting at her side, holding her dainty hand in his rough, red paws. He had evidently conquered. In the days that followed' Maria crept about the house pale and silent.' Jose Benito came constantly, bringing flowers and rich presents from his master to the bride. Every evening the old man was at Maria's side, and, strange as it may seem, she was evidently growing fond of him. Her lovely eyes sparkled when he appeared, and his whispered words often brought a ro3y blush to her fair cheeks. As for the widow and her daughters, the old man's ugly face was gilded by his gold. They declared that he was the most elegant of gentlemen, and their hatred and jealousy of Maria increased every moment. But they were helpless and dared not say a word. Not far from Corunna an elegant villa stood in the midst of an extenoive park. Its owner lived in Madrid, and the place had been for sale for many years, but as no one in Corunna was rich enough to purchase such a magnificent property, it stood in solitary state, while the surrounding grounds had become a wild tangle of shrubbery and forest undergrowth, among which squirrels and wild deer roamed at will. One morning the gossips of Corunna became wildly excited over the rumour that the rich stranger from America had purchased the entire estate, and wonld fit tip the mansion with the utmost splendour to receive fciß bride. That this rumour was true was soon proved by the armies of carpenters, masons, painters, and gardeners which swarmed about the villa, and by the great vans which were being loaded with furniture of the richest description, which a ship had brought from London to Cornnna. Senor de Zayaa and his secretary, Jose Benito, directed all the improvements in person, and the old man took special interest in the renovation and decoration of the chapel, for it was here that he intended the marriage ceremony to take place. From time to time he went in an elegant carriage drawn by a span of magnificent English horses, to take his bride to view the progress of the work. On these occasions Maria was always accompanied, as was proper, by the widow Sanchez and her daughters, to whom the old man was most courteous, although certain people declared that they had seen him make furious grimaces behind their backs which revealed quite a different state of feeling, Maria apparently took little interest in these preparations for her future luxury Still the roses were beginning to bloom on her cheeks, and the gossips said that, when talking with the handsome secretary oi her future lord, her lips were much mott smiling than the occasion called for. The widow and her daughters, on the contrary, treated Job6 Benito with, greaj rudeness; in fact, they ignored bin

completely ; but they'"'were lavish in their praises of the villa, and bowed down to Don Jose de Zayaaasdidthe Israelites of old to the golden calf. "Ah, Senor, I fear love has made you blind," said the widow, with her sweetest smile. "I am positive that Maria cares nothing for you. She is marrying you only to escape from tie. Although we have protected her all her life, the ungrateful girl has always hated us. Then, too, she is a girl with no manners ; she is not fit to be the mistress of an elegant mansion like yours. She will not make you happy, Senor. I should be proud to see you married to some lady of a good Corunna family, and if she were not a chit of a ffirl like Maria, but some person of age and intelligence, surely she would be more companionable for you." The widow had made a bold stroke, and she waited to watch the effect of her words, but the old man's face was immovable. He stood watching her with his little, sharp, piercing gray eyes and said not a word. "Ah, Senor, you do not answer me, you cannot," she persisted, encouraged by his silence. "You, too, have noticed that Maria is not fit to be your wife. Now if you really desire a young and pretty wife you should select one with some style about her, like my Petra or my Ramona ; not such an awkward, ignorant creature as Maria, who might make a decent wife for your stupid secretary, but not for you." "Caramba! Senora," roared the old man. " I shall marry whom I pleage. I have loved Maria ever since she wbb a child, and that's the end of it. As to my secretary, I am fond of the young man, and mii3t beg you to speak respectfully of him ; and, let me tell you, he is quite able to manage his own love affair when he chooses to have one." The widow trembled wita rage, but she dared not say another word. The old man had her tight in his clutches. At last all the preparations were complete. The villa was a bower of luxury and beauty, the adjoining chapel was magnificently decorated, and the grounds were a paradise of sparkling fountains and flowers. For three successive Sundays the banns between Senor Don Joee de Zayas and Senorita Dona Maria de Kivera had been proclaimed in the cathedral of Corunna, and nothing remained but the ceremony of the priest's blessing on the marriage. On a sunny mcrnirg in early autumn Don Jose's carriage stood before the widow's door, and the crowd, which always gathers upon such occasions, waited impatiently to witness the departure of the bride. She appeared at last — a lovely apparition in a cloud of white lace and orange blossoms. It was easy to see that she was trembling. A bright red spot gleamed on each of her cheeks, and she entered the carriage without raising her eyes from the ground. The widow and her daughters followed, and Maria was whirled away from the home where she had toiled and suffered for so many sad years. Whea the bvidal patty reached the chapel it was already crowded with the invited guests. Joed Benito, attired in the most elegant fashion, was at the door to receive the bride and conduct her to the altar, where the prießt stood waiting. The happy bridiigroom had not yet appeared. As they ascended the altar stairs a commotion was seen in the middle aisle, and an old man clad in a sailor's suit of blue flannel embroideted with many anchors, came elbowing his way through the crowd. " Blessed be the day on which I was born in the shadow of the Tower of Hercules; blessed be the bridal pair, and most blessed of all be the hour in which I have torn off my toggery and put on decent clothes !" he cried, in a loud, hearty voice, which rang to every corner of the chapel. The excitement was intense. Men sprang to their feet ; the guests, who all recognized the old man at once, thought the bridegroom had suddenly gone insane and began talking each to the other, " Silence, all !" thundered the old man. "This place and this hour are sacred. Reverend Father, proceed with the ceremony." The Solemn voice of the priest was now heard reading the marriage service, and the assembled gue3ts instantly became still. They were stupefied with astonishment, and not until the priest had spoken the final words which made the handsome young pair kneeling before him husband and wife did even the widow recover herself sufficiently to speak. Then, springing to her feet, she screamed : "What outrageous burlesque is this? What — " she was silenced at once by the young bridegroom, who, after kissing his bride, turned and faced the guesta. " Senora and friends," he aaid, calmly, "I am Jose de Zayas, the millionaire; this lady is Maria my wife, and this dear old man" — laying his hand affectionately on the sailor's shoulder — "is my noble and faithful friend, Antonio. Reverend Father, pronounce the benediction."