White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-12-24
BY FRED MCLAUGHLIN
Author of "The Blade of Picardy''
Copyright by Bobbs-Merrill Co.
(WNU Service.)

ficient. "a temporary arrangement
think. Perhaps they imagine that
the tall sailor, who has really offered
only the Frenchmans worship to
beauty, might escape-like a moon
wraith.''
A wild surge Of joy went over me.
Polito knew me, he was my friend, he
was telling me that 1 would be free!
I could have thrown my arms around
him. "And the guards, Senior Lieu
tenant-?'
"Have been placed there by order
of Colonel Fuentes, and will be re-
moved, therefore, only by his order.
shall see him, however, within the
hour"
II pray, Senior Lieutenant" said
fervently, "that / shall cause no fur
ther disturbance-if, indeed, have
been the cause of any. When my
guards have been removed shall take
the way to La Guaira, where some
ship
Now, watching his face, I saw that
Polito did not brighten at this pros
pect, and was glad, for, so long as
the Senorita Dulce remained in Vene-
zuela, there would I remain.
"Adios, then" said he.
l heard, in less than an hour, the
crisp bark Of orders and the sounds
of shod feet on the stones of the
hot foI c,yrif al
me that the guards had gone, and that
| was free again. Yet free, I hest
tated to leave Caracas, even if / were
permitted. If | were free why should
go, why should leave the Senorita,
who was still the Senorita, and not
yet the Sonora de Fuentes? I could
not hope to disarrange another we'd
ding, and if Dulce were willing to
marry Adolfo today why should she
be unwilling tomorrow? Yet she did
not love him; of that felt very sure.
Why, then should she marry him at
all?
While pondered thus accomplish
ing nothing, subtle fragrance filled
the room. dared not believe my
senses. The Senorita? 1t could not
be. Dulce would not come to see me
here. I was dreaming; my insane
worship had touched my brain, and 1
would see her, doubtless, all the rest
of my life. had heard of such a
thing, or read of it, and had laughed.
slim figure stood in the doorway,
a figure all in lacy black, with a heavy
veil that effectually concealed the fea-
lures. One might not have known
whether she were dark or light, but 1
knew.
again, senorita," said, bowling
over slim hand, "you find me in
prison. The visit of an angel could
not have been"
She touched my hair with trembling
fingers. 1T was light, was it not,
Senior? have dreamed Of your hair
as being light! was all that just a
dream-and am I dreaming now?"
II hardly know what has been real,
and what
did not see you first in the moon
light, Senor hatless and with
strange light in your eyes? Did you
not come to my aid when called, and
did not you find me in the storm? Did
not your eyes draw me away from the
altar? Are you now only the spirit
of the man who was lost in raging
sea?"
l tried to laugh II am only a sort
of shadow, Your Majesty, which will
follow you everywhere. Wherever you
go there will go, for you are the star
of my hope: your voice"
'You are mad, Senior. You-you
came to the cathedral, then, top
II went to the cathedral to stop the
wedding"
Mother Mary!' she gasped. "And
went to the altar with Adolfo to
save you. You should have left the
city ere this. They offered to sell
me your life, your freedom. Why did
you not go when you had the oppor-
tunity?"
my life, and my freedom, belonged
to me. You speak in parallels, Your
Majesty"
Now her blue eyes-a haunting fear
in their depths-searched my face.
"Oh, am ashamed" she sobbed,
ASHAMED. I would save your life be-
cause you have offered so much. They
told me you were prisoner in the
dungeon, and were awaiting execu-
ton, and that l."
"Your Majesty" said, helpless be-
fore her, "Your Majesty 1 feel
very, very happy-and very humble"
1T was little enough for me to do,
for you had saved"
IF you do not love Adolfo, it was
too much for you to do"
Marriages in Spain, Senior, are not
arranged by those most interested.
ccococcoc