Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1917-08-10

fording Payne ar opportunity for a
mutually desired tete-tete, for both the
colonel and Major Brent were, to his
disappointment, present.
1t was while the party were assem-
bling in the hall that occurred an In
cldent which ~noticeably affected Brent
and caused Payne at least a few sec
onds Of wonder. A messenger arrived
with a letter addressed to Brent on the
Hotel Wilton stationery. Excusing him
self and retiring somewhat apart from
the others, Brent broke the seal and,
with rising anger, read:
Dear Thornton: I am at your hotel.
I need a large sum OF money. / am
sure your rival for Pearl Dare, Cap
tain Payne, would pay me handsome
be at the bali. BERTHE BONN.
He stood an instant undecided. Then,
Diminishing the boy without a reply, he
crushed the note in his fist and, num-
bling apologies, Joined his companions
in the waiting automobile.
The ball at the Granadian embassy
vas in full motion when they arrived.
Pearl vas easily the apex Of all
vision in the assemblage. Wherever
she moved men %petitloned the favor Of
a dance and when she waltzed with De
Mira, the gray-haired G%ranadian am
bassador, even the women begrudg-
ingly admitted her superior graces and
charms.
During a one-step, in which Brent's
gOo1 fortrpa nafroA him nffh Daorl
Payne for a moment encountered alone
in the conservatory the Granadlan am
bassador. They chatted briefly.
"Who is the beautiful brunette,
your excellency?" inquired Payne, mo-
tioning toward a girl standing some
what apart and alone. She was tall
and beautiful, with an indefinable
something hard, while pathetic, in her
mobile countenance.
The ambassador shook his head and,
calling his secretary, put Payne's
question. Payne's eyes were at that
instant looking at the girls neck,
where lay, attached to a thin gold
chain, a locket identical with the one
containing the hidden waters.
Curious" he mumbled, half aloud,
while the secretary admitted reluctant
ly that he did not know her name and
went off to ascertain 1t. Just then
Brent, with a laughing girl on each
arm, swept by, and Payne, as he
turned to seek Pearl, for his dance
with her was now due, imagined that
he was mistaken when he thought he
saw the mysterious woman accost
Brent and be snubbed by him.
When Pearl and her now happy es-
cort stepped upon the floor the dancing
was at its height. Everybody was in
a gay and indulgent humor. He led,
she followed in perfect step and
rythm to the music, which was a selec-
ton from Strauss. No more splendidly
matched couple graced the floor of a
ballroom. Half a head taller than she
and straight as an arrow, every inch a
soldier in fact, he looked the part. Many
an old and admiring couple in the room
that night commented upon PEARLS
suitability to be a soldiers wife and
hoped among themselves that Payne
would be the lucky fellow. She was
youth, health and vitality incarnate,
indeed. Her developing figure was
strong and supple; there was some
thing boyish about it, too. In her
sparkling blue eyes merriment Wed
with girllsh tenderness. A coat Of
summer tan only partly hid the clarity
of her complexion. A faint natural
odor from her golden hair during that
ecstatic dance permeated the senses
Of Payne, fairly intoxicating him.
pearl" he whispered, tenderly, 81
am leaving you tonight for a long and
indefinite absence. What does that
mean to your"
The girl made no reply. He could
feel the wild beating of her heart.
us there not some token of you l
may take along with me and treasure
in the loneliness and uncertainty Of
the life to which I am bound? Some
love token2"
She pressed his hand very, very ten
derby. Still she did not speak, but
something told him that her heart was
full.
"PearlT She looked up tlmIdly,
adOringlY.
"Will you be my wife?"
Pearl M longer hesltated. Long
since, her heart had told her what her
response to that question would be.
She knew that she loved Ralph Payne.
Let us go into the conservatory, she
murmured softly.
Then, as they made their exit, APP
peared Major Brent, reckoning to
Payne
"A messenger is looking for you.
Captain /" he called over his shoulder