The Raymer enterprise., 1917-09-13
HEART OF THE SUNSET
By Rex Beach
cvMAh b. hHa,~&R &RrA~s

stumbles toward oblivion. Who will
succeed him7 Who will issue from
the coming struggle as the dominant
figure OF Mexico? Who but that mill.
tary genius who checks the Yapkee
hordes and saves the fatherland7
am he. Fate points the path Of glory
and I am her man Of destiny. You
see, then. what ! bring you-power,
position. riches. Riches? Caramba |!
Walt until my hands are In the treas.
ury. I will load you with gold and
jewels and I will make You the rich.
est woman In the world. Sonora, /
offer you dominion. ! offer you the
presidents palace and Chapultepec.
And with all that, / offer you such
passionate love as no woman Of history
ever possessed"
He paused. spent b, the force OF his
own intensity: II was plain that he ex.
pected an immediate surrender.
Alaire's lips parted In the faintest
of mocking smiles. "You have great
confidence In yourself" she said.
"Yes. ] know myself a. no one
knows me-"
"why do you think I care for your
Longorio's eyes opened. His ex.
preston plainly showed that he could
not imagine any woman in her senses
failing to adore him.
"Don't you take much for granted"
Alaire insisted.
The Mexican shook his head. Then
his face lightened. "Ahl Now l see
Your modesty forbIds you to acknowl-
edge your love-is that III Well, know
that you admire me, for can see It.
All women admire me. and they all
end by loving me-" His chest arched
imperceptibly: with a slender finger
he delicately smoothed his black eye
brows. Alaire felt Wild impulse to
laugh. but was glad she had subdued
II when he continued. II am impetuous,
but impetuosity has made me what I
am. l act. and then mold fate to suit
my own ends. Opportunity has de-
llvered to me my hearts desire. and !
will not be cheated out Of It. Among
the men brought with me to La
Feria Is a priest. He is dirty, for I
caught him as he was fleeing toward
the border; but he Ii a priest, and he
win marry US tonight"
Alaire managed to gasp. "Surely you
are not In earnest"
"Indeed I ami That is why insist.
ed that you dine with me this evening.
/ cannot waste more time here. for
necessity calls me away. You shall 60
rs my wife"
"Do you think would remarry on
the very day l find myself a widowf'
THE world will never know"
"You dare to say that!" Her tone
was one Of disgust, Of tinality. II won-
der how have listened to so much. II
Is horrible"
"You are still q little hysterical, and
you exaggerate. II l had more time,
! could afford to watt" He ogled her
with his luminous gaze. II would let
you play with me to your hearts con-
tent and exercise your power until you
tired and were ready to surrender"
Alaire raised her head proudly, her
nostrils dilated. her eyes ablaxe with
hostility. "This is very humillatlng,
but you force me to tell you that hate
you"
Longorio was incredulous rather
than offended. He drew himself up to
his full height and smiled, saying:
THAT is impossible" Then, Ignoring
her impatience: "Come! You cannot
deceive me. The priest is waiting"
When Alalre spoke next, II was with
an expression and with a tone of such
loathlng that his yellow face paled.
Your conceit is insutferable." she
breathed.
After brief struggle with himself,
the Mexican cried. hoarsely: II will
not be refused. You wish me to tame
you, ehi Good! You have found your
master. Make your choice, then.
Which shall 1t be, surrender or-com-
pulsionr
$50! You have been lying, as /
thought. Compulsion! Now the real
Longorio speaks"
He flung up his hands as II to ward
Off her fury. "Nol Have not made
myself clear? / shall embrace you
only with the arms Of a husband, for
this Is not the passion Of q moment,
but Of lifetime, and have myself to
consider. The wife Of Mexico's next
president must be above reproach
there must be no scandal. no secrets
hidden away for enemies to unearth.
She must stand before the people as
a perfect woman; she must lend pres
tige to his name. When I speak Of
compulsion, then. I mean the right Of
a husband"
Alaire uttered an exclamation Of dis
gust and turned away, but he inter-
cepted her. saying: you cannot hold
me at bay. It Is destiny. You shall be
mine tonight. Think a momentl We
are alone In the heart Of a country
lacking In every law but mine. Your
friends do not know where you are,
and. even II they knew, they could not
help you. Your nations protest would
avail nothing. Outside Of these walls
are enemies who will not LET vou lee "a