The Project Gutenberg EBook of Maximina, by Armando Palacio Valdes

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Title: Maximina

Author: Armando Palacio Valdes

Translator: Nathan Haskell Dole

Release Date: July 24, 2010 [EBook #33244]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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MAXIMINA

BY

DON ARMANDO PALACIO VALDES

AUTHOR OF

"THE MARQUIS OF PENALTA"

(_Marta y Maria_).

_TRANSLATED FROM THE SPANISH BY_

NATHAN HASKELL DOLE.

NEW YORK
THOMAS Y. CROWELL & CO.

COPYRIGHT, 1888,

BY THOMAS Y. CROWELL & CO.

I.

Miguel reached Pasajes late Friday afternoon. On alighting from the
train he found Ursula's boat moored to the shore.

"Good afternoon, Don Miguel," said the boat-woman, showing genuine joy
in her face, where the fires of alcohol were flaming more than ever
brilliantly; "I was beginning to think that I should not see you again."

"Indeed!"

"How should I know?... Men are so queer about getting married!.... But,
senorito, you can't imagine how glad everybody in the village was to
hear about it!.... Only a few jealous women would not believe it.... How
I will make 'em fume to-night! I'm going all around telling everybody
that I myself brought you over to Don Valentin's."

"Don't think of making any one fume," replied the young man, laughing;
"but bend to your oars a little more."

"Are you in a hurry to see Maximina?"

"Of course I am."

It was the twilight hour: the shadows clustering in the recesses of the
bay had already crept far up on the mountains. On the few vessels at
anchor the hands were busy loading and unloading their cargoes, and
their shouts and the creaking of windlasses were the only sounds that
disturbed the peacefulness of the place.

Directly in front a few lights began to appear in the houses. Miguel did
not take his eyes from one that gleamed faintly in the dwelling of the
ex-captain of the _Rapido_. He felt a pleasant and delicious desire
which from time to ti