Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-07-13
CONTINUED from last week.
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'"Then he swavering. Oh-h J" AiaIre
clasped her hands in thanksgiving, but
the father cautioned her:
"DOn't be too sanguine. He is not
afraid of consequences. He appears to
have no conscience. He Is without
mercy and seems lost to shame. have
never met a man quite like him. DO
you know what he feels at this mo-
ment? Chagrin. Yes, modification
raised to the highest pitch, and sort
Of stupefaction that you should prefer
another man to him. He can't under
stand your lack of taste" Father
OMalley smiled family.
Connected idiot" Dave grOwled.
Ellis humiliation kills him. When l
saw that it 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 L
saw the mans soul laid bare before me,
and-I think I played upon 1t with
some cunning. I don't remember all l
said, for I was inspired, but / appealed
10 his vanity and to his conceit, and as
went along / impressed upon him,
over and over, the fact that the world
knows we are here and that it trusts
him. He aspires to the presidency; he
believes he is destined to be Mexico's
dictator; so I painted a picture that
surpassed his own imaginings. He
would have been suspicious of mere
fiattery, so went far beyond that and
infiamed him with such extravagant
visions as only child or an unblushing
egotist like him could accept.
swelled his vanity; inflated his con-
ceit. For moment, at least, 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 hawklike than ever.
His head was held more proudly and
his chest was fuller. A set, disdainful
smile was craven upon his face.
He began by addressing his words
directly to Alaire. Sonora" he said,
81 am man of deep feeling and ]
scorn deceit. Therefore l offer nc
apology for my recent display of emo.
ton. If have seemed to press my ae.
vances with undue fervor, it is because.
at heart, am as great lover as l am
statesman or q soldier. But there
are other things than love. Nature
constituted me leader, and he who
climbs high must climb alone. I offered
Chapultepec as shrine for your
beauty. I offered to share Mexico with
you, and I told you that l would not
be content with less than all of you.
Well, I meant it. Otherwise would
take you now" His voice throbbed
with sudden fierce desire, and his
long, lean hands closed convulsively
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 l am unique; am
different from any you have ever
known. l would not possess flower
without its fragrance. You did not be
lieve me when 1 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 1 had the
strength to put aside love and follow
the path of duty"
Alaire trusted herself to ask. "Then
we are free to go?'
The generals face was swept by a
grimace intended for smile. 81 have
ordered your horses to be saddled."