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


CHE was wOndrously beautiful as far
as mere perfection of the features
went, but there was something in 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 il
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 baffled 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 SerVedo became
almost as famous as the woman whose
charm he had withstood.
But a woman of Margarita Toreno's
type does not at once pronounce herself
vanQuished. If he could Withstand her
charm it was that his heart was filled by
another love, a 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-
peg 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
cry of triumph
Now that | know his secret he is
nine; 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 lonely
villa A young woman living alone
with two servants was found dead one
morning, a dagger thrust through the
heart. Margaritas we'll paid assassin
had done his work.
Lopez de Servedo 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
anyone 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 it not been for the hope of ayenging
her he would have soon rejoined her in
the grave.
After awhile his indifference toward
Margarita seemed to melt His visits
to her home became more frequent and
soon it was murmured that Lopez de
Serv9do had at last fallen a victim to
her charms She thought so too and
reioiced.
u knew" she thought, "that orce
freed from his infatuation for that girl
ne would turn to me. And now he is
mine. He loves me-and, yes, love
himi"
A month after the strange murder
Lopez and a number Of young men and
women were assembled in Margarita's
home. for Lopez wished to proclaim in
public fashion his liason with the
beautiful courtesan. The wine flowed
freely and as its yapors mounted to the
heads. Jokes and laughter reigned su-
preme. Only Lopez remained calm, in
different, cold.
Margsrita, intoxicated as much by the
triumph of this hour as by the wine she
had drunk, talked as she had never done
before, surprising all by the brilliancy
OF her wit, the quicllness OF her repair
tees
Dessert was served and new wines
brought in. Lopez rose and with
graceful gesture imposed silence For
q moment he did not speak, as though
he wished to give to all time to admire
his elegant form and dark, handsome
face: then he began; his voice, soft
and meIodious~ Eel: on the ear Ike a
caTess: