The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-08-23

:reater sOlIcitude for another absent
lear one still lay heavy at her heart.
She was in this respect not different
from other maidens. as they have been
since time began; the love that ex.
listed ''to make the world go round
for her was not the love of father or
mother. When Mrs. Willis had left
the room. she continued to look steadi-
ly and anxiously at Louis.
"Have you any thing more to tell
me?' she said. abruptly. =
''You don't seem particularly thank
full for what you have already heard. ="
he said, evasively.
''My mother has spoken for both OF
us; you know I love my father, and
how glad l am to hear of his safety. /
thank you for the trouble you have
taken to relieve our anxiety"
Your words make me quite happy,
Helen" He observed her face closely,
and the forbidding expression of her
eye warned him at once that he had
offended by the familiarity of his adj
dress.
''Well, pardon me, Miss Wills, il
you will have me so formal. What |
was about to say was, that, after the
re buff you gave ME six weeks ago,
never expected to have your thanks fol
any thing"
You spoke of the Lopez expedition.
she said, trying to conceal the agita-
ton that her words caused her to feel.
"There have been some rumors about
its defeat; but | have not seen news
paper for several days, and | can not
learn what has befallen it. Do you
bring any news of it,"
"Well, really, Miss Willis, that's a
5 range subject to interest /, lady! It's
some days since the press announced the
garroting of Lopez himself at Havana.
was there that day. and-well. since
you seem interested. L may say that
looked on and saw that illustrious pa
triOt's neck broken. But why should
y)m, of all persons, want to hear about
these unpleasant things?"
A sudden faintness seized her upon
hearing his reply. She turned her face
aside to conceal her emotion; but he
saw the white hand with an engage
ment-ring on the finger tremble as it
lay in her lap.
II suppose l could tell you more, "
he said.
She turned her face again to him: it
was composed, though very pale. Her
voice was firm.
Tell me all that you know about
it."
''Surely, for so remarkable request
you should be willing to tell your
reasons"
Still hoping to conciliate her. he saw
at once that he had gone too far in ask
ing this. A tinge of red colored her
cheek. and her voice showed sup
pressed anger.
''YOu are neither kind nor consider
ate, sir! When | rejected your offer
six weeks ago, told you, in answer to
your urging, that l was engaged, and
that the man l had promised to marry
was in New Orleans. You might
guess, | should think, that my reasons
for the request | have made are con-
nected with him. The last letter I re-
ceived from him told me that he had
joined Lopez. and was about embark
ing for the coast of Cuba. You'll had no
right to have me tell you this, but you
have compelled it. Now will you tell
what You know?"
This man pretended to love this girl;
perhaps he did love her as we'll as he
was capable of loving anything. He
was scheming at that instant as to how
he could overcome her aversion to him
self; yet he sat there cool and unsym-
pathetic. though he we'll knew that she
was suffering keenly in her apprchen-
sion and anxiety.
Perhaps you'll tell me his NAME"
he suggested.
at is Henry Crawford. Now. sir,
have you mortified and tormented me
enough?"
SiIFC youi pdiUoH, DAISS w HIS.
l thought it possible that l might have
heard the name mentioned among
those of the filibusters."
''Did you hear it mentioned?"
81 can't say that l did. Many names
of these fellows were repeated to me;
but l can't be sure that this one was
among them. Yet, you may be tolerably
certain that your engagement to Mr..
Crawford has been terminated by
Causes beyond his control, or yours.
The demons sheer contained in the
words was lost upon her; it was the
torture of the suspense she was suffer
ing that broke down her restraint, and
made her appeal to him with pitiful
cry.
"Man, if you have spark of feeling
for suffering woman, speak out! Tell
lne what you know
81 will. know that the leader suf-
fered death by the garrote. l know
that Colonel Crittenden and tifty-two
Of the party were shot just outside the