The Snowflake herald., 1917-08-17

Inc occasion IOr CnlS was udu0 pain
when an engine drawing a single ca
boose appeared. Even before it had
come to a pause, tall figure in spot
less uniform leaped to the ground and
strobe to the waiting coaches. 1t was
Luis LongOriO. He waved signal to
the conductor, then swung aboard the
north-bound train.
The general was all smiles as he
came down the aisle, and bowed low
over Alaire's hand.
Dolores gasped and stiffened in her
seat like woman of stone.
Heaven be praised! You are safe
and we'll !" said the newcomer. II
have blamed myself for allowing you
to take this abOminable journey! l
have been in torment lest something
befall you. Every night have prayed
that you might be spared all harm.
When 1 received word that you were
coming, made all speed to meet YOU"
Dolores and I are greatly in your
debt" Alaire told him.
"But you stayed so lOngw
"There was more work than /
thought. General, you have ruined me-"
LongOrio was panied; his face be-
came ineffably sad. "PleaSe! / beg
of you," he entreated. 81 have ar
ranged for reparatiOn of that miser-
able mistake. shall see that you re-
ceive justice. If the government will
not pay, / will. All / possess would
be too little to buy your happiness"
''YOu embarrass me. I'm afraid you
don't realize what you say" Alaire re-
mained cool under the mans protesta-
tiOns. II have lost more than a thou
sand head of CATTLE"
1--WE shall say two, three thousand,
and the government will pay" Longo-
rio asserted brazenly. 81 will vouch
for your figures, and no one will ques-
ton them, for / am man of honor"
"No! All l want"
sit is done. Let us say no more
about the affair. Sonora, 1 have thought
of you every hour; the duties that held
me in Nuevo Pueblo were like irksOme
chains. / was in madness. 1 would
have flown to La Feria, butt could
not"
"My husband will thank you for your
to say.
But the mention of husbands was
not agreeable to one Of Longorio's SEN
sitiveness, and his face betrayed a
hint of impatience.
''Yes, yes" he agreed careIessly.
"Senor Austin and / must know each
other better and become friends"
''That is hardly possible at present.
When the war Is over"
"Bah! This war is nothing. I go
where 1 please. You would be sur
prised to greet me at Las Palmas some
day soon, eh? When you tell your
husband what a friend am, he would
be glad to see me, would he not?"
"WhV-of course. But surely you
wouldn't dare"
"And why not? have made inQui-
ries, and they tell me Las Palmas is
beautiful, heavenly, and that you are
the one who transformed it. / believe
them. You have. the power to trans
form all things, even a mans heart
and soul. No wonder you are called
The Lone Star But wait. You will
see how constantly 1 think of you"
LOngoriO drew from his pocket several
photographs Of the Austin ranchhouse.
where did you get those?" Alaire
asked in astonishment.
"Ah! My secret. See! They are
badly worn already, for / keep them
next to my BOSOM"
"We entertain very few guests at
Las Palmas," she murmured, uncom-
fortably.
II know. / know a great DEAL"
''It would scarcely be safe for you
to call; the country is full of Candle
leristaS-"
"Cattlew said the officer, with
careless shrug. did not that great
poet Byron swim across an ocean to
see lovely lady? Well, l, too, am a
poet. l have beautiful fancies-songs
of love run through my mind. Those
Englishmen know nothing of passion.
Your American men are cold. Only
Mexican can love. We have fire in
our veins, sonora"
To these perfervid protestations Do
lores listened with growing fright; her
eyes were wide, and they were fixed
hypnotically upon the speaker; she pre-
sented much the appearance of rab-
bit charmed by a serpent. But to Lon
gorlo she did not exist; she was chat
tel, a servant, and therefore devoid Of
soul or intelligence, or use beyond that
of serving her mistress.
Thinking to put an end to these
Establishments Alaire undertook to re-
turn the generals ring, with the pre-
tense that she considered it no more
than talisman loaned her for the time
being. But it was a task to make Lon
gorio accept 1t. He was shocked, Of
Tended, hurt; he declared the ring to
be of no value; it was no more than