Part 12 (2/2)

At this time, as said, he wielded supreme unlimited power over the Mexican people--even to life and death For although heit about secretly--by means which, if rumour spoke true, he had more than once made use of

Indeed, there stood against his name more than one well-confirht of thisto do with the cloud that had coh not for any qualms of conscience for the murders he may have committed or hired others to coht some day meet a similar fate; like all despots he dreaded the steel of the assassin By his corrupt aded bravoiserous element in the social life of his country--almost an institution--and it was but natural he should fear the bravo's blade turned against himself

Another apprehension h to all appearance secure in the dictatorial chair, with a likelihood of his soon converting it into a real throne, he had his s about this security By imprisonments, executions, banishments, and confiscations, he had done all in his power to annihilate the Liberal party But though crushed and feeble now, its strength was but in abeyance, its spirit still lived, and ain successfully assert itself No man knew this better than he himself; and no better teacher could he have had than his own life's history, with its alternating chapters of triumph and defeat Even then there was report of a _pronunciamento_ in one of the northern cities of the Republic--the State, by a polite eupheritto” it was, but with a tone that reseht yet be heard louder and nearer

Little, however, ofnow The subject uppermost in his eneral way, but with thoughts specially bent upon one of the free As his soliloquy told, a certain ”Condesa” had first place in his reflections, she being no other than the Condesa Al lady, as to many others; but, unlike as with nation, his advances not yet having gone so far, nor been so bold, as to call for this He had only co with her; a preli that invitation to ride in the State carriage extended to Dona Luisita Valverde, while withheld from the Countess--an astute manoeuvre on his part, and, as he supposed, likely to serve hiame of ”piques” Nor did he think hi at it In such contests he had too often coht attend upon him still Vain was he of his personal appearance, and in his earlier days not without some show of reason In his youth Santa Anna would clai h a native Mexican, a _Vera-cruzano_, he was of pure Spanish race and good blood--the boasted _sangre-azul_ His features ell forhtly aquiline, his complexion dark, yet clear, his hair and moustaches black, lustrous, and profuse

But for a sinister cast in his eyes, not always observable, his countenance would have been pleasing enough As it was he prided himself upon it even now that he ell up in years, and his hair beco silvered As for the inal colour

One thing soured hi

'Tis said he could never conte over his features, as though there was gout in the leg itself giving hie And many the time--nay, hundreds of ti Vera Cruz against the French, commanded by the latter, he had received the wound, which rendered aht to have blessed the Prince, and been grateful for the losing of it rather than otherwise Afterwards the ood stead; at election tiistracy of the State Then he was proud to parade the artificial limb; and did so to some purpose

It was, indeed, an important element in his popularity, and more than once proved an effective aid to his reinstateh it had helped hi of politics, and in what he was thinking about he knew it an obstruction A wo! And such a woman as Ysabel Almonte! Not that he put it to hiood an opinion, if not of his personal appearance, at least of his powers otherwise, and he even then felt confident of success For he had just succeeded in re another obstacle which see He had but late co, had takenthe imprisonment of a man For it was a man he feared, or suspected, as his competitor for the affections of the Condesa It had cost him no small trouble to effect this individual's arrest, or rather capture He was one of the proscribed, and in hiding; though heard of now and then as being at the head of a band of _salteadore_--believed to have turned highwayth, and was at that aol of the Acordada; which Santa Anna well knew, having hiiven other instructions regarding hiovernor, as one of his creatures

After sitting for some time, as he stretched out his hand, and held the end of his paper cigar to the red coals burning in a _brazero_ on the table before hied to a dee that this man was now in his power

Sure was he of this; but ould he not have given to be as sure of her being so too!

Whether his reflections were sweet or bitter, or which predoe in the permission to enter--showed the same aide-de-ca only in that now he placed two cards on the table instead of one; the cards theht in

And with altogether a different air did Santa Anna take the by their size and shape that those now desiring an audience of hi the naitation, such as the aide-de-camp never before had seen hi officer that he stood staring wonderingly, if not rudely, at the grand dignitary, his chief His behaviour, however, was not noticed, the Dictator's eyes being all upon the cards Only for an instant though If he gave ready reception to his late visitor, still readier did he see speech with him

”Conduct the ladies in,” was his almost instantaneous command, as quickly retracted For soon as spoken he counterht which, as a codicil, had suddenly occurred to him Then followed a chapter of instructions to the aide-de-camp, confidential, and to the effect that the ladies were not to be immediately introduced He was to keep them in conversation in the ante-cha by his looks as he went out the young subaltern was more than satisfied with the delay thus enjoined upon hireeable duty; for, whether acquainted with the ladies ere in waiting, or not, he ly beautiful--one being Luisa Valverde, the other Ysabel Almonte

CHAPTER TWENTY

A PAIR OF BEAUTIFUL PEtitIONERS

Soon as the aide-de-ca up frolass which stood on one side of the roo himself before this he took survey of his person froave a pull or two at histheers coave that also a jaunty set In fine, straightening hilance down to his feet--this resulting in a slight grimace--he returned to the state chair and reseated hiallantry and politeness--and to these he made much pretension--it was not his custoht attitude the artificial legit away under the table Besides, there was his dignity, as the grand figure-head of the nation, which he noished to have its full effect Leaning forward, he gave a doard blow to the spring of the table bell; then assurandeur, sate expectant This ti to and fro; and the door again opening, the ladies were ushered into the august presence

In their air and itation too, while the serious expression upon their features told they were there on no trivial errand

”Pray be seated, ladies,” said the Dictator, after exchanging salutations with them ”'Tis not often the Condesa Almonte honours the Palacio with her presence, and for the Senorita Valverde, were it not for official relations with her father, I fear we should see even less of her than we do”

While speaking he pointed to a couple of couch chairs that stood near the table

They sat down rather hesitatingly, and slightly tre Not that either would have been at all timid had the occasion been a common one

Both were of Mexico's best blood, the Condesa one of the old _noblesse_ who hold their heads higher even than the political chief of the State, when he chances to be--as more than once has occurred--an adventurer of hunitary that now unnerved the speech with hiuessed it, or not, could not be told by his looks An experienced diplomatist, he could keep his features fixed and immovable as the Sphinx, or play the delivered himself, as above, with the blandest of s the rejoinder

It was the Condesa who made it