OCR Text |
Show " w-i frowsy nMpTj . , ., a I (Copyright, 1905. by Dally Story Iub. Co.) joso stood at tho window of tho bell-ringer's bell-ringer's loft of tho great cathedral nnd looked down Into the city to tho adobo building that marked tho Bpot where lived tho ono ho loved. Ills thoughts "were not altogether pleasant as ho lowed tho magnificent panoramn that was spread out heforo him. Ho ro-mombered ro-mombered tho Incidents of tho previous pre-vious night at his meeting with Anita on tho Alameda. How vividly ho recalled re-called tho conversation that sot his train afire with tho possibility of losing los-ing her. Could she hno meant It when sho told him that ho was not bravo? Did sho lovo Enrique, tho commandant of tho Rurales? If not, why hnd sho taunted him last night when he urged her to marry him? Had sho not told him that It Is only tho bravo who are deserving of tho fair, nnd when he and chnrged her with being In lovo with a soldier, bad sho not confessed Hint Capitnn Enrlquo Bosalcz had played hear under her window for many nights? "Do you lovo him?" Joco had aBked. Tho only answer was a shrug of tho pretty shoulders of his adored ono. Tho hot Latin blood surged through tho veins of Jose. Dark thoughts filled his mind. Then came a calmness. calm-ness. Ho remembered that ho was connected with tho clergy. To bo sure iho did not wear tho vestments nnd say tho prayers of the good padres whom ho Borvcd, but he regarded himself him-self ns bolonglng to their class. Was ' not ho tho bell-ringer In ho great cathedral? Had not his father and his father's father been boll-rinscrs (before him? Ho would not bring disgrace dis-grace upon his snered calling by com-Imlttlng com-Imlttlng n rash deed. Ho would glvo up Anita to tho bravo commandant. TJId sho lovo tho capitnn? Thnt was i tho question thnt Jose wished ho could answer to his own satisfaction. 'Ho could hardly bollevo thnt Anltn .would trlfio with any one's affections. ,8ho was doubtless honest In lior belief be-lief thnt hor lovo was for Capitnn En-v En-v 'rlquo nnd not for poor Jose, tho boll-'ringer. boll-'ringer. ir "'oso 'mi '" nPr t',c n''lt Previous with doubt In his mind ns to her lovo 'for him. It was now enrly morning nnd tho chimes of tho bells wore still echoing In tho dlstnnco when Joso lcanod out of the window of the boll-ringer's boll-ringer's loft nnd breathed deep draughts of tho fresh morning nlr thnt bleV In from the mountains Did ho long to be bravo thnt ho might como up to tho stnudnrd of Anltn's thoughts of Cnpltan Knrlquo? No such thought wns In Jose's mind. He did not belong to tho recognized class of tho bravo. That was loft to tho soldiers. Ho looked down into thu street below and watched tho women ns they loft their homes nnd hurried silently nlong nnd entered tho worship' room of tho grcnt edlilco to attend early mass. Ho know that Anita would bo among thorn. Many, many mornings hnd ho stood at this sarao window and watched his loved ono ns sho left her homo nnd wended her way to tho cathedral to offer up her dally prayer. Perhaps It was not altogether right And proper, but many lovo signs hnd pnssed between them ns she passed along tho strcot below. On this morn-lug morn-lug thero was such a soreness In his Looked down Into tho city, heart that ho thought only to get n glimpse of hor ami then ho would go buck to his tusk of .uoutiding tho chimes over tho city. Tho first rays ot tho rising sun wore just boglunlng to glint over tho mountains ami relloct themselves upon tho souttorod oloudi that hung nbovo tholr tojwi when Joso saw Anltn lenvo her homo end wnlk towards tho placo of worship, Ho welcomed wel-comed the smiling nod of recognition .1 that sho gave to him, her upturned faco being to Joso tho very light of his existence. Could ho glvo her up? Sho passed Into the portnls of tho cathedral. Over at tho military barracks bar-racks tho rovcllle was being sounded. Perhaps Capitnn Enrlquo would ba waiting to rccoivo from Anita n word ot lovo ns sho entered her homo upon her return from her devotions. Dressed in bis bright-colored uniform, wns it nny wonder that Anltn lost her heart to tho bravo commandant, mused Jose. Suddenly, thero was a creaking and crackling-sound overhead. The sight that met Jose's eyes when ho looked up chilled his henrt. Tho heavy cross plcco which had held upright tha great bell for theso many long years hnd given way to tho rnvnges of tlmo nnd wood worms nnd hnd broken squiyre In Its center. Tho bell, with Its enor-hous enor-hous weight, was sagged and swaying sway-ing nnd threatening to drop nt nny moment. In Its downwnrd plungo it would lnnd In tho very front ot tho chancel. Us fnll would menn tho denth of probnbly several worshipers, particularly nt that hour. Joso's first thought wns to glvo the alarm. To do "You are my brave Jose." this ho must reach tho ground beforo tho bolt could fall. Thero was but ono way do An, mid that waH by tho ladder thnt followed tho nnrrow opening directly di-rectly underneath tho great boll. Without With-out a moment's hesitation Joso sprang for tho Inddor and wont down It with the nglllty of ono long experienced In such desconts. Tho snfoty of tho worshipers depended upon his quick-noss. quick-noss. Ho had no thought of tho danger dan-ger that threatened his own llfo. Ho reached tho stnlrwny thnt led Into tho largo worshiping room when thero wns a terrific crash nbovo him. "Tho great bell has fallen," ho cried. "Fly for your lives." Ills words of warning caused tho worshipers to rush pollmoll from tho place, nnd a moment Inter, with n crash thnt shook tho old structure tbo bell with Its enormous weight toro through tho nnrrow opening, bringing down stono nnd tlmbors with it nnd filling tho room with dust. Friendly hands removed tho debris from tho stunned nnd torn body ot Joso. Anltn, dry-eyed and porfectly composod, was nt his sldo giving directions di-rections for his enrc. Taps wero being sounded nt the military barracks hours later whon Joso recovered consciousness. conscious-ness. Ho looked about him in n dnzod wny, A soft hnnd stolo Into his nnd a voice spoko In ncconts low and sweet: "You nro my bravo Joso." Perpetrated b Lawson. Thomas W, I-awson wnB onco visited In his Iloston office by a young won nu who enmo laden with nil sorts ot college diplomas nnd gilt odgo rotor, oncos. It so hnpponcd that Mr. Law-son Law-son needed n temporary secretary, and engaged hor on tho spot. When, lator In tho day, tho young lady handed Mr, Ijiwboii n numhor ot letters that ho hnd dlctatod, thoy wero chiefly re-mnrkablo re-mnrkablo for their hideous orthography. orthogra-phy. Ho called tho girl's attention to hor blunders, whoroupou sho replied re-plied with a glgglo: "llcnlly, now, I think I must hnvo boon I'owltched." "Quito so," said Mr. Lawson; "somo fairy must have cast a bad spoil over you." Success. |