The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-05-31
CHAPTER IX-Continued
10

NOW ner eyes were SHINING. TOT
she could not foresee the conse-
Quences of my act "You will never
regret-senor? I would not have you
regret
No" My heart, somehow, had
died within me- My regrets are
passed. dear lady; ] never look be
bind me-"
The amber eyes searched my face
trying vanity 10 break through The
mask of my smile: and, falling. filled
again with the dancing light of youth,
of happiness Il think you spent those
weeks al home. senior, in raising a
nice Iuxuriant beard"
Exactly"
'And you reappeared as Pablo?"
$50 much like him, in fact, that
Manuel and General Juarez. and your
uncle, General Escobedo, as well as
LerOux and Louie BeSancon took me
TO be your cousin. Every one except
Madrella himself"
She thought moment. You
must have known of bis projected
journey TO the camp of General
Juarez How could you have learned
of that?"
81 heard him plan, It II was l..
senorita, and not your cousin. who
entered Cuernavaca with an ever
taggard burro.'
She caught her breath You
you; senOr-it could not have been !"
Il promised you frankness."
And l met you in the libraryT
Her voice was deadly calm-the calm
that comes before a storm.
Yes. senorita."
"And-and kissed your
Yes. senorita: and kissed me. and
called me Poor Pablo'-and told me
that you did not love me: therefore
l determined TO come back and WOO
you for myself. but"
Now she turned away from me. and
her shoulders shook with sudden over
whelming sebs. .Ah. Dios," she
gasped. ''Dios; | am ashamed! Does
the iieutenant-NeviIIe-k thisT
had TO admit that he did. did
not realize how much the thing must
have hurt her.
- suppose he-he laughed"
"He may have, senorita." Oh, the
misery Of that houri Yet there is.
dear lady. in such a situation. fruit
tuI source of laughter. Cannot we-T
No" she gasped ~You-you
beastl Had Pablo known this sure
Iy he would have killed you-as you
deserved"
She went off into an uncomfortable
ourst of sobbing, and. seeing how ter
ribly the great paroxysms shook her
fraiI body. would console her. for
was afraid. 1 laid my hand upon
Der shoulder. "SenOrita -
Don't touch mel I hope ! never
took upon your face again"
--SenOrita mia-will you not tell me
gOOd-by: must go thus?"
''Go-go! All, leave me-leave me
before dieI"
raced across the city at breakneck
speed, seeing nothing. hearing moth
ing, for the black despair of failure
lay in my heart. In my service 70
my country, in my duty to my EN-
perOr, had failed. | had been IN
true, even, to myseIf-and in the
game Of love a woeful failure.
In the patio thai leads to the quar-
tiers of Neville and myself on Avenida
Tusayan | delivered the tine horse
into the hands of a waiting muzo
giving orders for his care and feed
ing and directions for his return TO
Cuernavaca on the morrow.
DOffing the suit that Brugiere had
borrowed for my use, hatbed
shaved. and got into more snugly tit
ing garments of my own. Now hun
ger, and d mighty thirst, possessed
me. for had neither eaten nor drunk
for many hours. Though the Cafe
Miramun did not have for me the
lure il once had offered. I knew that
kindred souls would he there. so /
turned my IisrleSs steps in thar direc-
ton.
AT our accustomed table on the
sidewalk sat two men habifed in the
service of his majesty, Macmillan
AS | mounted the curb they made
Cor me with a rush.
-'Cupido." ! cried. land Neville !
Neville Ii is joy 10 see you" Their
figures waVered suddenly in sea of
tears EEs4
Neville, a fine light OF happiness
in his eyes, put his arms around me,
dragging the toward the table. His
deep voice rang through the cafe:
Hey, mOzo-aQuii Bring food for
Captain Vigny-and winei We will
drink the best you have: move
SWIFTLY"
We made a deal of noise-we three.
for when a Frenchman is happy be
lets the wide world know it
at is good 10 see you. Francois, |"
said Neville, for feared for you.
Two Madrellas in the camp OF Benito
Juarez would have cost you no less
than your life I failed sadly, friend
of mine. and since that hour | have
charged myself with your death. You
have come back to US from the
grave"
Il told you, Neville" said |. that
ne would tax your wit and the power
of your muscles"
Il know. | know" he agreed; but
there is q limit even TO the require
ments of human muscle. could not
yanauish four of them"
"Four?"
AYE. Agosrino did not forget the
grip OF your fingers on his throat
far from it He remembered only toe
well. for ne came back and paid me
with a mighty fhuFun IN Tho ba,d