Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-04-26

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She teopcd TO her feet s0tth flashing eyes.
They are cousins also"
"And 10 Captain Romero also a cousin
81 yoursr
IL do not like to admit that, Mr..
Wyndham. Please remember that I
have not done so. You will think all
my relatives are murderers."
Pardon me. I am a brute. / am
i "You are the living friend Of the
man who was foully murdered. I am
the cousin OF the brute who murdered
him. But 1 am even more than that,
Mr.. Wyndham; more than that even to
Carlos Escudera, for am his affianced
wife"
1t was Wyndham's turn to leap to his
feet, more agitated than he remembered
ever to have been before. His heavy
brows drew down In an ugly scowl over
his eyes, half shading them, and his
square jaws set themselves together
with indomitable resolve. But the ex-
preston lasted only an instant Then
his face cleared into q settled look of
utter contempt.
49," he said, ''you brought me here
~ 10y NAC WIN gONA DGAhlJs AOu
brought me here to induce me to spare
from the electric chair the murderer
whom you would marry, whose wife
yeu would become. You brought me
here at the bidding Of Escudera, to
worm out OF me for his sake all 1 know.
You would make me an accomplice
with you in
She held up one hand. and he paused.
There was no anger In her face. He
saw with amazement that there were
tears In her eyes, and he ground his
teeth In renewed rage when he discov-
cred that she was smiling through
them.
you forget that Il was 1 who de-
nounced him. not you. You did not
permit me TO finish what was saying"
she said. 81 am the afiianced wife of
Carlos Escudera, but l hate him-oh,
how 1 hate him! AS only n woman OF
my blood can hate! He killed Burr
Pendleton. For that, woman though I
am there Is no torture to which would
not willingly consign him. He killed
Burr Pendleton! He killed N.Y.
She broke down and wept then with
sobs that shook her as a raging storm
troubles the sea, sinking upon the chair
again and burying her face in her
hands
Craig watched her silently. He was
wise enough to know that II was best
to permit the storm TO pass without in
terruption. He felt that great reve-
lation had fallen upon him like a flood
OF light a great pity for her filed his
heart. He knew how engagements are
entered into in Spanish countries and
that the woman is never consulted re-
garding the choice that is made for her.
and he knew-he thought he knew
that this woman had loved Burr.
That or itself was sufficient in his
heart TO render her and her wishes
dear to him. He asked himself In that
moment OF waiting. IF l, y man, loved
Burr Pendleton so dearly, how utterly
must she, woman, have loved him %
When her sobs ceased, he was stand
ing beside her, and he touched her gen
thy upon her shoulder. He forgot his
own harsh words, forgot that he had
uttered them, for he knew. in the other
and greater sorrow. she had not heed
ed them.
WAS he so dear to you, senorita1 ?"
he asked. Did you love Burr like
that?"
She raised her face and looked into
his eyes. Then she rose and stood be-
side him.
"Yes," she said, 81 loved him. think
would have worshiped him had he
lived. He was all that 1 had left to
love, but he died without knowing it
without knowing me-"
Without knowing your" repeated
Craig. II do not understand"
She placed one delicate hand on ell |
Their or his shoulders and looked stead |
lily Into his eyes with an expression
that Craig Wyndham never forgot.
You were his friend, and you will |
De my friend" she said. ''AIr. Wynd- |
nam, Burr Pendleton's father was my
father. he was my brother. I was his |
sister, and he is dead and never knew |
II. Oh. If had only told him ali that
night! But l did not dare-I did not
dare. You will believe me7 You will |
not doubt mef He was my brother
my brother! And was so proud of /
him! l loved him-I loved himw
In her great sorrow she forgot all |
else. She remembered only that she |
was In the presence OF the man who |
had been her brothers friend and who /
would be her friend, and she laid her |
head against his stalwart shoulder and |
wept anew.
TO BE CONTINUED