Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1904-04-01

ferrous hurrahs of his companions. For
awhile, in answer to Lopez's request,
toasts Of different characters were given
amid the general laughter of the guests.
When all had spoken someone re-
marked:
'Servedo has not spoken, and a man
loved by the peerless Margarita must
have much to say"
Lopez smiled and refilling his glass
began:
Certainly; I have much to say and
will not shrink the task. have story
wish you to hear, but before relate
it I want you all to drink toast with
me"
All raised their glasses and waited.
Lopez turned to Margarita saying:
you will drink out of my glass this
time, drinking only half, leaving the
other half for me-"
Smilingly she put down her glass and
Lopez began:
'I drink to the most beautiful. the
most outwardly perfect woman in the
world, to Margarita Toreno"
All glasses were drained and after
Margarita had drunk half of what was
in Lopez's he swallowed the rest, adding
with a smile:
This is our love troth," and he re-
sumed his seat. Nov for my story"
Silence" cried the others, Lopez
has got story. Listen to the story"
After awhile the noise ceased and Lo-
PEE began:
This is true story, every word OF
it is true, so note well what I say. 1t
was three years ago, young man pass
ing by a cigarette factory saw lovely
girl in platn dress leaving the building
She was beautiful, with a beauty which
came from pure soul and noble heart.
Well, he was young, ardent and she
pleased him. He sought her out, saw
that she was virtuous, though poor, and
unable to get her any other way he mar
ried her in secret, since his rank and
his parents pride forbade him to do so
openly"
He paused and turned with smile to.
ward Margarita. She had suddenly be.
come very pale and her dark eyes met
his in startled question; but without
seeming to heed her emotion he contin-
ued, measuring each of his words:
"Only those who have truly loved,
loved with all the strength of heart and
soul, can guess what hours of bliss, what
exquisite joys filled the lives of the two
married lovers. For two years that hap.
piness continued, then a cloud rose in
their sunny sky, and that cloud took the
shape of woman, divinely beautiful,
but satanically cruel.
"She was one of those lost creatures
which the world supports yet scorns,
She had princes and kings a ler feet,
but her vain heart wanted to possess the
man who scorned her. What's the mat
ter, Margarita? you are pale; does my
story move you?"
By a powerful effort she overcame her
: weakness and answered:
Go on; I am interested, Only pass
me more wine, feel strangely dizzy.
And she drank eagerly the glass one OF
her companions had filled for her. But
/ Lopez continued:
Seeing that she could not win him
she decided to take her from him. II
was an easy thing to accomplish, for
one night a well-paid assassin struck his
blow in the dark; one young life was
cut short; one love dream was brought
to an end and the next morning all
Madrid was shocked to hear of the mys-
terious murder of the Villa del Rosa"
A smothered cry from Margarita
caused all eyes to turn in her direction,
She was standing in her place, pale,
| ghastly, wild. Some Of the women rose
to go to her, but Lopez said in the same
calm voice:
Don't worry, ladies; 1 will take care
of Margarita, she will soon be we'll"
The smile had fled from all lips, a cur
rent of dread passed among the guests,
most faces were pale and in the heart
( of each was a fear that something was
! going to happen. Lopez alone remained
| calm and after forcing Margarita to re-
| sumo her seat he continued, his words
/ falling like dirge on the oppressive ST.
! lence:
"You all know the details of that MUIR
der, but what you do not know was the
oath the man took over the body of the
woman he had loved. He swore that
he would find the guilty and avenge her
death. He has this night kept that oath /"
Margarita gave wild cry as she
started to her feet. Lopez with laugh
of triumph, concluded:
"The hero Of my story is myself. The
guilty woman stands yonder. AS to my
vengeance I achieved 1t as drank my
death and hers while pronouncing my
toast. The wine we drank was pois-
oned There is no cure and in an hour
we both will be dead drank my toast
to the most beautiful, the most out
wardly perfect woman of the world, but
I drank it with wine which, like her
was venomous, yet which hid its dan
ger in the glitter of its sparkle. A SER
pent she was; with the venom of SER
pent she dies!"
Margarita had remained spellbound
by horror, but at his last words she gave
one wild cry and fell writhing to the
floor The affair was hushed up and
| ~ 7