The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-12-24

w lily ILLS lCCullitNuO AcuAc "&so ssAA N>>>
| Spanish lover of hers, whom she believed to
have been murdered there. It's II CHASTITY
fancy isn't it,"
| Two things annoyed Thatcher: first the
epithet "lover," as applied to Conclio by
another man; second that the picture !e-
longed to him; and what the d. did she
mean by
YES" he broke out finally; "but how did
you get its"
oh, l bought it OF hpr I've been IL sort OF
| patron Of her ever since found out how she
| stood towards us. As she was quito alone
here in Washington, my mother and sister
| have taken her up, and have been doing tho
| social thing"
"How long SINCE" asked Thatcher.
"Oh, not long The day she telegraphed
YOU she came here to know what she could do
for U.S. and when l said nothing could be done
except to keep congress off, why she went
and did it. For she, and she alone, got that
speech out Of the senator. But, he added,
little nischievorsly, "you seem to know
very little about her!'
"No-I-that is-I've been very busy late
ly," returned Thatcher, staring at the picture
docs she come here often"
"Ycs. lately, quite often; she was hero this
evening with mother; was here, Think, when
you came"
Thatcher looked intently at Harlowe. But
that gcntleman's face betrayed no confusion.
Thatcher retilled his glass q little awkwardly,
tossed off the liquor ut draught, and rose to
his feet.
Come, old fellow, you're not going now.
l shant permit it," said Harlowe, laying his
hand kindly on his clients shoulder. you're
out Of sorts. Stay here with me tonight.
Our accommodations IRE not large, but are
elastic. can bestow you comfortably until
morning. Wait here a moment, while I give
the necessary orders"
Thatcher was not sorry to I've left alone. In
tie last half hour he had become convinced
that his love for Carmen de Haro had been in
some way most dreadfully abused. While he
was hard at work in California, she was
icing introduced in Washington society by
her paintings. 1t is Il relief to the truly jcal-
GUS mind to indulge il p'urals. Thatcher
liked to think that she was already bcset by
hundreds of brothers.
He still kept staring ut the picture. By and
by it faded away i'll part, and very vivid rec
election OF the misty, midnight, moonlit walk
he had once taken with her came back, and
retilled the canvas with its magic. He saw
the ruined furnace; the dark, oycrhanging
masses Of rock, tho trembling intricacies of
foliage, and, above all, tho flash Of dark eyes
under n,antilla at his shoulder. What a
fool he had been! Had he not really been Us
senscless and stupit: rs this very Concho,
lying here like II log: And she had loved that
man! What /; fool she must have thought
him that evening: What u snob she must
s!ink him now
He was startled by slight r,stling in tho
passage, that almost ceased Is he turned.
Thatcher looked toward the door of the outer
o:cc. rs if half expecting that the lord chan.
N Tor, like the commander il, don Juan, y
might have accepted his thoughtless invitation.
He listened again; everything was still. He
IVES conscious Of feeling i'll at case and trifle
nervous. What Il long time Harlowc took tc
maze his preparations. lie would look out il
the hail. TO do this it was necessary to turn
" :.ic gas. He did SO, and in his confusion
| turEcd it out!
Where were the matchesl He remembered
that there was a bronze something Oh til,
abb. that, il til, irony Of modern ,!ccorativ,
taste, might hold ashes or matches, Or any
thing of an unpi"tuvsquo character HI
knocked something over, evidently the ink
something clsc-this time champagne glass
Becoming reckless, and HOW CROPPING ut ran
dom in the ruins he overturned tin, hronz
! Mercury on the center table, and sat dow
hopc!essly i'll his chair. And then IL pair q
vei;et fingers slid into his, with the matches
and this audible, musical statement:
lit is match you are seeking! Here is G
them
Thatcher flushed, embarrassed, ucryol,s.
feeling tl,, righteousness Of saying Than
yoi tn 4 dark somebody -stl,rci the mattel
behold bE lis brief, uncertain gli..,,ar. Ca,ne
de Hare beside him, bur!el his finger
consi'cs! dropped the match, and was ca
again int" utter darkness
Let III, try!"
Carmen struck u match, jumped b,,s:sly q
the chair, lit the Gas, jumped lightly dow
again. and said: "You do like to sit in Il
dark-ch: So am I--so,netin,cs-alonc."
Miss de Haro,' said Thatcher. with su
den, honest earne.tness, advancing with ou
stretched hands, "believc me, am sincere
delighted, overjoycd, again to meet
She had, however, quickly rct-rated US
approached. ensconcing herself behind L
high back of large antique chair, OH Il
cushion of which she knclt. l regret 10 a,
also that she slapped his outstretched iinge
little sharply with her inevitable black Il
Is he still advanced.