The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1916-02-18

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dis1 ~ wesl1 assurs1Iy have ss9ersl
that asatA It Tie soul which 3 u
penalty fog an Who aro cut q iron
ths ministsa&1ons ct he church. Bu,
now. sipee ~ rspsats. hid yea taxi
him back and pardon him.
Ny husbandi Zsuxisf vas tos
astoundsd 70 utter Q word. Ine pssss
resumed:
~Thoss ignorant peasants think yos
are On Immortal But ! an Q seisntis'
and know that you have Town from
France In one Of The new airships u
win back the vagFans love Of the mar
with whom you paightsd your tgoth
Marriage 10 4 sacrament. my daush
ter; II cannot be dissolved this side Of
the grave. Nademoiselle Torlandc
has consented to relinquish him te
you. Forgive him: no win return to
France with you. Or. II he refuss-"
He spoke in Italian again and
seemed to thunder forth some terrible
anathema. The woman bowed her
head and wept wildly.
I understood then. The good priest
knowing that Zeuxis had abandoned
his lawful wife in France. imagined
that was she, and that the purpoFt OF
my visit had been to win back the ras.
calls love.
Indignation overpowered me; then
the humor Of the situation came to my
aid and saved me.
"You agree to accompany met" !
asked the Greek.
Yea. yes" he muttered hastily. ''But
not In the aeroplane."
"And that will not be necessary"
the priest replied, "for . yacht has Just
arrived In the harbor from Marseilles.
and doubtless passage can be procured
ON It. / will recommend you." he add
ed confidently.
Az he turned to comfort the weeping
woman whispered to Zeuxis hastily:
"You will come. then3 Remember,
the government guarantees you an am
nesty. provided you give evidence. But
you must tell ALL"
Zeuxis clenched his lists. AYE. I
win come" he muttered back, "And
them shall seek out my enemy and
with my knife" He stopped to gath.
er his thoughts. ION the yacht-yes,
but not in the acceptance" he con-
cluded.
A roar Of voices. rising and falling
on the wind, interrupted his soliloQuy.
We started and looked through the
open door. The cries grew louder.
and suddenly q mob of men came run
ming along the narrow street, gesticu-
lating and cursing. They swerved to-
ward Us with q single motion. as .
school Of ffsh that veer in deep water.
and forcing the priest. who sought to
bar the path, aside. burst into the cot
tage and surrounded US. And at their
head was-Leopold Magniff!
Yes, that arbitrator. to Illustrate
whose Vaccinations I had made my
perilous passage in the aeroplane-and
here In Corsica! Doubtless he had ar
rived in the yacht which. as the priest
had told me. lay in the harbor. He
must have learned Of my movements
from the newspapers and, shrewdly
surmisinE the object Of my journey,
had chartered q vessel at Marsellles
and sailed to forestall me.
But this conclusion was the result
Of subsequent cogitations; for at the
moment seeing him here, I was over
come with horror and dread. At the
very moment of victory he had circum-
vented me. raised the peasants against
me, cutting OF all chance of rescue.
They thrust their faces in mine. bay
ing me like a pack Of hungry wolves.
"Ah, madame, dc not look round and
think of your aeroplane," said Leopold
m.ckingly. 1T Ii destroyed; it lies,
a heap of broken metal and wood, in
the center of the market place." He
turned to the priest. Il demand pos
session of my lawful wife," he cried.
and flung a forged marriage certificate
upon the broken table.
The good father glanced at it and,
involuntarily, shrank back from me.
He looked at me with trembling lips.
1T is false!" l shouted defiantly.
The priest made as If to speak: then,
abandoning the effort, which proved
beyond his power, turned away, NUT
tering to himself and wringing his
hands. I must, indeed have appeared
very much married to his eyes. What
an abandoned monster of wickedness
seemed to the good man.
understood now the frenzy of these
good peasants against me. The run
away wife is not an object of sympathy
| in rural districts.
Leopold came to me with a sneer
pushing aside the men who stood In
his way.
Madame" he said mockingly
"come! Our yacht lies in the harbor
looked round in desperation to see
II aid would come from any quarter.
looked at the priest, but he was max
ing his way sorrowfully toward the
door. Zeuxis cowed by this sudden ap
pearance of his erstwhile confederate
had sunk to the floor and stared al
him with mixture of hate and terror
And all around me the peasants elared