Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-29


some four feet from the ground was tackled
small card at which with quick and steady aim
she had been firing, piercing 1t near the center
with every shot
"That strange feeling which flashes to the
brain, intelligence of the presence of another,
caused her to turn quickly toward me. Surprise
and joy lighted her eyes as she recognized and
came forward to meet me.
''I seized her outstretched hand and encour-
aged by the light in her eyes pressed kisses upon
it, unrebuked. l was wild with the joy OF the
unexpected meeting, while she seemed so over
come that she could speak no word of greeting
"T have you at last, l cried, Time has mended
the flaw you found in my youth, and warn you
that you no longer prevent my loving you,
and claiming yours in return, since l see from
your tell tale eyes that you are no longer ind11-
ferent to me- Can you deny it?'
"She made no answer, striving to gain her
wonted composure
"'Oh, Marguerite, dear one 1 asked, What is
this mystery with which you surround yourself
when | would talk of love? What is this barrier
you would set between us? You bade me forget
you you see that l cannot. Time and absence
have only made my heart more insistent for your
love-.
"The tender light in her eyes was by this time
drowned out with tears. She could not speak;
not word had she spoken since the first cry
when she saw me coming In utter dumbness she
stood looking into my eyes, until she regained
control of her voice to ask in low soft tones,
if speaking to herself
"'Why, oh why have you come? l do love you,
to say to each other in this world. Why have
you Gomez?
"Seeing her distress answered humbly, 4 had
no thought of coming passing by l heard your
pistol shots and came in
"Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and
her eyes fell with troubled glance upon the pistol
which she still held in her hand, forgotten Mark
ing this asked her pardon for having disobeyed
her
Forgive me- Marguerite; but since I am here
tell me what is this imaginary barrier that you
have set up between you and love. 1t cannot
be real, it can be of consequence?
"'Of no consequence? 1t is sufficient to blight
my whole life and will not willingly let it blight
that of another was her answer
"Her hand which l still held in mine, trem-
bled She seemed completely unnerved. l led
her to fallen log near by and seated myself
beside her.
"'Tell me what it is that brings tears to your
eyes? What has happened since l saw you?
asked, cut to the heart by these evidences of deep
emotion so foreign to her nature. Tell me what
this bogy is that you have raised to separate us?
I warn you in advance that nothing can do that
now since know that you love me. Before,
could not do otherwise than obey YOU
"She tried to withdraw her hand from my clasp,
but resisted.
"'This hand is mine,' I said, unless it is
pledged to another-or unless you give me some
good reason why it may not be mine
"She could no longer. refuse my importantly.
Turning away her face that she might not see
my cheek pale and my eyes falter, she laid bare
her heart and exposed her pitiful secret
"It will not be necessary at this time to enter
into all of the details of this unhappy story. will
simply acquaint you with the facts"
To this Judge Randolph made answer: "We
would willingly spare you the pain of the recital
of the Details but your counsel, we advise
that you withhold from noting that would
give clear insight into the circumstances
which seemed to you justification of your course
of action in this matter; the underlying
tive which inspired your enmity to this man"
The time had now come when, though suffering
such tQrtura Is could SCARCELY be andurad