Chata and Chinita—Chapters I-XX [pp. 1-11]

6 Cliata and Chinita. [July,
ing apartments in the house, opened direct- blame-had been like wax under her hand.
ly upon the upper corridor, its massive Yet now she was as marble; her hands had
thickness and strength being looked upon dropped on her lap; she was rigid to the
as more than sufficient to repel any dan- touch; only the deep moans that burst from
ger which could in the wildest probability her white lips proved that she lived.
reach it from the well guarded interior of The attitude was expressive of such utter
the fort-like building. despair, that it was of itself a revelation; and
As Dofia Feliz touched the latch, the presently the moans formed themselves indoor was opened by the affrighted governess, to words: "My God! my God! I am unwho had anticipated the entrance of Donia done! he is dead! he is dead!"
Isabel. The respite unnerved her, and she The words bore a terrible significance to
threw herself half fainting in a chair, as Her- the listeners. Dofia Isabel turned her eyes
linda seized the newcomer by the shoulders, upon Feliz, and read upon her face the
gasping forth, "Feliz, Feliz, tell me! tell thought that had forced its way to her own
me it is not true! He is not dead! dead! mind. Her face paled; she dropped her
dead!" her voice rising to a shriek. daughter's arm and drew back. The act it "Hush! Hush, Herlinda! Oh God, my self was an accusation. Perhaps the girl felt
child, what can this be to thee?" Dofia Fe- it so. She suddenly wrung her hands disliz shuddered as she spoke-she glanced at tractedly, and sprang to her feet, exclaiing,
the closed window, the walls she knew to be "My husband! my husband! Let me go
a yard in thickness, yet she wished them to him! he cannot be dead! he is not dead!"
double, lest a sound of these wild ravings The words "My husband" fell like a
should escape. thunderbolt among them. Herlinda had
"Feliz, you dare not tell me! then it is rushed to the door, but Donia Feliz caught
true; he is murdered, lost, lost to me for- her in her strong arms, and forced her back.
ever." The young girl slipped like water "Tell us what you mean!" she ejaculated;
through the arms that would have clasped while the frightened governess plucked her
her, crouching upon the floor, wringing her by the sleeve, reiterating again and again,
hands, tearless, voiceless, after her last des- "Pardon! pardon! entreat your mother's parpairing words. Feliz attempted toraise her, don!"
but in vain. Carmen, aroused by the sounds But the terrible turn affairs had taken had
of distress, appeared in the doorway which driven the thought of pardon, or the need of
connected the two rooms. "Back! go it, from her mind. "I tell you I was his
back'" cried Dofia Feliz, and the child, wife! Ah, you think that cannot be, but
frightened and whimpering, withdrew. Fe- it is true; the Irish priest married us four
liz turned to the governess —the deep dejec- months ago in Las Parras. Let me go, Fe