Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-08
A soft touch fell upon his head

ly, yet with just enough Of earthly feeling in her eyes to attest that she was very woman after all.
 "Go not" he cried, catching her again and drawing her back.
 Gone were his resolutions, shattered was his determination, broken was his resistance. She was here before him; at all hazards he would detain her. They were alone almost for the first time in their lives. It was night; the balmy wind blew softly; the moonlight enveloped them. Such an opportunity would never come again.
 T heard you," she murmured, sway ing toward him. T heard. You seemed to be-suffering. I do not know why something drew me on. You whispered you were speaking-I-listened. I came nearer. Was your heart breaking too? Despise mel.
 Sbe put her face in her hands. It was confession she made. A wave of shame swept over her.
 "Despise you? An, God help me, I love you!'
 And this time he gathered her in his arms and drew her back into the deep- CT shadow.
 And you were so cold" she whis- pered. T looked at you. begged you with all my soul before I signed. You did nothing. nothing! Is there no help"
 "Dost love mel"
 with all my soul," she answered.
 Poor
 Nay
 "Obscure"-
 Nay
 "Lowly-perhaps ignobly born"-
 Nay, love, these are mere words to me. Rich or poor, high or low, noble or ignohle, thou only hast my heart. It beats and throbs only for thee. have thought upon thee. dreamed upon thee. loved thee. I cannot marry Don Fe- lipe. I, too. have the pride of the De Laras. My father shall find it. I sign ed that contract under duress. You would do nothing. Oh, Alvarado, Ava rado, wilt thou stand by and let me be taken into the arms of another? But no: shall die before that happens"
 Donna Mercedes cried the unhap- py young man. T love thee, I adore thee. worship thee with all my heart and soul. Were it not towards act I would have plunged my dagger into my breast ere I witnessed that be- trothal tonight"
 Thou shouldst first have sheathed it in mine." she whispered. But couldst find no better use for thy weapon than thatT'
 Would you have me kill Don Fe- Iipe?'
 "No. no. but defend me with it. There are hidden recesses In the noun tains. Your soldiers worship you. Take me away. away into the undiscovered countries to the southward. A con tinent is before you. We will find a new Mexico. carve out a new Peru with your sword. though I want noth- ing but to be with you. alone with you. my soldier. my lover, my kingr'
 But your plighted wordT'
 "'Tis nothing. My heart was plight cd to you. That is enough. Let us go We may never have the chance again, she urged. clinging to him.
 A fearful struggle was going on in Alvarado's breast What she proposed was the very thing he would have at tempted were the circumstances other than they were. But his patron. his friend. his military duty. his honor as a soldier-the sweat beaded his fore head again. He had made up his mind at the betrotbaI to give her up. He had abandoned bope: he had put aside possibilities. for he could see none. But here she was in his arms. living. breathing. vital passionate figure her heart beating against his own. plead ing with him to take her away Here vss love with all it's vitchery. with all it's magic. with all its power. attacking the defenses of his heart. and the voD- an whom be adored as his very fife. with all the passion in bis being vas urging fapIorine- hexxins him to take her arsy. He was Fezkeuinz vaver- ing. and the woman yho vstrhed him realised it and added fuei to the na9e