Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-03-02

Capt. Ralph Payne Il Arrests
fording Payne an opportunity for a
mutually desired tete-tete. for both the
colonel and Major Brent were. to his
disappointment, present.
Ii was while the party were assem-
bling In the hall that occurred an In
cident which noticeably affected Brent
and caused Payne at least q 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
he others, Brent broke the seal and,
with rising anger, read:
Dear Thornton: I am at your hotel.
need . large sum OF money. am
tain Payne, would pay me handsome
" for what l could tell him. may
be at the ball. BERTHA BONN.
He stood an instant undecided. Then,
diminishing the boy without a reply. he
rushed the note In his fist and, NUM-
bling apologies, joined his companions
Ia the waiting automobile.
The ball at the Granadian embassy
was in full motion when they arrived
Pearl was easily the apex Of all
vision In the assemblage.- Wherever
she moved men petitioned the favor OF
a dance and when she waltzed with De
Mira, the gray-haired G%ranadisn am
bassador, even the women begrudg-
lngly admitted her superior graces and
charms.
During q one-step. In which Brent's
good fortune paired him with Pearl,
Payne for q moment encountered alone
In the conservatory the GranadIan am
bassador. They chatted briefly.
"Who Is the beautiful brunette,
your excellency?" inquired Payne, mo-
tiuning toward a girl standing some
what apart and alone. She was tall
and beautiful, with Tn 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
~ that he did not know her name and
went off TO ascertain IL. Just then
Brent, with a laughing girl On each
arm. swept by. and Payne. as he
turned to seek Pearl, for his dance
.,s.I har ,x.oa naxx. Hna irnaUfna1 fhnr
ne 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
q 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 IA
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 vas some
hing boyish about 1t, toe. In her
sparkling blue eyes merriment We'd
With girlish tenderness. A q OF
summer tan only partly hid the clarity
If her complexion. A faint natural
,dor from her golden hair during that
.cstatic dance p~ermeated the senses
If Payne, fairly Intoxicating him.
Pearl" he whispered. tenderly. Il
am leaving you tonight for a long and
indefinite absence. What does that
mean 10 you?"
The girl made no reply. He could
feel the wild beating of her heart.
rs there not some token Of you ]
nay take along with me and treasure
IN the loneliness and uncertainty of
the life to which / am bound? Some
owe tokenT"
She pressed his hand very, very ten
ierly. Still she did not speak. but
something told him that her heart was
.ull.
"Pearl?" She looked up timidly
ldoringly.
"Will you be my wifeT"
Pearl no longer hesitated. Lone
Iince. her heart had told her what heI
response to that question would be
She knew that she loved Ralph Payne
LET US 60 into the conservatory" she
nurmured softly.
Then, as they made their exit, ap'
,eared Major Brent, ~beckoning to
'ayne.
"a messenger Is looking for you,
Captain u he called over his shoulder