Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-10-03
HEART OF THE SUNSET
BY Rex Beach
yH.paA Brother

saw and loved you. Dios! The first
sight of your face altered the current
of my life. l saw heaven in your eyes
and l have dreamed Of nothing else
ever since. Well, Providence opened
the doors and set you free; God gave
heed to my prayers and delivered you
to me. Now you pretend to grieve at
your deliverance; you ask me to re-
spect the memory of your. jailer! De
cency? Delicacy? What are they ex-
cept artif1cialities. which vanish in
times of stress? Alexander the Great,
Caesar, Napoleon. Porfrio Diaz-they
were strong, purposeful men; they
lived as live. Sonora, you daily with
love-"
Alaire's face was white with anger
as she replied: "You cause me to for
get that you are my guest. Are you
the man l considered you or the man
you are reported to be?"
"Eh?"
"Are you the gentleman, the friend,
you pretended to be, Or-the vandal
whom no woman can trust? You treat
me as If you were my jailer. What do
you mean? What kind Of man are you
to take advantage of my bereave-
ment?"
After moments consideration, Lon
gorio began haltingly: II don't know
what kind of man am, for you have
changed me SO. There was a time
IL have done things have scorned
all restraint, all laws except those of
my desires, and so, perhaps, l am a
vandal. Make sure Of this, however,
l shall not injure you. Mexico is no
more sacred to me than you, my hearts
treasure. You accuse me of indelicacy
because lack the strength to smother
my admiration. I adore you; my be-
ing dissolves, my veins are afire with
longing for you; I am mad with the
knowledge that you are mine. Mad?
Caramba am insane; my mind tot
tiers; grope my way like man
blinded by dazzling light; suffer
agonies. But see! refuse to touch
you. I am giant In my restraint.
The strength of heroes Is mine, and
strangle my impulses as they are
born, although the effort. kills me. Sc
nora, I await the moment Of your vol
untary surrender. wait for you" He
extended his arms, and Alaire saw
that his olive features were distorted
with emotion; that his hands, his
whole thin, high-strung body were
shaking uncontrollably.
She could summon no coherent
words.
"You believed l was hawk and
would seize you, eh?" he queried. us
that why you continue to shrink? Well,
let me tell you something, If my tongue
will frame the thoughts in my mind.
My passion is so deep and SO sacred
that I would not be content with less
than all Of you. I must have you all,
and so I wait, trembling. I say this
so badly that doubt If you under
stand. Listen, then: to possess you
by force would be-well, as If sacked
a cathedral Of it's golden images and
expected to gain heaven by clutching
the cross in my arms. Sonora, in
you I see the priceless Jewel Of my
love, which I shall wear to dazzle the
world, and without which 1 shall de-
stroy myself. Now let me tell you
what I can offer you, what setting l
can build for this treasure. Marriage
with Luis LongOrio-"
Alaire could not control start.
AS If quickened by his intensity, the
man read her thought. you did not
imagine that l offered you anything
less?
"What was / to think? Your repu-
tation-T
"Blood of my hearth" breathed the
general. $50! That is what you meant
a moment ago. That is why you re-
fuse my embraces. No, no! Other
women have feared me, and I have
laughed in their hair as they tore at
my arms. but you-you will be my
wife, and all Mexico shall bow at your
feet" He checked her denial with a
gesture. "Wait until tell you the
vision have seen during these days
Of despair. l see Mexico made whole
by my hands; a land of peace and
plenty; people with one name upon
their lips-the name Of Longorio the
Deliverer; and you as the first lady
Of them all. You know me for a man
Of tremendous ability in every line.
Well, I know myself, too. have meas
ured myself carefully, and l have no
weakness. There is no other like me.
Gomez? Bah! He is a red
handed bandit of no culture. Can
1eleria, his chief? The idol Of the ig-
norant and a dreamer of no force.
Potosi? He is president today, but
what, of tomorrow? Those who sur
round him are weaklings, and he
ys.-s-