The Raymer enterprise., 1917-09-06

a thousand things 10 tell yon. things Of
the greatest importance. They have
been upon my tongue for hours bur
now that behold you l grow drunk
with delight and my lips frame nothing
but words OF admiration for your
beauty. SO! feast my eyes" He re-
tanned his warm clasp Of her fingers.
seeming to envelop her uncomfortably
with his ardor.
"what is II you have to tell mey' she
asked him. Withdrawing her hand
"well. l hardly know where to begin
events have moved 50 swiftly. and
such Incredible things have happened.
Even now l am In daxe. for history
Is being made every hour-history for
Mexico, for you. and for me. bring
you good news and bad news; some
thing to startle you and set your brain
In whirl. planned to send q mes
senger ahead Of me. and then l said I:
No, this Is q crisis; therefore no
tongue but mine shall apprise her, no
hand but mine shall comfort her. Only
a coward shrinks from the unpleasant !.
l shall tighten her distress and awaken
In her breast new hope. new happi-
ness
What do you meanr Alaire in
quIred, sharply. "You ssy you bring
bad newsf"
The general nodded. "In way, ter
rible, shocking. And yet I look be-
yond the Immediate and see In 1t q
blessing. So must you. To me 1t
spells the promise of my unspoken
longings, my whispered prayers" Not
ing his hearers growing bewilderment.
he laid a hand famlliarly upon her
arm. "No matter how tell you. II will
be a blow. for death is always sud.
den; 1t always finds US unprepared."
DEATH Who's dead?"
Restrain yourself. Allow for my
clumsnessL"
"Whoi Please tell me-"
Someone very close to you and very
dear to you at one time. Ny knowl.
edge OF your long unhapplness alone
gives me courage to speak"
Alaire raised her fluttering fingers to
her throat; her eyes were wide as she
said: "You don't mean-Mr. Austinl''
"Yes." Longorio scrutlnlzed her
closely, as II to measure the effect Of
his disclosure. "Senora. you are free 7"
Alaire uttered breathless exclama-
tion; then, feeling his gaze burning In
to her. turned away. but not before he
had noted her sudden pallor, the
blanchlng Of her lips.
This unexpected announcement
dazed her; 1t scattered her thoughts
and robbed her of words. but just what
her dominant emotion was at the mo-
ment she could not tell. Once her first
giddlness had passed. however, once
the truth had borne In upon her. she
found that she felt no keen anguish.
and certainly no impulse to weep.
Rather she experienced a vague horror,
such as the death OF an acquaintance
or OF familiar relative might evoke.
Ed had been anything but a true hus-
band, and her feeling now was more
for the memory Of the man he had
been, for the boy she had known and
loved than for the man whose name
she bore.
SO he was gone and. Longorio said.
she was free. 1t meant much. She
realized dlmly that In this one moment
her whole life had changed. She had
never thought of this way out Of her
embarrassments; she had been pre-
pared, In fact, for anything except this
Dead! II was deplorable, for Ed was
young. Once the first shock had passed
away, she became conscious of a deep
pity for the man, and a complete for
glveness for the misery he had caused
her. After time she faced the news
bearer, and in a strained voice In
quired:
"How did 1t happen, Was it-be-
cause Of mel"
"No, no! Rest your mind on that
score. See! l understand your con-
cern and share your intimate
thoughts. No. 1t was an accident, or
dained by God. His end was the result
OF his own folly, gunshot wound
while he was drunk, believe. Now
you will understand why l said that |
bore tidlngs both good and evil, and
why l, of oil people, should be the one
to impart them"
Alaire turned questioning eyes upon
him, as II to fathom his meaning, and
he answered her with his brilliant
smile. Failing to evoke response. he
went on:
"Eyer since heard Of It have re-
peated over and ever again, 1t Is a
miracle; 1t Is the will of Cod Come,
then, We know each other so well that
we may speak frankly. Let us be hon.
est and pretend to no counterfeit emo
lions. Let US recognize In this only
your deliveranee and the certainty Of
that blessed happiness which divine
providence offers us both"
Both" she repeated. duly.
"Need | be plainerl You know my
heart. You have read me. You under
stand how have throttled my long.
ings and remained mute while all my
being called to you"
Alalre withdrew q step, and her