Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1921-01-28
CHAPTER XVIII.


Cruz. beside her sainted Emery.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Three days passed. Don Juan Cafe
tero had been brried with all the pomp
and circumstance Of q national hero;
Mother jerks. too. had gone to her APP
pointed resting place. and FL Buen
Amigo had been closed forever. Ricar-
do had issued proclamation announc-
ing himself provisional president OF
SObrante: a convention Of revolution
airy leaders had been held. and provi-
sional cabinet selected. A day for the
national elections had been named the
wreckage of the brief revolution had
been cleared away. and the wheels or
government were once more revolving
freely and noiselessly. And while all
of this had been going on, John Stu
art Webster had lain on his back. star
ing at the palace ceiling and absolute
" forbidden to receive visitors. He
was still engaged in this mild form Of
gymnastics on the third day when the
door of his room opened and Dolores
looked In On him.
Good evening. Caliph." she called.
aren't you dead YETI"
1t was exactly the tone she should
have adopted to get the best results.
| for Webster had been mentally and
physically iii since she had seen him
last. and needed some such pleasantly
as this to lift him out Of his gloomy
mood. He grinned at her boyishly.
"No, Tn not dead. On the contrary.
I'm feeling real chirpy. Won't you
come In and visit for a while. Miss
Rueyw
"well. since you've invited me.
shall accept" Entering. she stood he.
side his bed and took the hand he ex-
tended toward her. This IL the first
opportunity I've had. Miss Ruey." he
began. ITO apologize for the shock
gave you the other day. should have
come hack to you as l promised. In
stead of getting into a fight and scar
ing Won half to death. I hope you'll
forgive me. because I'm paying for my
fun pow-with interest"
.very well. Caliph. I'll forgive yot
Ion one condition"
"who am I to resist having a condi
don imposed upon me? Name you
Iterms. I shall obey"
"rm weary of being called Mis-
} Ruey. I want 10 he Dolores-to you.
by the toe nails Of Moses" ne re
nected, "there r. no escape. Shes de
; termined To rock the boat" Aloud h
i said.--sAsa1ss --.sas~RlikA
'BiIly hasn't a word to say about II.
she retorted. regarding him with tina
} calm. impersonal. yer vitality interests
. look that always drove him franti
with the desire for her.
well, Of course. I understand that.
he countered. Naturally. since Bill
is only a man. you'll have to manag
him and he'll have to take orders"
"Caliph. you're singularly persist
ent man. once you get an idea int
your head. Please understand me. ono
for all; Billy Geary 10 a dear. and IT.
a mystery to me why every girl In tn
: world isn't perfectly crazy about him
: but every rule has itr exceptions-an'
Billy and I are just good friends. II
like to know where you got the ide'
we're engaged to be married"
"Why-why-well. aren't your"
Certainly not"
"Well. you-er-you ought to be.
expected-that Is, planned-I meal
Bill told me and-and--and-er-
never occurred to me you could posi-
bly, have the-er-crust-to refus
him. OF course. you're going to mar
ry him when he asks your"
"Of course I am not"
"Ah-h-h-h!" John Stuart Webste
gazed at her In frank amazement
"Not going to marry Bill Gearyi' b.
cried. highly scandalized.
II know you think ought to. and
suppose 1t will appear quite -incompre
hensible to you when do not"
"why Dolores. my dear girl! Thi
is most amazing. Didn't Bill ask yo'
to marry him before ne leftr'
"Yes. he did me that honor. and
declined him."
"You what,"
She smiled at him so materially tina
his hand itched to drag her down +
him and kiss her curving lips.
do you mind telling me just VIII.
you took this extraordinary attitudeg
"You have no right to ask. but RI
tell you. I refused Billy because
didn't love him enough-that way
WHATS more. I never could"
He rolled his head to one side ant
softly. very softly. whistIed two bar
of The Spanish Cavalier" through hi
teeth. He was properly thunder
struck-so much 50, in fact. that for ,
moment he actually forgot her pres
ence the while he pondered this mos
Incredible state Of affairs.
IL see II all now. It's as clear a
mud" he announced finally. You re
fused poor old Bill and broke hi
heart and so he went away and hasn'
had the courage to write me since. Tn
afraid Bill and l both regarded thi
eight as practically won-all over bu
the wedding march. as one might pu
II. / might as well confess hustle'
the boy down from the mine just s.
you two could get married and ligh
out on your honeymoon. figured Bill
could kin two birds with one stone
have his honeymoon and get rid Of hi
malaria, and return here in three q