Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-11
HEART OF THE SUNSET
By REX BEACH
copv-toht, 1915. bv Barpsr q Broth.r..

declared?" ''s''
Practically"
What-7 You are telling me the
uuthT' A moment, then Alaire continued,
more calmly, III that is So there is all
time"
Listen - The general was deeply in
earnest. you have no conception OF the
chaos out there" He waved a com
prehensive gesture. 'If the explosion has
not come, II will come within a few hours
Lhat Is why l few to your ride Battle
snlps are hurrying toward our coast troops
sn .e .nasslng against our border and Mex
loo mas risen like one man. The people
are In a frenzy; they are out OF bounds I;
there Is sack and pillage in the cities
americans are objects of violence every
where and the poems are frantic" He
paused impressively I'VE face the greatest
upheaval OF history"
Then why are you here7" Aiaire de-
manded This is no place for YOU at such
a moment"
Longorio came closer TO her and his voice
trembled as he said. Angel of my soul.
my place is at your side" Again she re-
coled' but with fervor he had never
dared display he rushed on heedlessly .I
nave told you / harxen only to my heart /:
that Tor one smile from you I would be-
mead myself; that for your favor would
petray my fatherland that for your kiss
1 would face damnation Well am here
at your side. The deluge comes, but YOU
shall be unharmed." He would not permit
her TO check him, crying, walt You must
near me through, sonora, so that you may
comprehend fully why am forced to speak
At tnis time. Out OF this coming struggle
l shall emerge heroic figure. Now that
Mexico unites, she will triumph and Of all
her victorious sons the name of Luis Lon
gorio VIII be sung the loudest, for upon
MIN more than upon any other depends the
republics salvation. / do not boast.
merely state facts. for have made all my
plans, and tomorrow I put them into ef-
feet That is why cannot walt to speak
The struggle will be long, but you shall
be my guiding star in the hour of dark
ness"
Under other circumstances the mans
magnificent egotism might have provoked q
smile. And yet. for all its grandloquence,
there was something In his speech that rang
hard and true. Unquestonably Longorio
was dangerous-a real personality, and no
mere staggering pretender. Alaire felt a
certain reluctant respect for him, and at
the same time a touch OF chilling fear such
as she had hardly experienced before She
faced him silently for moment; then she
said
Am to understand that you forbid me
to leave my own houseT'
FOR the time being. exactly"
"hots AhoH aHl yOuT prisoner
mo, no" He made gesture OF denial
How ridiculousi merely keep you from
certain destruction. You cannot TO by
train. because the railroad has suspended
public service, nor can you ride or drive
j tell you, sonora, the people are aroused
For the moment you must accept my pro-
lection. whether you wish TO or not
Tomorrow smiled warmly.
MISUNDERSTANDING you will not be in
such haste 70 refuse IT, OF to leave La
Feria. Wait until you understand me bet
ter. Then But enough Of this You
are unstrung, you wish TO be alone with
walt for few hours. In the meantime
may ! beg the hospitality OF your ranch for
myself and my menr
Alaire acquiesced mechanically. Lon
gorio saluted her fingers In his customary
manner. and then. with n look eloquent OF
things unsaid, he went out 70 see to the
comfort OF his command
Alaire sank into the nearest chair, her
nerves quiverng. her mind In a turmoil.
far from being the mere maker of auda-
ciously gallant speeches, the POLITICALLY fer
vent wooer OF every pretty woman she had
bllndly supposed him. His was no sham
ardor; the man was hotly, horribly in
earnest. There had been a CLINT Of mad
ness In his eyes And he actually seemed
TO think that she shared his infatuation II
was intolerable Yet Longorio. she was
sure, had an abundance OF discretion; he
would not dare TO offer her violence He
had pride. too; and in his way he was
something of gentleman. so far. she
had avoided giving him offense. But II
once she made plain TO him how utterly
loathsome 20 her was his pursuit she was
sure that he would cease TO annoy her.