The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, 7 December 1911, Page 2451

The Storyteller

ANTONIA’S LOVER (Concluded from last week.) Velasquet burst into a peal of laughter. Angered beyond expression, her beautiful eyes full of tears, Antonia rose to leave him. But he seized her hand and drew her once more into the deep willow chair in which she had been sitting. ‘ I cannot deny it, Ido not wish to deny it. Whoever saw' me do as you have just said, told the truth though it -may nob have been alone for truth's sake. Listen to me, Antonia/who is it that wears black satin slippers, embroidered with red, with little stars of gold on the flowers? Tell me?’ She had gotten to her feet again; he had seized her hands and was trying to make her look at him, but she resolutely turned her head away. Her face was so pink and confused, and eyes so dewey with joyful tears that she could not bear to meet his gaze. Tell mewho wears them again, in a very masterful way. ‘ I do,’ she faltered, and slowly turned towards him. ‘ Now, I will tell you,’ he said, after one blissful moment. ‘ You had been so cold and strange to me, my Antonia, that I could not bear it. I was sick and tired of the Vidals, though Victoria, poor girl, did all in her power to make me comfortable. So I ran away . from the crowd, and all that afternoon wandered about by myself, and when night came I was still wandering. I could not help passing your window, Antonia, my heart was so full of youl was so despondent. For a moment I stood in the deep embrasure, when suddenly a cat jumped through the window bars. It had something in its mouth which dropped to the ground as it ran away, frightened at sight of me. I stooped and picked up —this little slipper.’ He had taken it from his pocket and held it up to her view. ‘ I had seen the point of it peeping from, your gown the night of the ballwhen you were so cruel to me. I should have returned it, I know, but I simply could not. Have you not missed it?’ ‘ No,’ she replied demurely. ‘ I have been too miserable to care for slippers, or whether or not I ever went to a ball again. But wait.’ Like a bird she flew from his clasp and fluttered into the house, coming back in a. little while, timid but radiant, and once more placed herself beside him. ‘ I have found only one slipper there on the sill,’ she said, ‘ where I put them to air after the ball. How lucky, if you must be so foolish, Alfredo,’ and her lips lingered shyly over the word that sounded, deliciously sweet in his ears. ‘ How lucky that it was almost new. It is bad enough as it is, but if it had been ripped or shabby, or down at the heel, 0, Alfredo!’ They laughed heartily together, which brought the old folks, who divined that everything was settled. Congratulations, embraces, handshakings, and a few tears followed. An hour later Antonia stood at the gate of the garden with her lover. Far across the orchard a light gleamed in one window of the neighboring ranch house the window of Victoria’s room. And Victoria, peeping from behind the iron bars, stood brushing her heavy black hair, wondering why in the Barcas house so many lights should be shining. They seemed to fascinate herthe brush lay idle in her hand. f Usually they are all fast asleep, by now,’ she reflected. ‘ But to-night Velasquez was there, and I would not be surprised— not at all surprised, if, in spite of what I told her to-day, Antonia, weak little creature, has allowed herself to be persuaded ! And, if it be true,’ her thoughts went on, resignedly at first, and soon most pleasantly, ‘ if it be true, I am sure I shall be her bridesmaid, and there is hardly a doubt but that Alfredo will have 'for his best man his brother, Rafael, who is just two inches taller than I am. We two would make a splendid couple at the wedding, .and then, perhaps knows! And I think Rafael is much handsomer than Alfredo.’ —New World:. •