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endeavored to lift her, and said, authoritatively: "My lady, you must rise and cease your prayer Godyour health Come, obey me"

Mary arose without reply, and took the seat offered her by the duenna She

was very pale, and her eyes were swollen fro

The duenna looked upon her with an eye of pity; she took her hand, and

said, gently: "Mary, my child, you cannot continue this; such an excess of sorroould

shorten your days And what pain to the poor Geronimo on his return, to

find you condeh love for hi you to control yourself"

"On his return?" repeated Mary, raising her tearful eyes to heaven

"Why not?" replied the duenna "Why despair before being certain of the

evil you dread? More extraordinary things have happened"

"Already five days--five centuries of suspense and fear! Ah! Petronilla,

what a frightful night I passed! I saw Geroniround,

the pallor of death on his face, a large wound was in his breast, and his

lifeless eyes were fixed on me as if with his last breath he had bade rief, Mary"