The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-08-09

tary genius who checks the Yankee
hordes and saves the fatherland? |
am he. Fate points the path Of glory
and ! nm her man OF destiny. You
see. then, what I bring you-power,
position, riches. Riches? Caramba !
Walt until my hands are in the treas
ury. l will lond you with gold and
Jewels, and I will make you the rich
est woman in the world. Sonora, I
offer you dominion. I offer you the
presidents palace and Chapultepec.
And with all that. I offer you such
passionate love as no woman Of history
ever possessed"
He paused, spent by the force OF his
W intensity II was plain that he ex-
pected an immediate surrender.
Alaire's lips parted in ths'f"intest
OF hooking smiles. "You hd =. great
confidence In yourself" she ID.
"Yes. I know myself asl 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
falling to adore him.
Don't you take much for granted? p
Alnire insisted.
The Mexican shook his head. Then
his face l%ightened. "Ah! Now I see.
Your modesty forbids you to acknowl.
edge your love-is that III Well. I know
that you admire me, for I can see It.
All women admire me, and they all
n by loving me-" His chest arched
imperceptibly; with n slender finger
he delicately smoothed his black eye.
brows. Aiaire felt a wild impulse to
laugh, but was glad she had subdued
1t when he continued. II am impetuous,
but i~mpetuosity has made me what I
am. l act, and then mold fate to suit
my w ends. Opportunity has de-
livered to me my hearts desire, and I
will not be cheated out Of it. Among
the men ! brought with me to La
Feria Is a priest. He is dirty, for /
caught him as he was fleeing toward
the border; but he is n priest. and he
will marry US tonight"
Alaire managed to gasp, surely you
ure not IN eaTkest.
Indeed I ark That = 'Zsist.
ed that you dine with me this Y ening.
l cannot waste more time here, for
necessity calls me away. You shall 70
MS my wife,"
do you think I would remarry on
the very day I find myself a widow?'
"The world will never know"
"You dare to say that" Her tone
was n Of disgust. Of finality. II won-
der how / have listened to so much. II
Is HORRIBLE"
"You are still a little h-s'erical, and
you e~xaggerate. II I had more time,
I could AFFORD to wait" 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 ablaze with
hostility. This Is very humiliating,
but you force me to tell you that I hate
you"
Longorio was i~ncredulous 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 Alaire spoke next, It was with
an expression and with a tone of such
loathing that his yellow face paied. |
Your conceit IL insuferable," she
breathed.
After a brief struggle with himself, |
the Mexican cried, hoarsely: IT will
not be refused. You wish me to tame
you, Ell? Good! You have found your
master. Make your choice, then.
Which shall II be. surrender or--com-
pulsionT
80! You have been lying, as /
thought. Compulsion! Now the real
Longorlo speaks"
He flung up his hands as II to ward
of her fury. "Noi Have | not made ,
myself clear? ! shall embrace vol
only with the arms of a husband, for
this Is not the passion OF a moment
but OF n lifetime. and / have myself TO
consider. The wife of Mexico's next
AA 90 p1 aBONt IfllTOutn , |
there must be no scandal. no secrets
hidden away for enemies to unearth.
She must stand before the people as
n 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. 1t is destiny. You shall be
mine tonight. Think a moment! 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 you leave
this house except under the protec.
ton OF my name."
''Then I shall never leave It." she
told him.