The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1929-05-24
By Fred Mclaughlin

4 puSu6u lDe udSSlNc Sdtc Opcu. we
walked along the narrow graveled
path. you were good TO me that day
before the emperor, captain. and
would thank you"
She found a fancifuIly carved stone
bench beside an arbor OF red and
Captain de vigny. about the fists Of
| Morelos."
There is so much to tell; besides.
| senorita, would tell you of other
things-things OF vaster portent"
My voice trembied.
IF you would lead up to your story
of the fists I am listening"
las | rode this afternoon from
Cuernavaca-" | began.
She had raised a hand as though
to stop me, or TO interrupt, but
| changed her mind. The news OF my
having been in Cuernavaca must have
surprised her.
Il came to certain momentous de-
cisions"
-Ah-so?
Indeed" I continued; Il decided
first that l would tell the Senorita
Arrellanos that | love her."
ION your way from Cuernavaca-"
she unused. Slim fingers twisted in
her lap.
Yes; and that love her"
She laughed softly. How many
French oficers-think you, senior
have told me of their lover" A deep
passion came into her voice: do
you not realize my helpIessness In
| this great city. which writhes under
the heel of the emperor; can you not
see that, because of the evil power
of his majesty. my father and my
mother have been taken from me |;
that, when a French officer tells me
that he loves me, ! must-|
Il am sorry. senorita; did not
understand. In my heart you will
reign for ever, for | have put you
among the angels. but no word of love
| from me"
Tears came into her eyes; she
raised a hand blindly, and | took ii,
and kissed-very slowly and thorough
ly-each finger; then ! loOsed it You
will trust me-is il not so? The word
of a De Vigny. senorita. Is thing
not easily broken"
She nodded: and nOdding. smiled
again. "f my bitterness, senior,
seems an unnatural thing in a woman
| must justify ii because of my great
loss. This country is ours. il cannot
belong TO Europe; and if | wage nv
fight with a wOman's weapons am
more worthy of blame than man
who fights with the weapons that God
has given him?
You offer service to your France.
senior. because you deem il your duty !;
do | owe any less service or any less
duty to my Own country? Must |,
being a woman. sit idly by while a
foreign nation uses up the wealth of
this, my country; bringing good
patriots 70 mockeries of trial and
certain executions? The wealth OF
my father. Amador Arrelanos. was
measured in millions. Will all that
now belongs TO me gain in value un.
der the reign of the emperor? Can
you blame me if strive to hold my
OwnF'
shook my head. dazed at her out
burst; and amazed, too, because I bad
begun 70 see the motives behind some
of the acts of Colonel Lopez The
willy colonel had been responsible for.
the rrial and execution nf La Anifa's
father. and he had made no secret of
his suit for her hand. little light
was beginning TO show in the dark
ness Yet | could not tell her until
| was certain.
She dashed the tears from her eyes
because OF what your emperor has
done tn my father he will some day
stand before squad OF Mexican sol
diers. His insane striving for power
can lead him only TO the grave Beuiro
Juarez will soon be master OF Meg
leo: and when that day comes. senior
MaXimilian's doom is sealed! can
see il as clearly as though The thing
had already happened Ah-senor
the men of France have shown me
doubtful chivaIryl If, because of
their stupid infatuation. choose to
use them"
as il stupid, senOrita? My own
infatuation has filled my life with
new and spiritual glory"
Il have not tried TO use you, cap
tain; and your thoughts of me are
things that | cherish in my heart /
would not try TO use you. For France
and your emperor you stood up before
the pistol Of my cousin. knowing GER
tain death awaited you. There is no
price that can be put upon a man.
who, because of sense of duty, can
reach such sublime heights of cour.
age"
ITS all in the days work." | said.
though her praise was sweet. To
maintain the De Vigny standard will
take all the courage ] possess, for
some of my ancestors have written
their names large on the scroll of his
tory"
THAT make me wonder how il hap
pens that you look SO much like Pab-
10 Does Got so striking a resem-
blanre indicate certain relationship
Either that" said |, cor uncertain
relationship. My great-grandfather,
after whom ] was named. and whose
image-by some grotesque physiolog-
ical turn-has been handed down 70
me, was, OF course a royalist. as De
Vignys have ever been. When the
revolution broke be fed France anc
came 10 Mexico, where. in very few
years. he put together quite fortune
dealing in precious stones-'
you think, then. senior, thar your
great grandfatber-?s
| laughed defensively. L cannot