The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1903-01-29

She leGped to her feet aOith flashing eyes.
intended it should or more than you
thought when you uttered it. My
mother was a Romero. Escudera's
mother was her sister. His name is, in
Spanish, Escudera Romero. Ny
name is Del Puente Romero. Do you
understand"
Eyes. Who, then, is the Romero with
whom Burr fought the duel?"
"Ah! We have not arrived at that
point yet. l will explain it all to you
when we do. but first let us finish with
this one. Does Escudera know that
you suspect him?'
81 don't know; don't think so. Par
don me If 1 insist upon returning to
the name Of the duelist. Tell me, is
Escudera related to him?"
'"They are cousins also.''
"And is Captain Romero also a cousin
of yours?'
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. l am brute. l am
"You are the living friend of the
man who was foully murdered. I am
the cousin of the brute who murdered
him. But I am even more than that,
Mr.. Wyndham; more than that even to
Carlos EScudera, for am his affanced
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 a settled look Of
utter contempt.
$780," he said, you brought me here
to trap me with your beauty. You
brought me here to induce me to spare
from the electric chair the murderer
, whom you would marry, w Sc wife
you would become. You brought me
here at the bidding Of p era, to
worm out of me for his sake all 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 it was 1 who de-
nounced him, not you. You did not
permit me to finish what was saying"
she said. ~ am the affianced wife Of
Carlos Escudera, but hate him-oh,
how hate him! AS only 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 my
She broke down and wept then with
sobs that shook her as 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 1t was best
to permit the storm to pass without in
terruption. He felt that great reve-
lation had fallen upon him like a food
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 Of itself was sufficient in his
heart to render her and her wishes
dear to him. He asked himself In that
moment Of waiting, IF /. a man, loved
Burr Pendleton so dearly, how utterly
must she, a woman, have loved him 2"