The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-08-02

Wv ki'uNtS iIhIoi NuliNt. lucy UHNt
been upon my tongue for hours. but
now that I 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 It you have to tell met" she
asked him, withdrawing her hand.
"Well, I hardly know where to begin
events have moved so swiftly, and
pich incredible things have happened.
Even now | am In II daZe, for history
Is being made every hour-history for
Mexico. for you, ana for me. / bring
you good news and bad news; some
thing tn startle you and set your brain
In n whirl. I planned to send a mes.
senger ahead Of Inc, and then I said
NO, this Is a crisis; therefore no
tongue but mine shall apprise her, no
hand but mine shall comfort her. Only
n coward shrinks from the unpleasant;
I shall tighten her distress and awaken
in her breast new hope. new happi.
ness"
what do you meani" Alaire in
CURED, sharply. you say you bring
bad newsf"
The general nodded. "In a way, ter
rible, shocking! And yet I look be-
yond the immediate and see In II a
blessing. So must you. To me II
spells the promise OF my unspoken
iJngings, my whispered prayers" Not
ing his hearers growing bewilderment,
he laid Il hand Familiarity upon her
arm. mo matter how | tell you, It will
be a blow. for death Is always sud.
den 1t always finds US unprepared."
Death? WHO'S dead,"
"Restrain yourself. Allow for my
clumsiness."
"Who? Please tell me !"
Someone very close TO you and very
dear to you at n time. My knowl-
edge OF your long unhappiness alone
gives me courage to speak"
Alaire raised her fluttering fingers to
her throat her yes were wide as she
said: ".You don't mean-Mr. Austin?"
"Yes." Longorio scrutinized her
closely. as II to measure the effect Of
his disclosure. "Senora, you are free :"
Alaire uttered a breathless exclama.
ton 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; II 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 frst
giddlness had passed, however, once
the truth had borne In upon her, she
found that she felt no keen anguish,
and certainly 40 impulse to weep.
Rather she experienced IA vague horror.
such as the death Of an acquaintance
or Of a familiar relative might evoke.
Ed had been anything but n 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 dimly that In this one moment
her whole life had changed. She had
never thought OF this way out OF her
ADVERTISEMENTS; she had been pre-
pared. In fact. for anything except this.
Dead. II was deplorsble, for Ed was
young. Once the first shock had passed
away, she became conscious Of u deep
pity for the man, and a complete for
giveness for the misery he had caused
her. After a time she faced the news.
bearer, and In d strained voice In
CURED:
"How did It happen7 Was it--be-
cause Of mel"
mo. no! Rest your mind on that
score. See! understand your con-
Germ and I share your intimate
thoughts. No, It was an accident, Or
dalned by God. His end was the result
or his own folly, Il gunshot wound
while he was drunk, / believe. Now
you will understand why / said that I
bore tidings both good and evil, and
why !, OF all people, should be the one
- 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 a response, he
went On
Ever since | heard OF II / have re.
| pented over and over again, 1T Is q
miracle; 1t Is the will OF God Come
then. we know ench other so well tina,
4 we may speak frankly. Let US be hon,
est and pretend to no counterfeit emo
I lions. Let us recognize In this only
I your deliverance and the certainty Of
@ that blessed happiness which divin,
providence offers US both"
"Bothf" she repeated, duly.
r "Need I be plainerf You know m!
heart. You have read me. You under
r stand how I have throttled my long
ings and remained mute while all IN.
being called to YOU"
d Alaire withdrew a step, and he
d cheeks colored with anger. General |!