Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1905-12-30

1 Known 1t y long Tune, ana, II she haC
| the slightest doubt, the sincerity with
which he had spoken the night before
the fierce, passionate fervor of the
| kisses that he had pressed upon her
! lips, his utter abandonment to his pas
1 sion, had more than satisfied her. Yet
when she had offered to throw every
! thing. to the winds-love, duty, obedi-
i ence-if he would only take her away,
! he had hesitated With her, WON
an who had all Venezuela at her feet,
held i'll his arms, he had repulsed her,
refused her! He had heard the open
/, confession Of her overwhelming love
for him, and he had resisted her.
against his own he had strained her
to his breast and prated of honor and
duty.
She was mad with anger and disap-
pointment. She loathed him; she hated
him; she ragged against him in her
heart. Why had he not killed De Tobar
where he stood, seized her in his arms
braved the anger of her father and
galloped away anywhere out into the
mysterious southland where they could
be together? Well and good-she would
marry Don Felipe. She would as
sumo happiness that she could not
feel and kill him with the sight of it.
He had disdained her; he should suffer,
suffer in proportion to his love, such
torrents as he had made her suffer
last night-shame, disappointment in
dignation.
. She had not slept the entire night,
either, thinking these things, yet it had
lied to save her-he to whom a lie was
worse than DEATH He had tried to as
sumo dishonor for her sake. He loved
her-yes, there was no doubt of it.
She closed her eyes with the thought,
and her whole being was filed with eX-
quisite anguish. He loved her. he was
made for her, yet when he might have
taken her he refused. De Tobar was
indeed q brave and gallant gentleman,
but his qualities were as moonlight to
the sunlight compared to those Of Al
varado. In spite Of herself, though
the mere suggestion of it angered her,
she found herself obliged to grant that
there was something noble in that po-
sition he had assumed which so filed
her with fury. It was not with him
a question of loving duty and honor
more than herself, but it was a ques-
ton of doing duty and preserving hon.
or, though the heart broke and the
soul was rent in the effort.
In spite of her careful avoidance of
his eyes, her cold demeanor, that morn
ing she had marked the haggard, pale
face of the young soldier to whom she
had given her heart, which showed
that he, too, had suffered. She watch
ed him as he rode, superb horseman
that he was, at the head Of the little
cavalcade. Tall, straight, erect, grace
full, she was glad that he rode in ad- i
vance, with his back to her, so that she
might follow him with her eyes, her
gaze unheeded by any but Sonora
Agapida, and for her she did not care.
AS he turned at intervals to survey
his charges, to see that all were keep
ing closed up and in order, by furtive
glances she could mark with exultation
the pallor that had taken the place Of |
the ruddy hue on the fair cheek of her
lover. She could even note the black |
circles under the blue eyes beneath the
sunny hair, so different from her own
midnight crown.
And indeed his thoughts were bit |
ter. What must she think Of him? He
lad been fool. Happiness had been
lis for the taking, and he had thrown
t away. Why had he not brushed De
Iobar out Of his path, silenced the vice
.oy-no, not by death, but by binding
lim fast-and then taken the woman
he loved and who loved him, for she
lad proved it by her utter abandon
nent of herself to him? Those old sol
Tiers who had served him for many
years would have followed him Wher-
ever he led The viceroy's arm was
ong, but they could have found a ha
ven where they could have been to-
,ether. God had made them for each
,ther, anu he had refused. He had
.hrust her aside. He had pushed the
cup of happiness from his own lips
with his own hand.
He wished it was all to do over again.
Now it was too late. To the chains of
luty, honor, gratitude, had been added
hat of his plighted word Knowing
his love, De Tobar, his friend, had
.rusted him. Knowing his daughters
owe, the viceroy had also trusted him.
He was locked with letters, bound and
sealed, helpless. And yet the tempta-
ion grew with each hour He had sus-
,ected, he had dreamed, he had hoped,
hat Mercedes loved him; now he was
'ure of it. Oh, what happiness might
lave been his!
What was this mystery about his
birth? He had been picked up baby
n a deserted village outside of Pana-
ma He had been found by the Count
lie Lara, who had led his troops to the
uccor of that doomed town, which I'M
fortunately he had reached only after
he buccaneers had departed Search
lad been made for his parents, but
Without success. The viceroy, finding
70 aIa HI 7, .irrJ,4 Iol, 4