General Harero had learned of
his promotion for gallant service; but having no object in
communicating such intelligence, it had remained wholly undivulged,
either to the Gonzales family or the city generally.
It was twilight, and the soft light that tints the tropics in such a
delicate hue at this hour was playing with the beauty of Isabella
Gonzales's face, now in profile, now in front, as she lounged on a
couch near the window, which overlooked the sea and harbor. She held
in her hand an open letter; she had been shedding tears; those,
however, were now dried up, and a puzzled and astonished feeling
seemed to be expressed in her beautiful countenance, as she gazed
now and then at the letter, and then once more off upon the
sparkling waters of the Gulf Stream.
"Strange," she murmured to herself, and again hastily read over the
letter, and examined the seal which had enclosed it in a ribbon
envelope and parchment. "How is it possible for the queen to know my
secret? and yet here she reveals all; it is her own seal, and I
think even her own hand, that has penned these lines. Let me read
again:
"SENORITA ISABELLA GONZALES: Deeply interested as we are for the
welfare of all our loyal subjects, we have taken occasion to send
you some words of information relative to yourself.
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