The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-01-24


time in their lives. 1t was night; the
Dalmy wind blew softly; the moonlight
enyeioped them. Such an opportunity
would never come again.
81 heard you" she murmured, sway
inc toward him. Il heard. You seemed
to be-suffering. do not know why
something drew me on. You whispered
YOU were speaking-I-hstened. l
came nearer. Was your heart breaking
too? Despise me.'
She put her face in her hands. 1t was
confession she made. A wave OF
shame swept over her.
"Despise you: All, God help me, I
love your
And this time he gathered her in his
arms and drew her back into the deep
er shadow.
"And YOU were so cold," she whis-
pered. 81 looked at you. l begged you
with all my soul before I signed. You
did nothing, nothing! Is there no help"
.Dost love me?"
with all ny SOUL" she answered.
poor
Nay
"Obscure"-
. Nay
s.Lowly-perhaps ignooly born
.sNay, love, these are mere words to
me. Rich or poor, high or low, noble or
ignoble, thou only hast my heart. 1t
beats and throbs only for thee. have
thought upon thee, dreamed upon thee.
loved thee. I cannot marry Don Fe-
lipe. 1, too, have the pride of the De
Laras. My father shall fnd it. sign
ed that contract under duress. You
would do nothing. Oh, Alvarado, Alva-
rad9, 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-
DIV young man, 3sI 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 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
that?"
would you have me kill Don Fe-
npeT
s.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 southwark. A con-
tinent is before you We will find a
new Mexico, carve out new Peru
with your sword, though I want moth
ing but to be with you, alone with you,
my soldier, my lover, my kingw
"But your plighted word?"
""ris nothing. t1y heart was plight
ed 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 mis- 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 betrothal to give her up. He
had abandoned hope; 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
was love with all its witchery, with all
its magic, with all its power, attacking
the defenses of his heart, and the wom-
an WHOM he adored as his very life,
with all the passion in his being, was
urging, imploring, begging him to take
her away. He was weakening, waver-
ing, and the woman who watched him
realized it and added fuel to the fame.
..The love I bear your father" he
gasped.
SHOULD it bind where mine breaks
1 am his daughter"
ssAnd Don Felipe is my personal
friend
s.And my betrothe,l, but I hesitate
not"
"My oath as a soldier
"And mine as woman
Gratitude-duty"-
"Oh, Alvarado, you love me not!' she
cried. ''These are the strongest.
have dreamed dream. Lend me your
dagger. There shall be no awakening
Without you 1 cannot bear
AS she spoke she plucked the dagger
from the belt of the young soldier,
lifted the point cleaning in the moon
light and raised it to her heart. He
caught it instantly.
.'No. no." he cried. "Give back the
weapon"
The poniard fell from her hand.
Thou hast taken me; thank thee" !"
she murmured, thinking the battle won
as he swept her once more in his arms.
This time he bent his head to her up
turned face and pressed kiss after
kiss upon the trembling lips. 1t was