Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-06

She put her hand over her face moment
Her cheeks were scarlet and her lips qutv-
ering when she looked up, but she spoke
clearly and with simple earnestness.
'T went up to Daisy's room from mine.
When left her 1 forgot I was not on my
| own floor. This room is directly above
mine. I must apologize" Freda went on,
''and 60 home as fast as can"
She laughed slightly and with q pretty
show of unfrightened distress she held out
her hand for the key. Breton, turned it on
his finger, staring at her somberly.
Please don't forget what is due to your
self" Freda went on little breathless;
"please don't make me suffer any further
embarrassment over my stupid mistake.
Breton had half mind that it was no
! mistake and that she had come there to ac-
cept his plan of elopement and marriage.
IT have told you that love you" he
said sullenly. "Will you marry me?"
"And have told you that the informa-
tion does not interest me. Give me the
KEY. Let me 60. You know as well as l
do that can ring the bell and have help in
a moment You know as well as I do tnat
I can call to the boys ovsr the way"
"You won't do either
Her color faded. '"That is so, too. This
is your room, not mine. / remember that.
I should alarm the house and compromise
well, you, after all-for am an actress and
of course for me it does not count Still, as
you say, I'm not going to do it. If it will
satisfy your manly dignity in any way to
keep me here, we'll and good. Just remem-
Der, it's the lock and key that keeps me,
and not you"
She looked him over with very hearty
disgust, and added: "What a very con-
temptible person you arer'
She crossed the room to sofa, pulled it
out so that it faced him, pulled her cloak
about her, and saying whimsically: II
suppose YOU don't expect me to keep awake
move most graceful women have, and
disposing of them well wound in her skirts,
settled herself comfortably.
Breton glared at her from under bent
brows.
"Don't you understand, +" he said, striding
heavily to her, "that you are here alone and
at the mercy of scandal Have you no
fear?''
"Pooh; not bit! Don't be more obno1-
ious than you can help" she said roughly.
He staggered to his feet, crossed the room
unsteadily; then, with swift move turned
and took small pistol from the bureau.
promise to marry me, he said, "or
will kill you, and then myself I will
prove to you that am in earnest.
In an instant Freda half sat up. There
was quick disappearing of her hand in the
folds of her dress. Then she cried clearly:
eff it's pistols, 1 carry one myself, and
a dainty silver muzzle covered him.
Only their sharp breathing sounded.
Then Freda said in d low voice:
"Pull yourself togetherl Remember,
there is a girl in this house for whom you
care, girl whose name will not shame
L ! inr min 10
of her, and don't make me shoot, it makes
so much noise. Besides, I'm good shot
and might hurt you"
Breton's brain cleared. He laid down the
weapon and bowed his head in his hands.
"What fools women make of usP' he
groaned.
Then he unlocked the door, motioned to
it, and bowed his head in his hands again.
Freda hesitated. Then she said softly and
clearly:
'Mr. Breton, I will never speak of this
to anyone. Don't forget the girl you care
for. know you are better man than you
have shown yourself to me-" Then she
added quantity: "By your leave, I will
turn out the gas, that my exit may be as
unconspicuous as possible. 1t will be well |
to take such precautions as are yet avail |
able |
She opened the door quietly, but without |
over caution, and stepped into the hall with |
no show of timidity. If she was caught, |
appearing ashamed of herself would only |
make things worse.
The chink of chips still sounded. Sup |
pose one of the boys should come out? Her |
heart beat yet more heavily. What an
awful position to be in! She went with fly |
ing feet past the staircase, then walked on |
down the hall as far as Daisy's room. A |
light still burned within, and she could |
hear Daisy sobbing She glanced back. |
No one was in sight. She laid her hand on
the knob of Daisy's door, then leisurely re-
traced her steps toward the'stairs Before
she reached them the poker room opened
and man came toward her.
"Freda, where have you been?"
'gThat you, Parlance6 How much are /
you in? Daisy has the blues, and she
nodded her head backward toward Daisy's
room.
"Seven out That's no reason you should
be up all night. Go to bed."
"Good night, dear boy. No-don't see
me to my door. 1t might make a scandal.
Your good manners will get you into trouble
some day. Good night. -
She found the key in the outside of the
door as she had left it. In another moment
she was safe locked inside. She drew a
long breath.
''That was dramatic I must get some
body to load that pistol for me-"