The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-06-28
! By
FRED MCLAUGHLIN
CHAPTER XIIf-Continued
Copyright by
The Bobbs-Merrill Co.
". ". L. Service

Ing the lapelS OF my rough coat with
dainty fragile fingers. She raised her
face and LEI me look into the deep
amber eyes What | saw there made
me catch my breath | put my arms
-reverently-aroun rhe slim shout
ders- and held her for one brief. de-
HcioGs instant: while Neville studied
his boots and Brugiere looked out the
window.
-Senorita mia" said, i am moi
worthy of your smallest Thought"
He is not worthy" cried Brugiere:
did you hear, Neville? We will be
upon our way"
Neville pun his great arms arounfi
me Francois" he said. I'VE will
walk with thee tomorrow-early." He
turned toward La Anita and. 10 JUST
fy the tears in his eyes. said softly:
-Sone day | will have to tell his
mother"
She stood on tiptoe and kissed him
-Adios.' she whispered.
.
We were alone in thai gloomy cell
with the agony of parting before Us.
l took her in nv arms
You did NOT come 10 see me in
Cuernavaca." I reproached her. softly.
Bow could 1? Had you nor
spurned me; had you not thrust me
aside when | mentioned love 10 you;
did you not say my loves we're legion.
and that | used my love for motives
Ia Ah-ninS
had-or rather Madrella had; and
II was not in me 10 try 10 offer abb
now that her cousin was dead Tina.
cowardy piece of indecision of mine
had cost me dear. ! could have saved
I.estrange, could have prevented the
stahbing of Lopez. and avoided my
consequent odyssey "Yef you came
TO my funeral senorita."
AYE" She smiled a little. You
were beautiful memory. dear
friend"
And Tou loved me as a-as "a"
I was unable TO proceed.
As a-what. Francois?"
"In Cuernavaca | asked Brugiere
-Brugiere of the golden heart-and
he said: Dead, my dear Francois. you
are saint. and therefore greatly be
loved: alive an. Mon Dieu-you are
poison p"
She was silent
-So," continued. You came to
my funeral"
Yes, Francois"
And | would rather be a saint
to you-than poison"
Now she raised her eyes to me
again. In their sweet depths lay
light Of understanding. of fear. of
wonder. You tricked me once most
grievously, Francois, and gave nv
pride a lasting hurt | had gone TO
your funeral: alive again you had
saved me and my uncle and General
Juarez in Cuernavaca." She pressed
the soft brown curls against my
shoulder Il went TO Cuernavaca 70
live, Francois. so that | might be
near your simple, unmarked grave in
the little cemetery. Each day | went
up there-and my soul called out for
you" Now she was sobhing softly
IL heard you" l said helpless
In my misery.
She lifted her face and | kissed
the shining eyes. the tender treInu-
Ious lips and pressed my face against
the soft hair.
Il have loved you, Francois" she
whispered. since that hour when you
stood up before the pistol of my
cousin; and then when you gave me
his life-ah :"
Fear seized me-consternation, hor-
ror. What was she saying? When I
had given her the life of her cousin
and | had taken Madrella's
life. The same hand that now ca
ressed the glorious curls had held
her cousins throat until be died
Could l tell her; could / bear TO lose
her? / musI- tell her.
III was who killed your cousin.
senOrita-nOt the Indian. Pasqual
must tell you this, though ii breaks
my heart TO 90 it"
She smiled into my eyes. Il love
you for your courage, Francois; such
courage as you possess is gift few
men have had. Lieutenant Brugiere
told me only this afternoon"
Did he tell you anything else?"
was sorry that he had not told her
of Madrella's masquerade
Nothing else, Francois Poor Pab
10! | think. whe8 We love, we are
not quite sane. Love is madness
and Pablo was mad have been
unconsciously. an instrument in his
death; and-and you should have
been brothers. you and Pablo"
There was q long silence. a silence
in which | hardly breafhed because
of my happiness La Anita-iovely
La Anita-Iay against my heart /
could hear ter soft breathing. and
] caught the faint elusive fragrance
of her hair. ' had dreamed OF this
and my dream tad been a golden
glory. Tomorrow, which would bring
my death. was an uncunsidered thing:
the knowledge that she loved me
would give me strength One hour of
life with Anita would pay for thou
sand deaths.
She sighed Francois. went to
see Lopez"
"YesT How exquisite was her
facet
He offered to sell me your life?
-Humphv'
But the price he required"
"Ah-my SWEET
was more than you would have
me pay"
"0h. GOd-just for one more day
of life. 10 kill him; just to get my
fingers"
Never mind Francois; | think I
nut a hurf info his suul When we