Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-05-26
The Toast of
-=Death-
'
Copyright. 1908, by Daily Story Pub. Coz
BY ADRIANNE RoUcoLLE

CHE was wondrously beautiful as far
Id as mere perfection of the features
went, but there was something in the
cold glitter Of the eye which to a 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 It
was with ever increasing pride that she
named those who had loved her. Her
/ fame was universal Throughout Spain,
for it was known that princes, dukes,
noblemen, and even a king had loved
her
Yet one man had bafled her, for be-
meath the burning invitation Of her
luminous eyes he had remained cold, in
different, almost contemptuous, and be-
cause of that Lopez de Seryedo became
almost as famous as the woman whose
charm he had withstood.
But woman of Margarita Toreno's |
type does not at once pronounce herself /
yanquished. II he could withstand her
charm it was that his heart was filled by /
another love, love that must be killed |
before she could hope to conquer 1t did
not take her long to know Lopez's Sc
cret, for she was rich and detectives are
clever 1t was a simple tale Of tender
love, pure and holy. The powerful Lo-
PEI 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 a lonely villa some
distance from the noise and vice of the
city.
When Margarita heard this she had a
cry Of triumph.
Now that | 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 a week she thought: she even
went so far as to visit the little villa
and try with lying tale Of Lopez's in
fidelity to make her successful rival
leave the man she wanted In this she
failed, and returning home, humbled by (
her want Of success, she cried:
Then there is only one way; she must
die"
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 servants was found dead one !
a dagger thrust through the
heart. Margarita's well paid assassin
had done his work.
Lopez de Servedo did not change any,
thing in his manner Of living. He was $
itill seen in his box at the opera; he still
.requented the various gambling halls
IF the town; he drove his fast horses
With the same careless grace, but could {
anyone have seen within his heart thew Z
would have been startled by the tragic '
iepths Of his despair. The dead woman l
had been the one love Of his life. and 4
had II not been for the hope Of avenging
her he would have soon reiolned her In S
he grave. {
After awhile his indifference toward
dargarita seemed to melt His visits G
o her home became more frequent and v
ioon It was murmured that Lopez de d
Servedo had at last fallen a victim TO t
her charms. She thought so too and O
.eioiced. '
Il knew" she thought. that once {
reed from his infatuation for that girl v
he would turn 10 me. And now he IS I
nine. He loves me-and, yes, love v
aimi" 2
A month after the strange murder 7
Lopez and number OF young men and ?
women were assembled in Margarita's
lone, for Lopez wished to proclaim IN B
public fashion his liason with the O
beautiful courtesan. The wine flowed 4
RELY and as its vapors mounted to the G
reads, jokes and laughter reigned SUI 81
IRENE. Only Lopez remained calm. in Z
cold. q
Margarita, intoxicated as much by the b
riumph Of this hour as by the wine she
lad drunk, talked as she had never done
'efore, surprising all by the brillispcv =
4 her wit, the quickness Of her repar- !
ees.
Dessert was served and new wines :
lrought In. Lopez rose and with a {,
,raceful gesture imposed silence For
moment he did not speak, as though
.e wished to give TO all time to admire
lis elegant form and dark. handsome :
ace; then he began; his voice. soft
nd melodious. fell on the ear like a