Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1895-07-11
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A MALTESE CROSS.

w. Dolores laughed,
while the features of the cavalier in
the portrait had never appeared SO
somber.
The hall was lighted by the feeble
ray of small lamp placed in Ian
tern of open ironwork, and possibly
the picture gathered additional heavy
shadows from the insufficient illumin-
alton. Certainly the knight now
wore most lowering and threatening
mien.
Dolores stood before Lieutenant
Curzon in her rose-colored frock, with
her mothers black lace mantilla
thrown over her head. Her dark eyes
sparlsled like stars in anticipation
of the pleasure in store. The source
of so much happiness, the handsome
officer, could not be expected to ap-
probate, with his more obtuse, mas
culine faculties, the exquisite satisfac-
ton with which she extended to him,
in greeting, little hand encased in
pink glove of extraordinary delicacy
and fineness of texture What better
use could be made of the new gloves
of the Signorina Melita than to APP
plaud her with fingers clothed in
them on the occasion of her debut?
'How lovely you are tonight"
whispered the young man, gazing at
her, and holding fast her two hands in
his own.
Dolores made little movement of
withdrawal, which resembled the curv-
ing aside of the neck of the pigeons,
and softly released the precious gloves
from too close a pressure.
Dolores, will you wear this for my
sakeP' He drew small, gold cross of
the Maltese form from box, with a
slender cord attached She bent
toward him to inspect the contents OF
the box with eager curiosity.
"Oh, yes!"
"Will you wear it tonight, and
always9"
"Yesl How beautiful it isl" with
delight
Let me fasten the cord around your
throat then"
She put aside the folds of the lace
mantilla wonderingiy, even trihe
awestruck at so much good fortune.
He dallied with the task, thrilled by
contact with silky tendrils of curling
hair and softly rounded neck. Sudden
lY he stopped and brushed her cheek
with his lips. Dolores trembled and
was silent. The voice of Jacob Dealtry
became audible behind them, dry
grating, and unsympathetic, like the
note of certain insects.
"You can see the inscribed tablet on
the day after tomorrow"
'Ah? You must decipher it for me,
Mr.. Dealtry," Lieut.. Curzon answered
lightly, but he was destined not to
study the Phenician characters for
many day later.
Jacob Dealtry distinguished the
lamp, leaving the knight of the por-
trait gazing down, blanl1ly, on de-
serted interior, and the whimpering,
disconsolate Florio as guardian of the
premises, and locked the door of the
Watch Tower.
81 hope you may not find your opera
a FOOLS errand," he remarked, testify,
as the trio traversed the shadowy gar
dens and emerged on the highway.
You are very good to go, Mr..
Dealtry," said the officer, gaily.
"Your granddaughter is very fond of
music"
Dolores? Tut, tut! She is too
young to know what she is fond Of"
said Jacob Dealtry. "Why should we
go to adebut at the opera? What is it
to us?"
81 am eighteen years old, grand.
papa" protested Dolores, in tone of
injured dignity. He laughed con-
temptdously, and made some half-in-
articulate response.
Arthur Curzon took the hand of
Dolores in the darkness lie foundiit
very sweet to guide her light footsteps
on the rough path, and still more so
to give her pleasure. What a soft
young creature she was to be left in
the guardianship of this selfish old
man! His heart was moved for her
isolation.
A cab, engaged by the lieutenant,
waited at a certain distance They en-
tered the Vehicle, and the youth who
served as coachman urged his rough
pony to a rafting pace