The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-27
THE TOAST OF DEATH.
BY ADRIAl--E BoUcoLLE.

~ & &1~4S&&SA ~ ~SSS~S>-' (copyrimt. 1908. by Daily Story Pub. Col
 She was wondrously beautiful as far as mere perfection of the features went. but there was something the cold glitter of the eye which to close observer of human nature would have meant that the lovely face was only the lying mask of a shallow. selfish soul. Yet men loved her, her beauty was to them the loadstone which drew their hearts as does the bright light to the summer moth.
 She gloried in her conquests and 1t was with ever increasing pride that she named those who had loved her. Her fame was universal throughout Spain, for 1t was known that princes. dukes, mo- blemen, and even knig had loved her.
 Yet one man had baffled her. for be- meath the burning invitation of her lum- inous eyes he had remained cold, indiffer- ent. almost contemptuous, and because of that Lopez de Servedo became almost as famous as the woman whose charm he had withstocd.
 But a woman of Margarita Toreno's type does not at once pronounce herself vanquished. If he could withstand her charm 1t was that his heart was filled py another love, love that must be killeo before she could hope to conquer. It did not take her long to know Lopez's secret for she was rich and detectives are clever It was a simple tale of tender love. pure and holy. The powerful Lopez de Servedo loved one much beneath him in social rank. one whom his proud parents would never have recognized as their equal. He had therefore married her in secret and kept his bliss and her-beauty concealed in lonely villa some distance from the noise and vice of the city.
 When Margarita heard this she had cry of t"umph.
 Now that I know his secret he is mine; he shall cringe at my feet and sue for the love he has scorned, but first must get rid of her.
 For week she thought she even went so far as to visit the little villa and try with lying tale of Lopezs infidelity to make her successful rival leave the man she wanted. In this she failed, and re- turning home, humbled by her want Of success she cried:
 Then there is only one way; she must ,!.e"
 A week later all Madrid was shocked by the news of a mysterious murder which had been committed in a lonely villa. A young woman living alone with two ser wants was found dead one morning, a dagger thrust through the heart. Margd- rita's well paid assassin had done his work.
 Lopez de Servido did not change any thing in his manner of living. He was still seen in his box at the opera; he still frequented the various gambling halls of the town; he drove his fast horses with the same careless grace, but could any | one have seen within his heart they | would have been startled by the tragic | depths of his despair The dead woman | had been the one love of his life, and had 1t not been for the hope of averaging | her he would have soon rejoined her in l the grave.
 After awhile his indifference toward Margarita seemed to melt. His visits e her home became more frequent and soon 1t was murmured that Lopez de Servedo had at last fallen a victim to her charms She thought so too and rejoiced. l T knew" she thought that once freed from his infatuation for that girl he would turn to me. And now he Is mine. He | loves me-and yes, love him." month after the strange murder Lo- | peg and a number of young men and wo. men were assembled in Margaritas home
 for Lopez wished to proclaim in a publlt | fashion his liason with the beautiful
 courtesan. The wine flowed freely and as ! itS NdpOfS mounted 10 the neadS, Jokes | and laughter reigned supreme. Only Lo
 peg remained calm, indifferent, cold. | Margarita. intoxicated as much by the | triumph of this hour as by the wine she had drunk. talked as she had never dont before, surprising all by the brilliancS of her wit, the quickness of her re- | partees
 Dessert was served and new wines brought in. Lopez rose with a graceful gesture imposed silence. For moment he did not speak, as though he wished tc give to all time to admire his elegant form and dark. handsome face! then he began; his voice. soft and melodious, fell on the ear like a caress:
 ''In most banquets toasts are drank and as this is an occasion of special joy to me, wish that We follow the custom So I appoint myself as toastmaster and will call on each and every one of you for | a toast" .
 He resumed his seat amid the boisterous | hurrahs of his companions. For awhile | in answyer to Lopez's request, toasts of | different characters were given amid the | general laughter of the guests. When al