The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-03-20

to think of you and ordered that
marry Ramon. Sick or well. living o
dead, must marry him."
I'm hanged if you do!''
1T is those miserable politics again
II ! do not obey, my father cannot BIZ
president, do you see? Senior Alfarei
is terribly angry that refused tC
marry his son. to whom since l was 6
little child have been engaged
Ramon also is furious; he threatened
to kill himself So it comes to this
then. If will not bind myself to thu
agreement Senior Alfarez will contest
the election. | do not know how yor
say those things. but my father will
be defeated Perhaps he will be hum
J bed."
Il won't stand for it. They're max
ing you a sacrifice. that's all. What
| kind of father is it who would sell
! his daughter
mo. no. You do not understand,
He is proud: he cannot accept defeat
he would rather give his life than be
Inundated Furthermore. he wishes
me to marry Ramon, and so that ends
it, Her lips We're trembling as she
roercd mp 1T him to see if he really
, understood.
let them rave. dear. What does
it matter who is president! What does
anything matter TO you and me!'
He Says | am too young to know
my own mind, and-perhaps that is
true, Senior Antonio; perhaps shall
soon forget you and learn to love
Ramon as he loves me- l do not
know
In spite of the pathetic quaver in her
voice, Kirk cried with jealous bitter
ness:
You don't seem to object very
strongly; you seem to care about as
much for Alfarez as you do for me- Is
that it,
Yes. senor." she said bravely.
You are lying" declared StephaEie.
suddenly,
The girl burst into q perfect torrent
Of weeping that Shamed him. Then,
without any invitation. she flung her
self reckleSsly into his arms and lay
there. trembling. palpitating like an i'm
prisoned bird.
Forgive me, Gear" he exclaimed,
softly 81 knew better all the time,
You mustn't think Of doing what they
ask: | wont allow it," She looked up
with eyes cleaning through her tears
and said. brokenly:
"Senor, love You truly You see
cannot lie"
Her breath intoxicated him, and he
bent his head to kiss her. but Ste
nhanie tore her roughly from his arms
The woman showed the strength of
man, and her vulture-like face was
working fercely as she cried:
NO She is mine. She is mine! She
is good girl"
"Oh, am wicked Gertrudis said
81 love you. Keerk--yes. | love you
very dearly. but my father-he re-
fuses-I must obey-he has the right,
and must do as he wishes"
Come with me now. Well be mar
ried tonight" he urged. but she only
chung to Stephanie more closely, as if
to hold herself from falling.
"You are very sweet to me-" she
said, with piteous tenderness, land
thall never forget the honor, but you
see l cannot This Is more to my ia
Their than his life 1t is the same to
all our family. and | must do my
duty. | could not let you 60 away
thinking this was my doing, so sent
for you. No, one must obey ones
people, for they are wise-and good
But one should be honest"
The tears were stealing down her
checks, and she thrilled to his plead
ings as to some wundrous music. yet
she was like adamant. and all his
lovers desperation could not shake
her. Seeing that his urging only made
matters verse, he said, more gently:
You are exalted now with the spirit
of self sacrifice, but later You will see
that am right. am not discouraged.
a thousand things may happen Who
knows what tomorrow may bring?
Let's wait ana see If we can't find a
way out. Now that know you love
me | have the courage TO face any
thing. and am going to win you,
Chiquita. have never lost in all my
life, and don't intend to begin now