Oh, I am so
proud!"
"More bad news for me, I suppose."
"Yes. But such good news for me that I am sure you will be glad."
Timidly he reached out and touched a fold of her white dress. She
seemed to be slipping from him. "Coming home from the theatre my
father told me-oh, the most wonderful thing! He said-but how shall
I speak of such a secret?"
"Evidently you don't intend to."
"I promised very faithfully not to tell, so-he is to be the next
President of Panama."
"Pres--" Anthony stared at her in frank amazement. "Why, I thought
old man Alfarez--"
"It seems your country does not like him because he hates
Americans-see? This is the work of that Mr. Cortlandt. Think! Is
it not wonderful? Now that you know the truth, you must see at
once that by no means could I marry to a person like you."
"Why not?"
"Ohe! Don't you understand? I shall be the finest lady in the
Republic. All men will adore me. I will have suitors-not one or
two as now, but many. I will be 'the beautiful Senorita Garavel,'
for all the great people are beautiful. I shall be proud, also,
and I shall not even speak to Yankees any more. My father will be
the most famous man of all the Republic-perhaps in the whole
world, I don't know."
"I don't think it will make any difference with him when he knows
who I am.
Pages:
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343