Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-08-23

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IF we yield to this passion I mus,
pay the penalty, and If pay the pen.
atty you will lose me. There is but one
course for us. We must part"
"Are you not willing to take any risk
at all for my sake?"
"Do you wish me to suffer the gar.
rote for your sake?"
She was silent for a moment, with
downcast eyes.
81 do not wish you to suffer, but I
wish you to be willing to suffer on ac-
count of your love for me-"
There was something irresistible IN
her face as she turned her eyes up to
meet mine. l clasped a hand that
hung loosely by her side and felt a
current running from her arm into
mine. Then it was all over with me.
drew her toward me and kissed her.
The next few weeks were the most
delightful to me Of any period of my
life. l was constantly stealing inter-
views with Donna Inez, knowing all
the while that if caught in one of them
would pay for the pleasure with my
life. True, there were moments when
the abyss on whose brink I stood
would appear beneath me In all its ter
rible reality. But had 1t not been for
these moments would my enjoyment
with the girl l loved have been SO
keen? ! think not. 1t was the one
that brought out the other.
The bliss of one of our meetings was
interrupted by a terrible scare We
heard step in the adjoining room.
Inez chung to me, clutching me like one
drowning We heard the same step
retreating.
Its father she gasped
Some moments passed. There was nc
recovery for us, for we did not know
but that we had been discovered
Finally she said:
IF there has been false alarm and
you will not be torn away from me to
die l VOW that | will never again eX-
pose you to such a danger. l forbid
you to speak to me of love again"
She persisted till had promised to
obey; then, after long parting kiss
she left me.
When l saw the president again he
showed no trace whatever Of having
discovered the situation. Inez and |
had received terrible warning; we
had both been brought to Il realization
Of our danger and had determined nev-
er to expose ourselves to it again
Our resolution lasted forty eight hours.
Then We found ourselves again clasped
In an embrace. For two days my de
sire to caress my love once more had
been increasing until the last moment.
when not a thousand garrotes could
have deferred me.
Heavens" gasped Inez. I'VE are
again in the maelstrom. The pitcher
that goes often to the well is at last
broken"
"There is but one course for us to
pursue" I replied. "If you love me
living you must love me dead. I will
leave you and at last your love will
die"
NO." she exclaimed; 1t will live
forever"
Then suddenly the blood left the
cheeks of both Of US. Again we heard
the step in the adjoining room, the
same step we had heard before.
1--WE are lost!' we both cried in a
hoarse whisper.
Your father has been watching u.s."
I said. 'The last time he caught us
he was not sure. He has waited for
more conclusive evidence. He has
caught us a second time. I do not ex-
pect ever to see you again after this
one last parting"
She swooned in my arms. l carried
her to lounge and laid her on it.
dared not call any one; indeed, feared
that some one would come in and find
US there together. She soon opened
her eyes, but the moment she remem-
bered what had taken place was about
to swoon again, when 1 spoke reassur-
ing words l did not feel, and she re-
gained control of herself.
l had now not the slightest doubt
that Senior Sanchez knew Of what was
going on between me and his daugh-
ter and would choose his own time as
posed when had come into his fam
lily.
was kneeling by Donna Inez striv-
ing to convince her to the contrary of
what felt when again the step was
heard. This time it was coming di-
rectly toward US. Abandoning all
hope of keeping our secret longer, we
clung to each other and awaited the
blow. In another moment Senor San
chez stood in the doorway. He saw
his daughters arms fall from about
my neck, limp. She had again passed
into unconsciousness
He rushed toward her and, replacing
me. took her in his own arms. When
she came to herself he began to reas-
sure her:
pardon, little one; pardon! 1 did
not intend to put this strain upon you.
l was led into it by a desire to test