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Ere the day was over, Lianor, with a heart full of bitter, despairing grief for Luiz, was bound by a sacred promise to a man whom she knew to be both bad and selfish whom she hated! In one of the many straggling streets, almost hidden behind a few large shops of curious build, stood a small boutique full of ancient relics and jeweled bric-a-brac.
It was not long ere they espied the small party, and full of triumph dashed toward them. "Lianor, keep back leave me to deal with these barbarians!" Panteleone said hurriedly, and in a minute a deadly fight began between the Indians and the soldiers. But what was their strength against more than five hundred strong warriors?
For days and weeks Lianor kept to her rooms, seeing no one except her father and Sampayo, whom she looked upon as the avenger of Luiz. Long and tenderly was her lover's memory sorrowed over, until the once beautiful girl was but a mere wraith.
Recovering her self-possession, and calling to the startled servants, Lianor entered the temple, where Panteleone and the men were quietly dozing. "Leone, awake! The Indians are coming!" The youth sprang to his feet, and, flinging one arm round his cousin, he drew a sharp poignard from his sash, and clutched it firmly. "Do not be afraid, Lianor. I will guard you with my life!" he said bravely.
Miriam cried firmly; "I will never give up until I have them both safely outside that odious prison!" Lianor gazed with grateful affection at the girl's expressive face, which now wore such a look of determined courage. "If I can do anything, let me know directly," Lianor said, gently. "Gold may perhaps be useful, and I have much."
So Luiz parted from his love, and returned to Diu, carrying in his heart a cherished memory of Lianor, and a tiny miniature of her in his breast-pocket. When he arrived at the governor's palace, he went directly to Manuel Tonza, to inform him of his departure.
Still holding Lianor, now weeping quietly, in his arms, Luiz led the way towards the road, where the palanquin stood, and placing the girl gently in, raised her white hands passionately to his lips. "Lianor, Lianor, my own darling!" he murmured, gazing into her pallid face with lovelit eyes. "If I had been too late, and found you gone!"
Surely you would not sacrifice your child to him? Think what riches I could lay at her feet! As my wife, Lianor would be one of the most envied of women." "I know, and I wish now I had not been so hasty; but Luiz saved her life, won my gratitude; then, as the price of his act, asked Lianor's hand. I was forced to consent, as I had said I would give him whatever he asked," with a sigh.
"Quick, Savitre; we will drink this draught together, and when they seek you, they will find us both cold in death." "You also, my brother, speak of death! I must escape I cannot sacrifice my life!" "Nor shall you," a gentle voice broke in passionately, and Lianor, her face full of tender compassion, stood before the victim, Panteleone beside her.
Lianor sighed, but she could not look sad long with those loved children clasped in her arms. "I cannot understand Manuel," she said, with a puzzled expression in her eyes; "he is so strange, sometimes gay almost too gay; then he relapses into a gloomy, brooding apathy, from which even the children have no power to rouse him." "But you have. He is never too morose to have a smile for you.
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