The Lamar register., 1917-10-10

but you shall be my guiding star in the
hours OF. darkness"
Under other circumstances the mans
magnificent egotism might have pro-
vokcd Il smile. And yet, for all its
grandlloquence, there was something
in his speech that rang hard and true.
Unquestionably Longorio was danger
ous--a real personality, and no mere
staggering pretender. Alaire felt a
certain reluctant respect for him, and
at the same time n touch of chilling
fear such as she had hardly expert
enced before. She faced him silently
for moment; then she said:
'Am to understand that you forbid
me to leave my own houseT"
For the time being, exactly"
"What? Then am your prisoner -
''No, nor He made a gesture of de-
nlal. ''How ridiculous 1 merely keep
you from certain destruction. You can
not go by train, because the railroad
has suspended public service, nor can
you ride or drive. l tell you, sonora,
the people are aroused. For the mo-
mcnt you must accept my protection,
whether you wish to or not. Tomor-
roW'-Longorio smiled warmly, mean
ingly-'perhaps you will not be in such
haste to refuse 1t. or to leave La Feria.
Wait until you understand me better.
Then But enough of this. You are
unstrung, you wish to be alone with
your thoughts, and what have to say
can wait for few hours. In the mean
time, may beg the hospitality Of your
ranch for myself and my menr'
Alaire acquiesced mechanically. Lon
rorlo saluted her fingers in his Gus
j1mary manner, and then, with a look
eloquent Of things unsaid, he went out
to see to the comfort Of his command.
AIuire sank into the nearest chair,
her nerves qulverinE. her mind in tur-
mon. This Mexican was detestable,
and he was far from being the mere
maker Of audaciously gallant speeches,
the POLITICALLY fervent wooer of every
pretty woman, she had blindly sup
posed him. His was no sham nrdor; I;
The man was hotly, horribly in earnest
There had been a CLINT of madness in
his eyes. And he actually seemed to
think that she shared his infatuatiOn.
Tt N,as into!erable. Yet Longorio, she
was sure, had an abundance of discre-
zion; he would not dare to offer her
violence. He had pride, too; and in
his way he was something of n gen
Uoman. So far, she bad avoided Civ
ing him orfcnse. But If once she made
niuin to him how utterly loathsome to
bcr was his pursuit, she was sure that
he would cease TO annoy her. Alaire
WIS self-eoullent, strons-willed; she
took courage.
Her thoughts turned from her fears
to the amazing reality of her widow
hood. Even yet she could not wholly
credit the fact that Eds wasted life
had come to an end and that she was
free to make the most Of her own.
Aluire remembered her husband now
with more tenderness, more charity,
than she would have believed possible,
AID IT seemed to her pitiful that one so
blessed with opportunity should have
worked such havoc with himself and
With those near to him.
Doubtless 1t was an part of some
nrovidentiaI scheme, too blind for her
10 solve. Perhaps, indeed, his own
trials had been designed to the end
that her greater truer love, when II
.!id come, would find her ripe, respon'
siye, ready. As for this Mexican gen
eral, she would put him in his place
Alaire was still walking the floor
Dc her chamber when Dolores entered
Mt dusk, to say that supper was ready
and that General Longorio was wait
ing.
ASK him to excuse me-" she told
her servant.
But Longorio himself spoke from the
next room, saying: "Senora, 1 beg OF