Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-04

!
tions--they are less than nothing to
me. II 1t seems to you that my eager
ness Carries me away, remember that
war Is upon us and that affairs of mo-
ment press me SO that am compelled
to move like the lightning. With me.
senora. II day Is IL year. The past is
gone, the present Is here, the future
PUSHES forward to meet us"
Indeed, you forget Yourself" she
said, warmly. Then, changing her tone:
II too must act quickly, must 90
back at once"
"Oh. but have told you only n part
of Whit came TO say
"Surely the rest can wait" Her
voice was vibrant with contempt. Tin
In no condition to listen to anything
elsep
But Longorio insisted. "Wait. 1t is
impossible for you to leave here
Alaire stared at him incredulously.
1T Is true. Mexico is Il Seetling cal
dron Of hate; The country Is convnlSed.
IT would be unsafe for YOU"
"Do'you mean to say that war has
been declaled!"
"IGac,ically.'
"Whut--? You are telling me the
; truthy" A moment, then Alaire con
tinuetl. more calmly. If that Is so,
there IL. all the more reason why |
should lose no time"
Listen" The general was deeply
in earnest you have no conception
of the chaos out there" He waved Il
comprehensive gesture III the cxplo-
sion has not come, ii will come wihia
few hours That is why ] flew to
. your side. Battleships are hnrryins to-
g ward our coast. troops are masslny
I against our border, and Mexico hus
a risen like one man. The people are III
+ frenzy: they are out of bounds there
), Is sack and pillage In the cities. Ameri-
!. cans are objects of violence every.
$ where and the poems are frantic" He
Il paused impressively. 1--WE face the
u greatest upheaval Of history"
"TEen why are you here" Alaire de-
manded This ~ no place for you III
such moment"
J.ongorio came closer to her, ard hi,
voice treInbled as he said: Angel O
my soul, my place is ut your side.
Again she recoiled, hut with fervol
he had never dared display he rushct
on heedlessly II have told You
harken only to my heart that for on'
smile from you would behead myself
that for your favor / would betray IN!
fatherland; that for your kiss | would
face damnation Well, / am here n
A your side. The deluge comes, but yol
shall be unframed" He would not per
init her to check him, crying: wait
You must hear me through, sonora, 81
that you may comprehend fully why
nm forced to speak at this time. Gu
Of this coming struggle shall emerg
Il heroic figure. Now that Mckee
unites, she will triumph, and Of all he
victorious sons the name of Luis Lon
J goro will be sung the loudest, for upo
. him more than upon any other depend
the republics salvation. do not boas
] merely state facts, for ! have mad
all my plans, and tomorrow put thel
into effect. That IS why cannot wal
to speak. The struggle will be loni
r. but you shall be my guiding star in til
ID hours Of darkness"
g. Under other circumstances the man
n magnificent egotism might have pr
voked II smile. And yet, for all il
e. grandiloquence, there was somethln
in his speech that rang hard and tru
at Unquestionaby Longorio was dnnge
n ous--a real personality, and no mci
te staggering pretender. Aai.e felt
IT, certain reluctant respect for him. IN
lit ut the same time Il touch Of chillll
nd fear such as she had hardly cXper
w enced before. She faced him silent
for Il moment; then she said:
nd Am to understand that yon forb
ne me to leave my own house?'
For the time being, exactly"
on "What? TheniI I'm your prisoner
nd mo, now lie made Il gesture Of 4
mt NAL. How ridiculous. merely ke'
he you from certain destruction, You CT
not 90 By train, because The rai!ro;
re- has suspended public service, nor c,
you ride or drive. tell you, senior
ne, the people are aroused For the IN
Iat ment you must accept my protectio
~ whether YOU wish TO or not Tome
lo- rew"-longorio smiled warmly, ine;l
NY ingly--''perhnps you will not be In sll
OF lassa to refuse Il, or to leave LII Fer
me Wait until you understand Inc bett'
Then But enough Of this. YOU Il
unstrung you wish to be alone vi
my. your thoughts, apd what have to $
err can wait for " few hours. In the me-;
ng- time, may beg the hospitality Of 70
my ranch FOR myself and my meny
Alaire acqulcsced mechanically. IL
her gorio snluted her Angers IN his q
lvs tomary manner. and then, with Il 10
Il eloquent of things unsnld, he went {
Ter to see to the comfort Of his c0inman'
her Alaire sank into the nearest cha
her nerves Quivering, her mind In 4
of moll This Mexican was detestal
'ar.- und he was far from being the N,