Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1909-05-06

ly, even sadly Why couldn't his
fancy have been charmed by an every
day, sensible girl, and not by this
whimsical, extraordinary woman WAC
fooled diplomats, flaunted dukes, and
kept king at arms length as pas
time? And yet!
"Cappricciosa," he mused aloud.
THAT is not her namer
And l shall not tell it to you"
But her given name? Just straw: |
something to hold on; am drown
ing man" Hillards pleadings would
have melted heart of stone.
1T is Hilda
THAT is German"
"She prefers it to Sonia"
Sonia Rilda; it begins we'll May
keep this letter."
Certainly not With that cara
mia? Give it to me-
He did so. Shall l seek her?'
"This is my advice; don't think OF
her after tonight If you ever see
or recognize her, avoid her. 1t may
sound theatrical. but she is the inno-
cent cause of two deaths. These men
sought her openly too"
What has she done?"
She made great, though common,
mistake"
"Political?'
Her lips closed firmly, but smile
lurked in the corners.
He sighed.
Don't be foolish l am sorry let
you see the letter. forgot that she
told me her hiding-place."
Her hiding-place?'
''Mr. Hillard, she is as far removed
from your orbit as Mars is from Ju-
piter's. Forget her"
sMy orbit is not limited. ! shall
seek her; when l find her shall
l* marry her
But her lips closed again.
Sphinx" he murmured with re-
proach.
Il like.you too much, Mr.. Hillard, to
stand by and see you break your heart
against stone WALL
Don't you see, the deeper the mys-
terry is the more powerful the attrac-
tion becomes?"
The door to the lift opened and
closed noisily, and Hillard turned neg
lieently A man sauntered through the
, room. The moment he came into the
light Hillard's interest became lively
enough. 1t was the handsome Italian
with the scar.
, 'Who is that man. he whispered.
, 'Onlv few weeks ago l bumped into
him coming out of the club"
A swift glance, then her eyes grew
) unfriendly, her shoulders rigid and
t repellent
: s'Do not attract his attention she
3 answered in low tone. yes, l know
5 him, and do not wish him to see me-
"Who is he?" he repeated.
: "a Venetian officer, and prof1lgate
l | entertained him once, but learned
Y from him that I had been ill-adVlsed.
4 Hillard saw that this subject woulo
). admit of no further questions. Ihe
man with the scar had committee
l. some inexcusable offense, and Mrs
Sandford had crossed him off the list
e He knew that the italian officer is
n more or less, ladys man; and thu
supreme confidence he has in the pow
e er of brass buttons and gold lac'
!? makes him at times insufferable
It was after ten when Hlllard ant
n his friend took their leave. The.
could not see their host and hostes:
" again till they reached New York
It Upon coming out of the Corso, Hillart
o whistled merrily.
d "Pleasant evening"" was Merrihew'
II comment.
h Hillard continued to whistle.
\. Good dinner, too
:! The whistle went on serenely Il
1t spite of Merrihews obvious attempt
" to choke it off.
v "You seemed to have a good deal t
b. say to Mrs Sandford. She knows tn
is lady who was in the house"
st Still the whistle.
IS "Say, wake up!" cried Merrihew in
patiently
ID eve shall leave in the morning fc
5. Venice said Hillard, taking up hi
"venice? How about Rome an
or Florence?"
ey (Which would you prefer: Ron
g. and the antiquities, or Venice and
Sc Kitty Killigrew?'
he "Kitty in Veiice? Are you sure?"
us "She is there with La Signorina G
IS pricciosa. Oh, this is fine world, al
Ia er all, and I was wrong to speak
to of it this morning
We eff Kitty's in Venice, I'm an u
he grateful beggar, too. But do not s.
,st why Kitty's being in Venice excit
he you"
'or mo? Well, fate writes that Kitty
IT mysterious prima donna and my Lat
.se OF the Mask are one and the san
,ly person"
at, "No!"
,al The two. without further wore
wo marched along the middle of the Cor
to the hotel, which was only II
OF. steps away They entered, The &C
lea cierge started toward them as If
he desired to import some valuable inf
an nation, but suddenly reconsider
co. and retreated to his bandboK of an
of fee and busted himself with his ey
increasing debours. The stranger.
am of his movements passed unnoticed
,r's the two, who continued on throu
or the lobby, turning into the first COZ
Jar. dor. Hillard inserted his key in
eed door of his room, unlocked it, a
o;n- swung it inward. This done, he paus
ne irresolutely on the threshold, a
Ell with good cause.
ice, What the devil can this mea1
ust he whispered to Merrihew, who pee