The Denison review., 1914-07-29
A Stunning
Blow
BY MARTHA v. MONROE

ment Of Mexico from MaderU to Huer
tu a young American was In the cap
ital Of that country to see what was t,
be seen. Paul Stanford was wealth!
and had not settled down to any bust
ness or profession. He spent bis tim'
wherever there was amy excitement
During that long period when the Bal
kan states were preparing to resis
their masters. the Turks. Stanford wa!
there watching the preliminary move
ment and Joined in one OF the cxpcLi
tions which set out from Bulgaria.
And now when Mexico was In tur
mo!l he was observing the struggle
among the various factions One day
while dining at n restaurant he mad.
the acquaintance of u Mexican who
sat ut the same table with him. Senol
Jose Sandoyal offered to show tht
American the sights Of the capital ulI.
pilOted him from one, curiosity to nn
other. thus acquiring his fcrvent friend
ship. Then Sandoval offered to intro
duce bis new acquaintance to some ol
the Mexican ladies'. Stanford assented
and was taken to call upon Senorit;I
Maria Molina.
StanfOrd's women acquaintance
were not added to. because he was sat
isfled to spend all his time with Sc.
norita Molina. She was very pretty
and had all the coquettish ways Of a
Spanish GIRL
"Well." said Sandoval one day. some
time after the introduction. what du
you think Of the senoritn ! have made
you acquainted withI''
"She is very fascinating. but ut the
same time very unsatisfactory"
Unsatisfactory What do you mem
by that?"
II cant make her out don't know
whether she Is fooling me for II pur-
pose or whether she has given the u
bit Of her heart y,
,Sandovul looked ut the American
scrutinizinsly. Explain" he said.
'There Is something about her that
makes me distrust her." replied Stan
ford.
We'll. then. why do you not, tuke
pains to learn something about herr"
"HOw can do thnt:'-
"Observe when she goes out: then 20
into her house und--well, look about
you
"Spy on her?" asked Stanford sternly.
"cull IT what you like. You are In
love with her Being In love with her.
l presume you wish to marry her. Are
you SO squeu inisir that you would mar.
~ woman who may I've an ndvcn-
turess rather than satisfy yourself that
she Is proper person to be your
Wife?'' 'r.
Stanford listened, but did not reply.
Sandovul continued:
II am too fond Of you not to try to
prevent you from making misalli-
ance. Either do what | suggest or
drop Senoritn Molina ut once and new
er see her again."
Stanford acted upon neither of these
alternatives ut once. Indeed. he never
intended to act upon either Of them.
hut one day he chilled sn his enchant-
ress during her absence from home.
and SandOvni's suggestion ctme buzz'
Ing about his ears like Ii bulnblel'ee.
But he could not stoop to spy upon the
woman. he loved. Having MTn told
that Senoritu Molina would not Ike long
gone. he sat down In n corner to wait
for her. He fell into doze. from
which he was awakened by u mnns
voice In the hull speaking In Spanish.
"Senorita. have brought word to
you at the risk Of my life. The gen.
eral says that you Alnve, done so much
for the Constitutional cause thut ne
hopes you will not refuse, to do this
one thing more. The president must
be- .'
Here the mans voice dropped M low
that Stanford failed to hear him. There
was a reply. also In low VOICES Sc
norita Aiolinu's-and then mans foot
steps were heard leaving the house.
followed by womans going upstairs
Stanford did not like the i.le4 Of the
lady's knowing that he, had her secret.
1t occurred to him to leave before she
should come downstairs. The twilight
had come on. and. going out through
the door. he made his way under some
trees and disappeared.
The next day he met Sandoval. The
latter noticed that he looked troubled.
Have you met SenOrita Molina late
ly," he asked OF the American.
II have not had word with her
since I saw you last" was the reply.
and Stanford turned the conversation
into another channel. But what he
had overheard troubled him, lie be
iieved that he knew what wis meant
by the unfinished sentence. tHe was
Mortified that the girl he loved should
be an assassin. He brNOded over the
matter till he felt that he must prevent
her from stuining her fair hands with
blood. Whom could he. trust? No one
but his friend Snndovnl. He told San
dOval that the presidents life was In
danger and asked him to impurt the
warning to the mnn II concerned. San
doval did not Rsk him where he had
acquired the information. But two
hours after the interview Stanford
called on Senorita Molina. to learn that
she Ind been arrested and taken away.
The next duy he received a farewell
from her written before she was to be
secretly executed. She snid she loved
him.
Before leaving Mexico Stanford