The Huttig news., 1917-05-26


 Listen v The general was deeply [ in earnest. 1ou lave TO conception l ef the chaos out there" He waved a comprehensive gesture. If the explo- sion has not come, it will come within few hours. That is why l flew to | Your si3e. BattleShins are hurrying ta- ward our coast, troops are raSsing | against our border, and Mexico has l risen like one man. The people are in l T frenzy they gre out of bounds there is sack and pillage in the cities. Ameri- caEs are objects of violence every where and the peOns are frantic" He paused impressively. We face the greatest upheaval of history"
 "Then why are you here?" Alaire de handed. "This is no place for you at such a moment"
 Longorio came closer to her, ana ms .oice trembled as he said: Angel of ny soul, my place is at your side Again she recoiled, but with fervor he had never dared display he rushed on heedlessy. T have told you l harken only to my heart; that for one mile from you 1 would behead myself;
 hat for your favor 1 would betray Ay sutherland; that for your kiss I would face damnation. Well, I am here at your side. The deluge comes, but you shall be unharmed." He would not per init her to check him, crying: Wait You must hear me through, senora, so that you may comprehend fully why l am forced to speak at this time. Out of this coming struggle 1 shall emerge Il heroic figure. Now that Mexico unites, she will triumph, and of all her victorious sons the name of Luis Lon gorio will be sung the loudest, for upon him more than upon any other depends the republics salvation. I dc not boast. l merely state facts. for I have made all my plans, and tomorrow I put them into effect. That Is why cannot wait to speak. The struggle will be long but you shall be my guiding star in the hours of darkness
 Under other circumstances the mans magnificent egotism might have pro- voked smile. And yet, for all its grandiloquence, there was something in his speech that rang hard and true. Unquestionably Longorio was danger ous-a real personality, and no mere swagger.ng pretender. Alaire felt certain reluctant respect for him, and at the same time a touch of chilling fear such as she had hardly expert enced before. She faced him silently for a moment; then she said:
 Am to understand that you forbid me to leave my own house?'
 For the time being, exactly"
 What? Then l am your prisoner
 "No no! He made q gesture of de- nial. How ridiculous I 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, senora. the people are aroused. For the mo- ment 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 it, 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 I have to say can wait for few hours. In the mean time may beg the hospitality of your ranch for myself and my meng'
 Alaire acquiesced mechanically. Lon gorio saluted her fingers in his GUS tomary manner, and then, with a look eloquent of things unsaid, he went out to see to the comfort of his command.
 Alaire sank into the nearest chair, her nerves quivering, her mind in tur- moi. This Mexican was detestable, and he was far from being the mere maker of audaciously gallant speeches, the poetically fervent wooer of every pretty woman, she had blindly sup posed him. His was no sham ardor; the man was hotly, horribly in earnest. There had been glint of madness ill his eyes. And he actually seemed to think that she shared his infatuation. Ii was intolerable. Yet Longorio, she was sure, had an abundance of disere- tion: he would not dare to offer her violence. lie had pride, too; and in his way he was something of gen tleman. So far, she had avoided giv- ing him offense. But if once she i1ade plain to him how utterly loathsolae to her was his pursuit, she was sure that he would cease to annoy her. Alaire was self-confident, strong-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 lie had come to an end and that she was free to make the most of her own. Alaire remembered her husband now with more tenderness, more charity. than she would have believed possible, anG it seemed to her pitiful that one so blessed with opportunity should lave worked such havoc with himself and with those near to him.
 Doubtless It was all a part of sone -=--z----zs-s =.=--# -zs-s =