The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-12-19
THE TORRENT \ c % ! %ss Novel B,

or two he went on his way again,
detected, ignoring the presence
OF the old man.
The cursed old fox. lie had
stuck the knife In the right place.
Leonora's pastI Her favors dis.
tributed with mad lavishness over
the four corners Of the globe!
LeonorA's story came back to
the boy in one flash--the frank
confession she had made during
the days OF their mere friendship,
when she had told him everything
to prevent his continuing 20 de-
sire her. However much she might
adore him he would be nothing
after all but a successor to count.
less ephemeral lovers, whom she
had barely mentioned, but who
none the less have left some trace
in her memory. Give up. every
thing Tor that!
How long had they been walk
ing through the streets Of Va
lencia? His legs were sagging
under him! He WAS faint with
WEAKNESS.
I'm thirsty, Don Andreas. Let's
go in somewhere.
LAO OAtAGt1At LlCt1GAS4. lllAAA bOVtAEN
his favorite resort. Rafael drnrk.
without realizing just what his
glass contained poison, Il felt
like, that froze his heart.
I'VE have just an hour to catch
our train! Come, Rafael be q
man! There's still timel Come,
lets get out Of this mess we're in"
4 cant, Don Andres. I'm q
gentleman. I've given my word,
and ! will not 90 back upon It.
come what may"
The old man smiled ironically.
Very well, be as much OF a
gentleman as you please. She
deserves It! But when you break
with her, when she leaves you,
or you leave her, don't come hack
to Alcira. Your mother won't be
there to welcome you! shall be--
don't know where; and thUSe
who made you deputy will look
upon you as thief who robbed
and killed his mother. Oh, get
angry If you want to- beat me
up even: people at the other tables
are already looking ct liz. But just
the same, everything I've been
saying to you IL gospel truth"
In the meantime LeOnora was
growing impatient In her hotel
room. She looked ct her watch.
Six o'clocki Where on earth could
that Rafael have gone. They were
going to lose the train. In order
to waste no time. she ordered
Beppa to have everything IN readi-
ness for departure. She whirled
nerviously about as she heard
someone calling from the corridor.
Madame, letter for you!
1t was his handwriting on the
envelope but tortuous. labOred,
a. X 1t were the product Of q
painful effort. Madly she tore the
letter open? and read with the
haste Of person anxious TO drain
the cup OF bitterness at single
drauglnt, skipping q line here and
line there, taking in only the
significant words.
My mother very ILL., must go
home for a day or two "a my
duty as a son =. we'll soon
meet again" And then ale the
cowardly. conventional excuses
that chivalry has created to soften
the harshress Of desertionthe
promise to join her again as soon
as possible; passionate protesta-
tions that she was the only woman
in the world he loved.
"Ah. the wretch! The infamous,
cowardIy, unspeakable wretch!"
che cried.
Beppa had found a candle. She
lighted it. And there her mistress
was staggering deathly pale, her
eyes wide open, her lips white with
anguish.
''The wretch Leonora Kissed.
pacing back and forth In the
chamber. What fool, what a
complete, unconscionable fool I
have been! Giving myself to that
man, trusting that man, giving
up my peace Of mind, the last
relative I had In the world for
that man. The cool fraud that he
was! But what do l care, after
all? Come Beppa, cheer up!
We're off! We're going to sing
againl Now for life again Well.
well. / can't believe I've been
taken in this way! And Thought
i knew the world! Ha, ha! ia, ma.
And her laugh was audible dis
tinctly down in the square. The
whole hotel was in commotion,
while the actress, with foaIning
bps, fell 20 the floor and began to
writhe in fury.