Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1917-08-10

IOlI1lAlOIJ dc SAAC MY" NAtN An va -
town attending court. Yet she told
herself that it was brave of him to
obey her injunctionS so literally and to
leave her unembarrasSed by his pres
ence at this particular time. 1t in
Spired her to be equally brave and to
wait patiently for the day when she
could welcome him with clean hands
and a soul unashamed.
In the midst of Alaire's uncertainty
Of mind 1t gratifled her to realize that
Dave alone would know Of her where
abouts. She wondered II he would
come to see her. He was a reckless,
headstrong lover, and his desires were
all too likely to overcome his delib-
crate resolves. She rather hoped that
in spite Of his promise he would ven
ture to cross the border so that she
could see and be near him, II only for
a day or for an hour. The possibility
frightened and yet pleased her. The
conventional woman within her
frowned, but her outlaw heart beat
fast at the thought.
Alaire did not explain her plans even
to Dolores, but when her preparations
were complete she took the Mexican
woman with her, and during Eds alb
sence slipped away from the ranch.
Boarding the train at Jonesyille, she
was in Pueblo that night.
1t seemed at last that war with
Mexico was imminent. After months
Of uncertainty the question had come
to issue, and that lowering cloud which
had hung above the horizon took omi-
nous shape and size. Ellsworth awoke
one morning to learn that an Ultima
tum had gone forth to President Po-
tosi that the Atlantic feet had been
ordered south; and that marines were
being rushed aboard transports pend.
ing q general army mobilization. II
looked as If the United States had
finally risen in wrath, and as If moth
ing less than q miracle could now avert
the ~long-expected conflict.
Blaze Jones took the San Antonio
paper out upon the porch and com
posed himself In the hammock to read
the latest war news. Invasion Troops
The Stars and Stripes! Those were
words that stirred Jones deeply RnC
caused him to neglect his work. n v
that his country had fully awake, n
to the necessity Of a war with Me-,
"a necessity he had long felt-he Wa'
fired with the loftiest patriotism and {
youthful eagerness to enlist. Blaze
realized that he was old and fat ant
near-sighted but what Of that? HI
could fight. Fighting, In fact, hat
been one Of his earliest accomplish
ments, and he prided himself upor
knowing as much about it as an!
man could learn. He believed In fight
ing both as a principle and as an ex
e~rcise; in fact, he attributed his goot
health to his various neighborly "un
pleasantnesses," and he had more thai
once argued that no great fighter eve.
died of q sluggish liver or Of any on
Of the other ills that beset sedentary
p~eaceloving people. Nations wer'
like men-too much ease made then
flabby. And Blaze had his own idea
Of strategy, too. So during the perusa
Of his paper he bemoaned the mis-
takes his government was making
Why waste time with ultimatums? h
argued to himself. He had never don
so. Experience had taught him tina
the way to win q battle was to bea
the other fellow to the draw; henc
this diplomatic procrastination flle'
him with impotence. 1t seemed al
most reasonable to one Of Blaze's in
tense patriotism.
He was engaged in laying out O plal
of campaign for the United State
when he became conscious Of voice
behind him, and realized that for som
time Paloma had been entertaining
caller in the front room. Their con
versation had not disturbed him a
first, but now an occasional word o
sentence forced its meaning throug
his preoccupation, and he found him
self listening.
Paloma's visitor was q woman, an
5 as Blaze hardened to her voice, he fel
his heart sink. 1t was Mrs. Strange
She was here again. With difficult
| Blaze conquered an impulse to flee
! for she was re~counting a story all to
familiar to him.
, "Why, 1t seemed as If the whole cit
! Of Galveston was there, and yet nc
body offered to help us" the dress
maker was saying. "Phil was a pei
feet hero, for the ruffian was twic
his size. Oh, 1t was an awful fight
I hate to think Of It."
"What made him pinch your
Paloma inquired.
"Heaven only knows. Some men ar
dreadful that way. Why, he left
black-and-blue mark"
. Blaze broke into a cold sweat an
, cursed feebly under his breath.
: HE wasn't drunk, either. he we
= just naturally depraved. You coul
see it in his face"
: "How did you escape?"
n "Well, I'll tell you. We chased hi
q up across the boulevard and In anon