The Hope pioneer., 1898-11-24
CHAPTER XVII,

GleiOW came Dack 10 CONSCIOUSNESS
through maze of dreams. He seemed
to be in the studio laughing at Henri
for draping curtain awkwardly. Next
he was with Dorothy in the conserva-
tory at her home; she never had
seemed so beautiful. Then a swift
draught of cold air seemed to be strik-
ing his feet and ankles. She held some
flowers towards him and he tried to
take them, but could not lift his hand,
or stir muscle. She glided away,
melting into vast bank of orchids, but
when he essayed to follow his feet
seemed chained to the floor. He gave
sudden cry of terror as she vanished,
and his voice seemed to rebound from
the walls and ceiling, which appeared
to have contracted. Then he awoke and
found himself enveloped in such pro-
found darkness that he wondered if
his soul were released from his body
and adrift in space.
"Great God!" he exclaimed. what
can this mean? Where am ~"
He tried to recall his latest conscious
moments, but his brain seemed be-
numbed. Everything was chaos. He
moved his hand, and felt a clasp of
cold steel on his wrist. He heard a
chain rattle. Aghast-terrifed ineffa-
bly-he moved the other hand. It, also,
was chained to the stones beneath him.
He attempted to draw up his feet. They,
too, were manacled.
Then he lay motionless and tried
once more to recall past events. Dor
othy! Yes, ne remembered calling on
her and humbly confessing his sor-
row for having publicly quarreled with
Caruthers. She had readily forgiven
him, and shed tears at something she
would not explain. He remembered
telling her that he was not going to
the reception at the Palace hotel the fol-
lowing night. She understood that he
shrank from being seen publicly,
though she begged him to so and dance
once with her. She reminded him that
Caruthers was away, but even that did
not alter his determination. He left
early, for she and her aunt were going
to the Horse Show with Count Ban tinni,
and it was almost time for her to dress.
Then he remembered how hard he
worked all the next day, and how he
threw himself that night on lounge
and tried to sleep. Finding this i'm
possible, and longing to catch sight of
Dorothy as she alighted from her car
riage at the reception, be went to the
hotel and stood around in the crowd
near the ladies' entrance. Here he was
met by Count Bantinni. The count had
such strange CLEAN in his black eyes,
and for wonder was not wearing even
ing dress.
II want to have talk with you," he
said in a gentle tone. "You have evaded
me for long time. am your friend,
and will prove it. Come with me to my
apartments"
Gielow went with him to his cham
bers in the next block. 1t seemed to
him, from Bantinni's tone, that he had
something important to communicate
Then what had happened? All, yes.
The count had turned up the gas in his
luxurious smol1ing-room and ordered
a bottle of wine. His first words were
the very soul of humble candor-and so
pathetic.
"My FRIEND" said the count, 1--WE
ought to sympathize with each other
and bear no ill-will. am suffering the
pangs of hell. / love your sweetheart
with all my soul. have loved her pas
sionately since the moment first saw
her. 1, too, am miserable. l walk the
streets in agony. know how you feel,
and l sympathize with YOU"
Tears were in Bantinni's eyes. He
took the listless hand of the artist and
pressed 1t. GGlow was too unhappy
to repulse him, and by and by it seemed
tAst he really liked the italian.