The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-19

n Z 4. n S
q warfe q and
ugly brother,
had always
vorshiped him with blind. persistent
adora ton
When Alicia came between Us be-
gan to look upon his superior charms
with all the bitterness Of greedy envy.
His perfect physique grew hateful to
my eyes and the noble face took on a
mask of proud cOngratulation.
It was the evening before the Car
nival of the Flowers that I reached
the acme Of despair; Alicia, starry
eyed and velvet-lipped, had talked
and danced with Fernando until my
heart was almost bursting
Alicia was of Spanish birth. her
father, the Condo de Tornasol, had
been one Of the highest mobiles IN the
land, and had early wed his daugh-
ter to one who later escaped from
his country to roam the world friend
less and alone, with a cOnspirator's
price upon mis- head
1t was just after an unusually tire
some waltz and 7 had lost sight Of
Alicia for moment I left my seat
and wandered about the rooms,
searching everywhere for the starry
eyes, whose owner was the glory of
my world and heaven At last saw
her, sitting alone in a darlzened cor
ner, hidden 50 completely by a tow
ering palm that no glance, other
than from the eye Of love. would ever
have detected her.
pushed aside the struggling leaves
and stood suddenly before her. and,
IN spite of her grace and breeding,
she could not forbear to start at the
hideous picture 1 must have made.
Then she extended her taper hand
and smiled into my hideOus face.
.'Oh, senior. you have found my
hiding place." Then with a flood Of
rapture almost binding my senses,
/ saw that she had moved a little and
was making a place for me upon the
divan beside her
For once her smiles, her gracious
words, were all for me alone
listened, half intoxicated, and an
swered like one in a dream. I bent
forward, my lips parted, to tell her
all. when suddenly a black shadow
fell across the palms, and I had only
time to bite my lips TO silence when
my brothers voice. low. tender, and
oh how exquisiteIy modulated, fell,
knell-1ixe, on my ear
There was a gentle laugh from
Alicia She touched my hand with
her jeweled fingers and, breathing
some word of regret at leaving me
there, rose swiftly from the sheltered
nook and went back into the glare of
light, leaning once more upon my
brothers shoulder.
At that moment could have killed
him in my rage. What right had he
to steal upon US at this. the first
sweet moment of my happiness?
/ hurried from the ball to plan my
revenge, for in an instant it had come to
me that were he not 50 constantly by
her side there might be some little
hope
The next morning. the first day Of
the famous carnival, broke fair and
golden in its splendor- The sun Of
the Riviera was shining brilliantly
upon the waters of the Mediterra-
mean, and from the peaks of the dis
tant mountains there came a cooling
breath of air that seemed to soothe
my frenzy just a little Calmly and
deliberately made my plans The
costume I selected was calculated to
disguise my hideOus form, and even
make me many inches taller through
the monstrous helmet L assumed
AS last addition to my toilet
purchased a keen edged dagger.
It lacked but a moment Of the
signal gun so began my CHASTITY task