Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1909-10-28

1T Is not curiosity" declared Kitty.
1T is because l love you and because
1t makes me sad when l hear YOU
laugh, when l see you beat your hands
against the chair as you did just now"
La Signorina turned again in pas
sion which was as fierce as 1t was sud
den.
There Is man." she Kissed, her
eyes dilating But | loathe him.
hate him, l abhor him! And were 1t
not wicked to kill he would have been
dead long ago. Enough! II you ever
ask another question | will leave you"
Il am sorry" said Kitty. HE was
false to you and broke your heart"
NO, Kitty. only my pride"
1T Is strange world" unused Kitty.
Let us turn to our affairs re-
ceived letter today"
"From homer" eagerly.
81 have no home. Kitty. The letter
is from a friend in Naples Mr.. Hill
lard and Mr.. Merrihew, friends OF
yours are in Italy"
Kitty could scarcely believe her
ears. Where are they? Where are
they storping?"
THAT l do not know. But listen.
They have started out to find us.
When tell you that Mr.. Hillard is
the gentleman dined with that night
before we sailed you will understand
my reasons for wishing to avoid him.
From this time on we must never ap-
pear on the streets without our wells.
Ii by chance we meet them we must
give no sign. 1t will be only for lit
tie while. Your letter will come soon,
and you may renew your acquaintance
with these two gentlemen when you
return home. 1t may be hard for you,
but If you wish to stay with me my
will must be a law unto you"
mot to speak to them If we meet
them?" urged Kitty In dismay. "But
that is cruel of you. They are both
gentlemen"
II do not know Mr.. Merrihew, but l
can say that Mr.. Hillard is a gentle
man. AS for being cruel. l am not;
only SELFISH
Are you not a queen who has run
away from kingdom" asked Kitty
bitterly. "One reads about them every
day in the papers"
my dear. you are free to choose one
Of two paths. / shall not urge you one
way or the other. but you must choose
now"
Several minutes passed. Kitty look
ed out to sea, and La Signorina closed
her eyes. In her heart Kitty knew that
she could no more leave this woman
than she could fly. She was held by
curiosity. by sentiment by the roman
tic mystery.
Il have chosen" she said at length
II shall stay with you"
Thanks, Kitty. And now the af-
fairs of the company. We have played
three days and have lost steadily. To-
night will be the last chance. Win or
lose, tomorrow we shall return to Ven
ice. l do not like the idea of going
to Monte Carlo at night. 1t is not ex-
actly safe. But since beggars mustn't
be choosers we must go. Again l
warn you to speak to no one while l
am playing and under no circum-
stances raise your veil They have be-
gun to notice us, but 1t will end to-
night l was mad to think that could
win. And, by the way, Kitty, we shall
not go back to the Campo Formosa."
Kitty accepted this news brightly.
If there was one place she hated 1t
was the Campo.
'Now run and DRESS" advised La
Signorina. ''Let me dream little
more while the sun SETS
She knew men tolerably well. After
thirty they cease to follow visions
they seek tangible things. No, they
must never meet again. 1t would not
be wise. Her heart. CALLED by disil-
fusion. might not withstand much
storming. And she had no wish to add
this irretrievable folly to the original
blunder. She was afraid.
No; they must go their separate ways
till the end. With a sigh she rose and
went into the room. Kitty was busy
with the finishing touches of her toilet.
The older woman kissed her fondly.
And do you realize that you are the
most beautiful woman in the world?"
asked Kitty.
Little tiatterer!'
And if were man'-Kitty paused
I'D fall in love with you and marry
you"
La Signorna looked into the mirror.