The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1904-01-08

He resumed his seat amid the bOis-
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:
'Seryedo has not spoken, and a man
loved by the peerless Margarita must
have much to say"
Lopez smiled and reflling his glass
began:
Certainly; I have much to say and
viii not shrink the task. have a 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:
81 drink to the most beautiful, the
most outwardly perfect woman in the
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. Now for my story"
Silence" cried the others, Lopez
has got a story Listen to the story"
After awhile the noise ceased and Lo-
pei began:
This is true story, every word Of
it is true, so Tote well what l say 1t
was three year ago, young man pass
ing by a cigarette factory saw lovely
girl in plain Gress leaving the building.
She was beautiful, with beauty which
came from pure soul and a noble heart.
Well, he WIS young, ardent, and she
pleased him. He sought her out, saw
that she WIS virtuous, though poor, and
unable to get her any other way he mar
ried her 10 secret, since his rank and
his parents pride forbade him to do so
openly"
He paused and turned with a smile to-
ward Margarita She had suddenly be-
come fery pale and her dark eyes met
his in a startled question; bat without
seeming to heed her emotion he contin-
ued, measuring each of his words:
"CnIy those who have truly loved,
loved with all the strength Of heart and
soul, can guess what hours of bliss, what
exquisite joys filed the lives Of the two
married lovers. For two years that hap
piuess continued, then a cloud rose in
their sunny sky, and that cloud took the
shape of a woman, divinely beautiful,
bat satanically cruel.
''She was one of those lost creatures
which the world supports yet scorns.
She had princes and kings at her 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 powerful effort she oYercame 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 filed for her. But
Lopez continued:
Seeing that she could not win him
she decided to take her from him. It
was an easy thing to accomplish, for
one night 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 Margarlta
caused all eyes to turn in her direction.
She was standing in her place, pale,
CHASTITY, wild Some of the women rose
to go to her, but Lopez said in the same
calm voice:
Don't worry, ladies'; will take care
of Margarita, she will soon be we'll"
The smile had fed 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 d 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 a wild cry as she
started to her feet. Lopez, with laugh
-, oIrrdaJ.
''The hero Of my story is myself. The
guilty woman stands yonder AS TO my
vengeance I achieved it as l drank my
death and hers while proncGncing my
toast The wine We drank was po.3-
oned. There is no cure and In an hour
we botl 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 a SER
pent she dies,
Margarita had remained spellbound
by horror, but at his last words she gave
one wild cry and fell Writhinp m fha