The Huttig news., 1917-06-02

got drunk last night to celebrate the wedding. Yes, and the priest is wait ing''
 T will make you richs'
 "Hol wouldn't live 10 spend single peso. Felipe disobeyed orders, and the general shot him before he could cross himself. Boom The poor fel- low was passed in q minute. No. We will all be rich after we win a few battles and capture some American cities. l am an old man; l shall leave the drinking and the women to the young fellows, and prepare for my old age"
 Seeing that she could not enlist Pan cho's aid, Alaire begged him to fetch the priest.
 You wish spiritual comfort, se- nora ?"
 Perhaps"
 Well, he doesn't look like much of priest, but probably he will do. As for me, I don't believe in such things. Churches are all very well for ignorant people, but we Mexicans are too intel- ligent: we are making an end of them
 The priest was small, whte-haired man with a gentle. almost timid face, and at the moment when he appeared before Alaire he was in anything but happy frame of mind. He had under zone, he told her, terrible experience. His name was O'Ma11ey. He had come from Monclava, whence the rebels had 0anished him under threat of death. He had seen his church despoiled of it's galuables, his school closed; he him self had managed to escape only by a miracle. During his flight toward the border he had suffered every indignity, and finally Longorio had intercepted him and brought him here, practically n chains.
 What a situatieni What chaos!" le lamented. "The land is overrun with bandits; there is no law, no au- .hority, no faith; religion is made nockery. The men are becoming inf lels and atheists, and in many places hey will not allow us to give comfort sven to their women" 'Is 1t as bad as tfat?''
 Father O'Malley shook his head sad y. You've no idea. What do you .hink of a people who forbid the men, ion of Gods name in their schools? That Is what the revolutionists are 1oing. Candeleria claims that the churches are the property of the state. He eonfiscates them, and he charges admission. He has banished all ex- ,ept few of us priests, and has 'hamefully persecuted our Sisters of Mercy. Oh, the outrages! Mexico is, oday, the blackest spot on the map If Christendom." His voice broke That Is the freedom, the liberty, the democracy. for which they are fight ng. That is the new Mexico. And the federals are not bit better. This 1ongorio, for instance, this-wolf-he brings me here, as his prisoner, to sol .mnize an unholy marriage! He treats ne like a dog. Last night slept in filthy hovel-"
 "Oh I'm sorry." Alaire exclaimed. But I'm half crazed with my own troubles. You must come into the
 
 shall be as much my guest as l can make you, and-perhaps you will help ne to escape"
 "Eseape?" The little man smiled nournfully. "You are watched and guarded, and so am I. Even if you ant imagine the condition of the country"
 q won't marry him!' Alaire cried, with shudder. 'I won't!"
 "He can't very well force you to do %. But remember, these are war imes; the man is a fiend, and he puts 10 restraint upon his desires. If he madly bent on having you, how can you prevent it? In normal times he would not dare injure one so promi- ,ent as you, but now" Father )'Malley lifted up his hands. q only wonder that he suggests lawful mar .iage. Suppose you refuse? Will he lot sacrifice you to his passions? He las done worse things" After a mo- nent's consideration, he said: 'Of ,ourse it is possible that I mis1udge Jim. Anyhow, if you desire me to do 50, I will refuse to perform the cere- nony. But-I'm afraid 1t will just mean ruin for both of us."
 "Surely he wouldn't harm you?'
 The father shrugged. What am I? An obscure priest. Many of my broth CTS are buried in Mexico. However, I shall do as you wish" 1 AS the day wore on Alaire realized aven more clearly the fact that she was Longorio's prisoner. His men, in spite of their recent debauch, kept very good watch over her. and t was plain that they would obey his orders, no matter how extreme. It occurred to her finally that he was staying away purposely, in order to give her fuller appreciation of her position-so that she might beat her wings against the oa.n ,ptiI oyhancfaI