Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1911-08-04

81 do dare it; I do mean it! l can
tell you all that Mexico plans, and all
that Texas plans. All the secrets are
out; and since we know them, we pur-
| pose immediate annexation of the Re-
public of Texas! Though it means
war, Texas shall be ours! This has
| been forced upon us by the perfidy of
| other nations"
"You seek war, Senior Secretary!
My people say that your armies are
in Texas now, or will be-"
"They are but very slightly in ad.
vance of the truth, senora," said Cal
houn grimly. "For me, I do not be-
| lieve in war when war can be averted
But suppose it could be averted? Sup
pose the Sonora YturriO herself could
avert it? Suppose the sonora could
remain here still, in this city which
she SO much admires? A lady of so
distinguished beauty and charm is
valuable in our society here"
He bowed to her with stately grace
! If there was mockery in his tone, she
ing eyes read his meaning.
"See," he resumed, 'alone, I am
helpless in this situation If my gov.
eminent is offended, l cannot stop the
course of events. [ am not the sen
ate; am simply an officer in our adj
ministration-a very humble officer OF
! his excellency our president, Mr.
| Tyler
My lady broke out in a peal of low
ripping laughter, her white teeth
cleaning. It was, after all, somewhat
difficult to trif1e with one who had
| been trained in intrigue all her life.
Calhoun laughed now in his own
quiet way. eve shall do better if we
deal entirely frankly, sonora" said he.
Let us then waste no time. Frankly,
then, it would seem that, now the
Baroness Won Ritz is off the scene, the
Sonora Yturrio would have all the bet
ter title and opportunity in the affec
tons of-well, let us say, her own
husband"
She bent toward him now, her lips
open in slow smile, all her subtle
and dangerous beauty unmasking its
batteries. The impression she con.
veyed was that of warmth and OF
spotted shadows such as play upon
the leopard's back, such as mark the
wing of the butterfly, the petal OF
some flower born in a land of heat
and passion But Calhoun regarded
her calmly, his finger tips together,
and spoke as deliberately as though
communing with himself. ct is but
one thing, one very little thing"
And what is that, senor?" she
asked at length.
THE signature of Senior Van Zandt,
attache for Texas, on this memoran.
dunn of treaty between the United
States and Texas"
Bowling, he presented to her the
document to which he had earlier d.
rected my own attention. 1--WE are
all we'll advised that Senior Van Zandt
is trafficking this very hour with Eng.
land as against u.s." he explained. 1--WE
ask the gracious assistance of Sonora
Yturrio In return we promise her
silence!"
81 can MOTT is impossible!" she ex.
claimed, as she glanced at the pages,
1T is our ruin"
mo, sonora" said Calhoun sternly:
sit means annexation of Texas to the
United States. But that is not your
ruin 1t is your salvation Your coun.
try well may doubt England, even
England bearing gifts!"
II have no control over Senior Van
| Zandt-he is the enemy of my coun.
try!" she began.
Calhoun now fixed upon her the full
cold blue blaze of his singularly pen,e'
trating eyes. mo, senora,' he said
sternly; "but you have access to my
friend Mr.. Polk, and Mr.. Polk is the
friend of Mr.. Jackson, and they two
are friends of Mr.. Van Zandt; and
| Texas supposes that these two, al.
though they do not represent precise
" my own beliefs in politics, are for
the annexation of Texas, not to Eng.
land, but to America. There is good
chance Mr.. Polk may be president. II
you do not use your personal inf1u'
ence with him, he may consult politics
and not you, and so declare war
against Mexico. That war would cost
you Texas, and much more as we'll.
Now, to avert that war, do you not
think that perhaps you can ask Mr..
Polk to say to Mr. Van Zandt that
his signature on this little treaty
would end all such questions simply,
Immediately, and to the best benefit
of Mexico, Texas and the United
States? Treason? Why, sonora
'twould be preventing treason
(TO BE CONTINUED