The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-09-01


would you like to make great deal
of money!"
"Dios! That is why I'm a soldier"
81 will pay you well to get me two
horses
But old Pancho shook his head Wig
orously. 'ImpossibleI General Lon
gorio is going to marry you. We all
got drunk last night to celebrate the
wedding. Yes, and the priest is wait
ing"
ST will make you rich"
''Ho! Wouldn't live to spend a single
peso. Felipe disobeyed orders, and
the general shot him before he could
cross himself. Boom! The poor fell
low was passed in a minute. No. We
Will all be rich after we win a few
battles and capture some American
cities. I am an old man; shall leave
the drinking and the women to the
young fellows, and prepare for my old
age"
Seeing that she could not enlist Pan
cho's aid. Alaire begged him to fetch
the priest.
"You wish spiritual comfort, Sc
nora?'
Perhaps"
"Well, he doesn't look like much OF
a priest, but probably he will do. AS
for me, don't believe in such things.
Churches are all very well for ignorant
people, but we Mexicans are too intel
ligent; we are making an end of them
The priest was small, white-haired
man with a gentle, almost timid face,
and at the moment when he appeared
before Alaire he was in anything but
a happy frame of mind. He had under
gone, he told her, terrible experience
His name was O'Malley. He had come
from MOnclava, whence the rebels had
banished him under threat of death.
He had seen his church despoiled of its
valuables, his school closed; he him
self had managed to escape only by a
miracle. During his flight toward the
border he had suffered every indignity,
and finally Longorio had intercepted
him and brought him here, practically
in chains.
"What a situationi What chaos ~
he lamented. 1.-THE land is overrun
with bandits; there is no law, no au-
thority, no faith; religion is made a
mockery. The men are becoming inf
dels and atheists, and in many places
| they will not allow US to give comfort
even to their women"
us it as bad as thatT'
Father O'MalIey shook his head sad
| ". you've no idea. What do you
| think of a people who forbid the men
ton of Gods name in their schools?
That is what the revolutionists are
| doing. Cande1eria claims that the
churches are the property Of the state
He confscates them, and he charges
admission. He has banished all ex-
cept a few of US priests, and has
shamefully prosecuted our Sisters Of
Mercy. Oh, the outragesI Mexico is,
today, the blacklist spot on the map
of Christendom." His voice broke.
THAT is the freedom, the liberty, the
| democracy, for which they are fight
ing. That is the new Mexico. And
the federals are not bit better. This
Longorio, for instance, this-wolf-he
brings me here, as his prisoner, to SOL
emnize an unholy marriageI He treats
me like dog. Last night slept in a
filthy howell
"Ohi I'm sorry" Alaire exclaimed.
But I'm half crazed with my own
troubles. You must come into the
house; the best I have is yours. You
shall be as much my guest as 1 can
make you. and-perhaps you will help
me to escape"
"Escape?" The little man smiled
mournfully. "You are watched and
guarded, and so am 1. Even if you
got away from here, what then? You
can't imagine the condition of the
country"
81 won't marry him ~ Alaire cried,
| with a shudder. ST won'tI"
HE can't very well force you to do
so. But remember, these are war
times; the man is fend. and he puts
no restraint upon his desires. If he
is madly bent on having you. how can
you prevent it? In normal times he
would not dare injure one. so promi-
nent as you, but now" Father
O'Malley lifted up his hands 'T only
wonder that he suggests a lawful mar
| riage. Suppose you refuse? VIII he
not sacrifice you to his passions? He
has done worse things" After q mo-
ment's consideration, he said: "Of
course it is possible that 1 misjudge
him. Anyhow, If you desire. me to do
so, Will refuse to perform the cere-
mony. But-Pm afraid 1t will just
mean ruin for both of US"
Surely he wouldn't harm your"
| The father shrugged. 'What am L?
An obscure priest. Many Of my broth
ers are buried in Mexico. However,
I shall do as you WISH
AS the day wore on Alaire realized
even more clearly the fact that she
was Longorio's prisoner. His men, in
spite OF their recent debauch, kept very
good watch over her, and it was plain
that they would obey his orders, no
matter how extreme. 1t occurred to
her finally that he was staying away
purposeiy. in order to give her q fuller
appreciation OF her position-so that
she might beat her wings against the
cage until exhausted.
Afternoon came, then evening. and
still Longorio did not return. Father
O'Malley could give scant comfort !:
Dolores was positive trial.
Half distracted, Alaire roamed
~ l.