The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1905-04-13


leans that be is mad Tor love Of she
Spanish girl"
And shef@ Inquired Jean osreiesaiy,
AZ he patted the head Of a hound
crouched By bis chair.
Pierre shrugged bis broad shoulders.
"She s. a woman. who. therefore.
may say what she thinks. or VIII do
or not do7"
Jean laughed as be knocked the
ashes from his cigar.
Thou hast a poor opinion Of the
fair ones. my Pierre
Have ~ n 10, Il was thyseii
taught me the lesson"
The laughing face sobered AZ once.
and a troubled look came into The eyes
Fixed upon Pierre's half-mocking ones
Say you. Pierre, that taught you
any such ~lesson9"
Aye, that you have. with your scorn
q WOmen and their pays. Seeing
through your eyes. I long ago learned
TO look upon women IS but shares, 10
love whom brings mischief and the
ruin OF a mans heart
Pierre wondered al the gentieness Of
the tone that answered. III ever /
taught you such a thing. I taught, un-
knowingly, something ! never believed
myself: for I think a true woman Is e
thing to reverence IS the saints. and
that love In a mans life Is like" He.
stopped short. and his dark face took
a dreaming look as he CARED into the.
FIRE.
After a short silence he continued
The lack OF love In a mans life Is
Ike a world without sunshine. or q.
lamp without oil-without light. And
to live always in darkness would make
life little worth the living"
Pierre had been staring az him. and
as be stared his slumbering wits swak-
ened.
In a cropping but certain way. he be
gan to rightly suspect the possible
cause Of a hitherto pulling change he.
had noticed in his foster-brother aud
satisfied as TO this. he now blurted out
Jean. my brother. tell me-who is
she you love?"
Jean started. and his brows con
tracted into a frown.
Thou art not angry with me. that I
askedg'
Angry The word was repeated
18th a soft laugh. as II the supposition
were too absurd TO call for r~efutation
And she loves thee in retung~
Pierre y~entured. encouraged by the
laugh.
Jean shook his head. and a bitter
sadness touched the still smiling lips.
Not love thee!" exclaimed Pierre
incredulously. Then she must be
blind. or 3 fool. he added. N sudden
wrath.
Neither the one nor the other. ny
Pierre. Jean answered. as he rose
from his chair. 4 had never thought
20 ask her love. nor knew that ! loved
her. when. by accident. she discovered
that I was the terrible pirate. LATTE
and shrank from me as If had been
the plague. or death itself That was
long ago; and have not since laid
eyes on her"
There was a world Of suppressed
passion sounding underneath the ring
OF mockery IN his voice. and Pierre
saw his hand trcmble as he laid his
arm against the stone support OF the
chimney and looked down into the EN-
berA-
Pierre nov rose and tossed his cigar
into the fireplace. appearing 10 think
there was nothing more 20 be said
But he turned quickly 10 Jean as the
latter laying a hand upon his foster
brothers shoulder. added. You know
my secret PIERRE: for the present let
g. rest where e. IS, and give no heed
as 90 who she Is. may yet win her.
and I may not II do. then you snail
know her, and you will love her. oil
tlat ! feel assured.
well you may. my Jean. II she ISL
Gear to thee: Tor that she must O be
10 me.
AYE: and God bless thee for \ true
other self. said Jean. grssplng the
others hand THAT I could know
without the telling. stu Il Is pleas
ant TO hear thee say a. viii clear
my name. Pierre-thiue and mine
that must be hrst After that-wel
shall see
Ito be c%ontinued)