Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-08-30

,er brothers patio and sat down un-
der the great cups-of- gold. At supper
she could not eat. In bed she could
not sleep. In the night her little bare
feet went softly up and down the
room. In the morning she was afraid
of herself, something within her heart
scared her SO.
Otilia, in winning him, had lost her
self. All, his god-like form, his for
eign strength, his whiteness! She
loved him. The same old difference
between so many loves characterized
these. The mans vast schemes were
mightier than his love. The woman's
love was mightier than all else.
At the edge of the town was de-
serted alameda full of mango-trees.
Here were aged stone benches seldom
uesd. Here the shade was like dusk
at noon, like midnight at dusk. Here
they met. evening after evening, she
falling painting into his arms, he gaz-
ing at her scarcely seen face with
hungry eyes.
''You are incarnate TRUTH" he said.
Blood flew to her face; her brain
seemed drown. "YetI was false"
'sWhat bad jest is this?"
She lay trembling. Somehow fear
entered him.
Speak" he cried, almost letting
her from him.
II plotted against you.''
"How-it is lie!'
ooh, my souls soul! I set about to
win you, instigated by my brother.
that I might learn your plan of rev.
olution, and. conquer you and bring
you toedeath. Crush me if you must
thus have I lost mysef-thus have
you overthrown mel"
He let her fall on the old stone
bench. The shade of the mango trees
was deep. He stood little way off,
tall and still, and looked at her. just
here the revulsion came; for gold had
made him insane with dreams. His
love was second to his plot. Distrust
sank deep in him. He felt himself be-
trayed. Cold drops were on his fore
head. He had walked as in deep
gold mist. He gazed on this girl.
She was incarnate treason; his love
for her had turned to fear.
Wounded, ignoble, but grand with
rage, he turned, and she was left
alone. After that he smiled at her no
more, nor looked at her. He dared not
fee; that were confession and meant
death. He dared not prolong delay.
She had CROPPED her way home from
the mango-grove. Though she was
sweet and leisur1y and shrewd, she had
in her that fuel which, touched with
fire, burns on to vengeance. But she
was sad; and it seemed some second
self mercilessly drove her on to the
revenge which her better nature did
not want. She wept, and grew thin in
three days miraculously. Sometimes
she joked with herself even yet, in
manner CHASTITY. "Hang him by his
sweet, soft beard" murmered she in
bad night dreams; and she saw his
head. in visions, hung thus, horrible.
The first night of their estrange-
ment, the fat, pulque-drinking chief
| found letters at the home of one OF
his subordinates. They incriminated
| the subordinate, who was arrested and
put in the little adobe Jail across the
plaza. The chief strove in vain to find
one word of those epistles which
might give ground for the arrest OF
| Stirge. But the Americans tracks
were yet covered. The chief shed
maudlin tears of evaporation.
The third night Otilia came knock.
| ing at his door at ten o'clock. She was
admitted; the chief sitting in a gown
on his beds edge.
"This subordinate, the arrested
one" said she, steady-voiced, "when is
he to be shot?"
cat sunrise. I am writing the or
der for the soldiers who will arrive
tonight. Oh, you failure!"
| "Come, keep these ratings for an
other. Give me the order but leave
/ the name blank
Her manner was cold, stern, and
she was pale and sick.
"Why?" he growled.
She put one hand on the foot-boar6
and leaned close to him. 'I may dr.
that which your secret soul longs
for" whispered she. ssDo I MOI
know that it is his gold that yor
want? Think! They say it i.
stacked to the roof"
"But I should be called to account
for baseless execution. you fool!'
II have a fading ink. I write the
name and show it to the captain. He
executes the order. The ink fades
You substitute the rightful name
and on the captain lies the blame.'
He fell back in bed with choking
noise.
Its on the table," he said, weakly
She brought him the blank. He filled
it out-an save the name. She lef
him staring stupidity at her, and pres
emily heard him call for three NOR,
quarts of pulque.
Otilia was not SO villainous as sh,
seemed. She was lettering. She hat