The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-12-27

When the excitement about pos
sible war had subsideds the Lorimers
we're free to go home by the shortest
route. They were free except for the
strange spell which held Chrystobel
in captivity. Sometimes | think that
spell would never have been removed
and that we would all have persisted
dramatically and mysteriously in that
ancient Spanish dwelling, had 1t not
been for the Intervention of that
very much alive young heather, the
beautiful Resale, queen of the out.
laws.
She was not supposed to know that
her ex-husband was associated with
Hamilton Certeis. How she discov-
cred the truth do not know.
The fact is that she appeared in the
patio one warm noon Just before
Christmas. She was marvelously at
tired in a full length coat Of Alaska
seal, for which she had little use in
that warm climate, except as an ex-
pensive article Of adornment
With Resale, came action. Not
that she burst suddenly upon the
center of the stage; rather, she slip
ped very quietly up the stairs which
started near the fountain and stopped
at the balcony opposite Chrys' door.
l think that no one about the place
saw Rosalie-except me.
The bandit queen arrived at a time
when DR.. Certeis and Don Manuel
were consulting in the room where
Chrys still slumbered so softly. Bob
was there and Daddy Lorimer. And
Daddy announced that he was at the
end Of his string. Back we were all
going by the first train We could
make Unless Donna Camilla were
found, and his daughter restored to
her senses within "a hours, the result
in that /hacienda, would be equal to a
volcanic eruption, heard him say, in
his far reaching voice. And SO in
terested were the other men either in
what he said, or his remarkable
choice of explosives, that not one of
them noticed the advent of fair Rosa
lie.
That splendid creature dropped her
seal coat among the tropical plants
which screened the balcony railing.
AS the coat fell saw the flash of
bright steel in Rosalie's right hand,
1t was only a flash. In a moment
she was using both hands to draw
back the palm leaves so that she
might better observe the scene at the
bier of the sleeping Chrytobel.
What she saw did not please her
I suppose that she saw what myself
had observed with such horror.
suppose she knew that at last Don
Manuel was really in love-honestly
in love, in spite of the fact that the
girl he loved couldn't reward his de-
votiOn with even a smile!
! What she saw caused the half
breed beauty to shrink and drop the
palm leaves ABOUT her. She fell upon
! her knees by the side of the long
window, threw aside her costly bit Of
French millinery, and drew a huge
leaf down to conceal her shining
raven tresses.
! Even this croucning attitude-it
was like that of cat about to spring
even her pose did not suggest tc
me that the thoughts which were
passing in her mind. If had liked
1 the girl 1 suppose 1 would have gone
out on the balcony for little talk
But loathing her as 1 did, Twas mere.
ly curious to sec what she was up to
u supposed, of course, that she in
tended to upbraid Don Manuel fol
deserving her Or perhaps she wish.
ed to see him alone, if only to prove
how irresistible she was in the high.
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