The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-03-23

happened so quickly that even yet they
were dazed and disbeleving.
"My wife!" Kirk whispered, while a
tremendous rush of emotion swept over
him. She trembled in answer like a
wind shaken leaf. You're mine, Chi.
quita! They can't take you away"
His voice broke
II am still dreaming. What have l
done? Oh-h-they will know! In my
face they will read the truth. But |
do not care. Senor. do not know if
some time you will be sorry for this
action, but | shall never cease loving
you. | prayed hourly to the Blessed
Virgin. and she heard. Now, | shall
perish until you come"
when you give me leave-through
steel and stone, through fire and wa.
ter"
"Quick! For the one time cali me-
that She hesitated, blushing vivid
ly. II will hear it in my dreams"
"My wife" he whispered tenderly.
"Ho! Chiquita miaw her father
cried as they came to him. "There
you are then. | have missed you"
His eyes smoldered as he gazed suspi.
ciously at Kirk.
"Ah, but / was too warm" she said
easily. "Yonder by the door we have
been standing in the night breeze.
And where is Ramon?"
He Is looking for you."
Zone would think him a jealous hus.
band already" she exclaimed lightly.
Then extending her hand coolly to
Kirk, II thank you, senor, for the
dance"
Her husband bowed II shall not
soon forget it." 10 the father he add
ed in low voice: II thank you also
for your courtesy. We have been dis.
cussing your daughters marriage dur
ing the dance, and it is my one great
est hope that she will never regret it."
The banker acknowledged the words
tremendously. Love Is a thing that
comes and goes. Marriage alone can
bind it. Some day you will thank me,
and then perhaps you will honor our
house again, eh?'
II shall be happy to come whenever
you WISH" As he walked away the
banker said, with relief:
"He takes 1t well. He is proud-al-
most like Spaniard.
Kirk moved through the crowd as
If In trance. but he was beginning to
realize the truth now. 1t surged over
him in great waves Of gladness. He
longed to shout his news aloud. What
luck was his! The world was made
for him. There was no such thing as
adversely or failure-ChlQuita was his
wife! All Christendom might 90 to pot
for all he cared.
In the midst of his rhapsody he
heard bellboy speaking his name and
smiled at him vacantly as he turned
away. But the negro followed him
persistently, saying something about
letter.
1T is h'important sar."
"Very we'll" He opened the enve.
ope and pretended to read. but In re-
ality the sheet held nothing for him
but ravishing. mischievous face with
pansy eyes. He must have stood star
ing unseeingly at it for several sec
onds. Then the dancing visions faded
and the scraw stood out plainly:
Williams, detective, st. Louis, arrived at
Colon this evening on the Prince Joachim
You'd better take it on the run
1t was written upon Tivol paper.
but the hand was strange, and it was
not signed.
"Well" Kirk came suddenly to him.
self. and spasm of disgust seized
him. What rotten inconvenience"
he said aloud. But before he had time
to measure the effect of this new COM
plication the swelling music reminded
him that this dance belonged to Mrs.
Cortlandt and that her answer was
due.
She was waiting for him in the gal
lery and motioned him to the chair ad-
Joining hers
II can't two step and talk at the
same time" she said. land here we'll
be quite private"
Kirk remained standing. What |
have to say won't take long. I've
made up my mind, and l cannot give
up Chiquita."
"You know what it meansY She |
stared at him with hard. level eyes.
'T'm not a moderate person-I can't !
do things by halves. No! see you
are mad over this Garavel girl. But
you can't get her." Something In his
dazzled, love foolish smile enraged her. |
SO! you are planning even now.
Well. then. understand | can build, !
and l can Destroy
There's nothing more to say" he
Interrupted her quietly, $50 I'd better
excuse myself"
"Yes! l would prefer to be alone"
When he had bowed himself away