Macon beacon., 1917-09-21

mercy and seems lost to shame. have
never met man quite like him. DO
YOU know wha, he feels at this mo-
ment? Chagrju. Yes. modification
raised to the highest pitch, and sort
of Stupefaction that you should prefer
another man 10 him. He can't under
stand your lack of taste" Father
OMalley smiled family.
'Conceited idiot" Dave growled.
"Hls humiliation kills him. When
saw that il was useless to appeal to
him on moral grounds, and that threats
were unavailing, took another course.
Something gave me insight into his
mind, and the power to talk as have
never talked before. All in a flash ]
saw the mans soul laid bare before me,
and-I think l played upon it with
some cunning, | don't remember all !
said, for was inspired but appealed
to his vanity and to his conceit, and as
I went along l impressed upon him,
over and over, the fact that the world
knows we are here and that il trusts
him. He aSpireS to the presidency; he
believes he Is destined to be Mexico's
dictator; so | painted a picture that
surpassed his own imagnings. He
would have been suspicious of mere
flattery, so l went far beyond that and
infamed him with such extravagant
visions as only n child or an unbluShing
egotist like him could accept !
swelled his vanity; l inflated his con-
ceit For moment. at least. l lifted
him out of himself and raised him TO
the heights"
From beyond the closed door came
Longorio's voice, issuing some COM
mand to his men. A moment passed; /;
then he appeared before the three
Americans. He seemed taller thinner.
more erect and hawhlike than ever,
His head was held more proudly and
his chest was fuller. A set, dsdainful
smile was craven upon his face
He began by addressing his words
directly to Alaire. "Senora," he said,
II am man of deep feeling and |
scOrn deceit Therefore | offer no
apology for my recent display of emo
tion. If | have seemed TO press my ad-
vances with undue fervOr, ii is because,
at heart, | am as great lover as am
a statesman or a soldier But there
are other things than love. Nature
constituted me a leader, and he who
climbs high must climb alone. offered
Chapultepec as shrine for your
beauty. | offered to share Mexico with
you, and ! told you that | would not
be content with less than all Of You,
Well, | meant it. Otherwise would
take you now" His voice thrUbhed
with a sudden fierce desire, and lis
long, lean hands closed convulSiycly.
you must realize that | have the cour'
age and the power To defy the world.
eh?" He seemed to challenge denial
of this statement, but, receiving none,
he went on, fixing his brilliant, fever.
ish eyes once more upon Alaire. "As q
man of sentiment / am unique; ! am
different from any you have ever
known ! would not possess a flower
without its fragrance. You did not be
lieve me when I told you that, but
am going to prove It, All your life you
are going to think Of me as heroic
Perhaps no patriot in history ever
made more splendid sacrifice for his
country than | make now. Some day
the world will wonder how / had the
strength to put aside love and follow
the path of duty"
Alare trusted herself to ask Then
we are free to COZ
The generals face was swept by q
grimace intended for n smile. 81 have
ordered your horses to be saddled.'
Dave, who had with difficulty re.
strained his anger at the fellows bonn.
bast, was upon the point Of speaking
when Father OMalley took the words
out Of his mouth:
would you send this woman out OF
her own house into a country like
like this? Remember the fortune In
cattle you have already taken
CTO BE CONTINUED