The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1917-09-20

seeming to envelop her uncomIortaDly
with his ardor.
"What Is 1t you have to tell mef' she
asked him, withdrawing her hand.
"Well I hardly know where to begin
events have moved so swiftly, and
such incredible things have happened.
Even now / am in a daze, 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 a whirl. / planned to send a mes
senger ahead of me, and then I said:
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;
1 shall tighten her distress and awaken
in her breast new hope, new happi-
ness"
what do you meanT" Alaire in
quired, sharply. "You say you bling
bad news2"
The general nodded. "In a way, tee.
rible, shockingI And yet / look be-
yond the immediate and see In 1t a
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 Familiarity upon her
arm. mo matter how i tell you, 1t will
be a blow, for death Is always sud-
den 1t always finds us unprepared."
Death? who's deadT"
Restrain yourself. Allow for my
clumsiness."
"Who? Please tell mel"
Someone very close to you and very
dear to you at one time. My knowl-
edge of your long unhappiness alone
gives me courage to speak"
Alaire raised her fiuttering fingers to
her throat; her eyes were wide as she
said: "You don't mean-Mr. Austin?"
EYES," Longorio s~crutinized her
closely, as IL to measure the effect Of
his disclosure. "Senora, you are free 7"
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
blanching Of her lips.
This unexpected announcement
dazed her; It 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
giddiness 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 a familiar relative might evoke.
Ed had been anything but . trres nus
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 ne was gone and. Longorio said
she was free. II meant much. She
realized dimly that In this one moment
her whole life had changed. She haG
never thought Of this way out Of hel
embarrassments; she had been pre-
pared, In fact, for anything except this
Deadt IL was d~eplorable, for Ed wa:
young. Once the first shock had passed
away, she became conscious of a deeI
pity for the man, and a complete for
giveness for the misery he had causet
her. After q time she faced the news
bearer, and In a strained voice In
quired:
slow did 1t happen? Was it-be
cause Of mer
mo, mol Rest your mind on tina
score. Seel I understand your con
Germ and I share your intimat,
thoughts. No, Il was an accident, or
dained by God. His end was the result
Of his own folly. a gunshot woun,
while he was drunk, I believe. Nov
you will understand why i said that
bore tidings both good and evil, an,
why ], Of all people. should be the on
to impart them"
Alaire turned questioning eyes rpol
him, as IL to fathom his meaning an,
he answered her with his brillian
smile. Failing to evoke a response, b
went on:
SEVER since I heard Of II / have re
/ peated over and owe again, TT Is
miracle; 1t is the win OF God Come
then. we know each other so well tha
we may speak frankly. Let us be hor
est and pretend to no counterfeit emo
I tons. Let us recognize In this onl
your deliverance and the certainty o
4 that blessed happiness which divin
providence offers US both.
"Bothg" she repeated, duly.
RI sNeed I be plainerf You know m,
! heart. You have read me. You under
stand how I have throttled my long
r ings and remained mute while all m
being called to you"
a Alalre withdrew 4 step, and he
d cheeks colored with anger. General |
r she exclaimed. with some dificulty, q
r am amazed. This Is no time He
Indignation rose with the sound OF he
own voice. causing her to stammer.
O. n m 49, .1-.A&-A H =