“Take it, mi señorita, a holy friar gave it me for thee. Learn from it, Señorita Ysabel, to control thy too great grief. It is sinful and wrong to indulge in sorrow as thou dost.”
The Lady Ysabel knew the writing—tremblingly she broke the seal, and read,
“My gentle Ysabel—Thy father hath forbidden me the castle, or ever to see thee again—but fear not, dearest, thy father cannot withstand thy gentleness—thy goodness. Thou wert not made to be unhappy—thou art too good—too kind—too true. God will not see thee made wretched. He watches over thee. He will not desert thee—and, dearest, remember there is one heart that beats for thee—and thee alone—whose every pulse is thine. Sunshine is midnight without the light of thine eyes to tell where shineth the sun, and when, gentlest, I would see thee, I would press thy hands upon my heart—that its wild throbbings might be stilled. I would look into the clear depths of thy truthful eyes, and learn there a lesson of calmness—of faith to bear, and hope to look beyond. Thy duenna, sweetest, more than mistrusts my disguise—but a golden bait has lured stronger minds than hers from the clear waters of truth. I cannot quit the castle grounds, for in it is all that is dear to me on earth. Write, dearest, if thou canst, to thine own
Jose.”
The lady sat before her scrutoire to write to him she loved, when she heard her father’s step. She had only time to crumple his letter in her bosom as the father entered. Ever obedient to her heart’s impulse, she sprang towards him, and throwing her white arms about his neck, she called him her dear, dear papa, and burst into tears.
“Calm thyself, my Ysabel. I would tell thee frankly why I ask thee to sacrifice thyself—to seal thy misery, as thou sayest.” He led her gently to an ottoman, and seated himself beside her.
“Ysabel, wouldst thou see thy father penniless, homeless, a beggar?”
“Papa!” looked the wondering eyes of Ysabel.
“I repeat it, Ysy, wouldst thou see thy father resign all these fair acres, and starve a houseless beggar? Wouldst thou, Ysy?”
“What meanest thou, papa? in mercy tell me.”