Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1917-06-22

that for your favor would betray my
fatherland; that for your kiss would
face damnation. Well, I am here at
your side. The deluge comes, but you
shall be unframed" He would not per-
NIT her to check him, crying: wait!
You must hear me through, sonora, so
that you may comprehend fully why
am forced to speak at this time. Out
of this coming struggle shall emerge
heroic figure. Now that Mexico
unites, she will triumph, and of all her
victorious sons the name of Luis Lon
goriO will be sung the lOudest, for upon
him more than upon any other depends
the republics salvation. do not boast.
merely state facts, for I have made
oil my plans, and tomorrow put them
into effect. That is why cannot wait
to speak. The struggle will be long.
but you shall be my guiding star in the
hours of darkness"
Under other circumstances the mans
magnificent egotism might have pro-
voked a smile. And yet, for all its
grandiloQuence, there was something
in his speech that rang hard and true.
Unquestionably LongoriO was danger
ous-a real personality, and no mere
staggering pretender. Alaire felt
certain reluctant respect for him, and
at the same time touch of chilling
fear such as she had hardly expert
enced before. She faced him silently
for moment; then she said:
Gam 1 to understand that you forbid
me to leave my own house,"
"For the time being, exactly"
"What? Then I am your prisonerw
mo, no - He made gesture of de-
NAL. "How ridiculous! merely keep
you from certain destruction. You can
not go by train, because the railroad
has suspended public service, nor can
you ride or drive. / tell you, sonora,
the people are aroused. For the mo-
ment you must accept my protection,
whether you wish to or not. TOmOr-
row''-Longorio smiled warmly, mean
ingly-"perhaps you will not be in such
haste to refuse it, or to leave La Feria.
Wait until you understand me better.
| Then But enough of this. You are
unstrung, you wish to be alone with
! your thoughts, and what / have to say
| can wait for a few hours. In the mean
| time, may I beg the hospitality of your
ranch for myself and my menu"
| Alaire acquiesced mechanically. Lon
gorio saluted her fingers in his GUS
| tomary manner, and then, with a look
eloquent of things unsaid, he went out
| to see to the comfort of his command.
| Alaire sank into the nearest chair,
| her nerves quivering, her mind in tur-
mOiI. This Mexican was deteStable,
and he was far from being the mere
maker of audaciousfy gallant speeches,
| the POLITICALLY fervent Wooer OF every
| pretty woman, she had blindly sup
posed him. His was no sham ardor;
| the man was holly, horribly in earnest.
| There had been CLINT OF madness In
| his eyes. And he actually seemed to
think that she shared his infatuation.
| It was intolerable. Yet Longorio, she
was sure had an abundance of discre-
| ton; he would not dare to offer her
violence. He had pride, too; and in
his way he was something of gen.
| tlenlan. So far, she had avoided CIV
| ing him offense. But if once she made
plain to him how utterly loathsome to
her was his pursuit, she was sure that
| he would cease to annoy her. Alaire
was self-confident, strong-Willed; she
| took courage.
Her thoughts turned from her fears
to the amazing reality Of her widow
| hood. Even yet she could not wholly
credit the fact that Eds wasted life
had come to an end and that she was
free to make the most of her own.
Alaire remembered her husband now
with more tenderness, more charity,
than she would have believed possible,
and it seemed to her pitiful that one so
blessed with opportunity should have
| worked such havoc with himself and
| with those near to him.
/ Doubtless it was all part of some
| proMdential scheme, too blind Tor her
10 solve. Perhaps, indeed, his own
| trials had aseen designed to the END
| tn1T DGr SICdlCI, AoyNt ''-~S~
lid come, would find her ripe, respon-
siye. ready. AS for this Mexican gen.
aral. she would put him in Misplace.
Alaire was still walking the floor
IF her chamber when Dolores entered,
at dusk, to say that supper was ready
and that General Longorio was walt
ing. -,
ASK him to excuse me-" she told
her servant.
But Longorio himself spoke from the
next room, saying: "Senora, beg OF
YOU to honor me. I have much OF I'M
portance to say, and time presses. Con-
troll your grief and give me the pleas
ure Of your company"
after an instant's consideration
Alaire yielded. 1t was best to- have
the matter over WITH once for all.
CHAPTER XXI.