Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-13
q have chosen" she said at length,

oulSuI Will De Lue last cudUCe. WIN
or lose, tomorrow we shall return to
Venice. I do not like the idea OF
going to Monte Carlo at night; 1t is
not exactly safe. But since beggars
mustn't be choosers, we must go.
Again l warn you to speak to no one
while I am playing; and under no
circumstance raise your veil. They
have begun to notice us, but it will
end tonight. / 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 it
was the Campo She had never been
so lonely in all her days as in that
evil-smelling tenement in the Campo
Santa Maria Formosa.
Now run and Dress" advised La
Signorina. Let me dream little
more, while the sun sets. l can dream
pleasant dream sometimes"
And indeed the dream was not I'M
pleasant, for her thoughts went back
to that night in New York. Did he
really think of her, then? Was it pos
sible for man to forget so bizarre an
episode? She liked him. He had a
clean, kindly face and handsome eyes.
How she had played with him! How
she had tempted him! And yet,
through it all, gentleman, "a witty, in
teresting, amiable gentleman, who
never approached the innuendo, or
uttered a double-meaning. On her
part she had taken great risks; but
the fun had been merry and harmless.
She recalled his liberal-minded
patriotism and his sensible compar-
isons Surely he was right: the race
Of gentlemen had not yet died out in
far America. With what mystery had
he invested her? With what charms
had he endued her? She smiled gen
thy. 1t was pleasant to be made a
heroine even for the small space of
two hours. He was an idle young man,
after fashion; that was because he
had not been walked up. But under
his jest and under his laughter she
was sure that there was courage and
purpose and high enterprise. Take
care! she thought. Take care! Might
not this little dream carry her too
far out to sea? To have met
man like this one in time! How
gracefully, how boyishly, he had kiss
ed her hand! More than this, there
had been an artless admiration in his
upturned eyes, an expression which
gentleman of the Old World. would
have lacked. Why had she sent him
that mask? Had it been a challenger.
an indirect challenger, daring him to
follow and seek her? She really could
not answer. 1t had been one Of those
half-conscious whims which may be as
signed TO no positive cause. Besides,
no sensible man would have accepted
such a challenge. She knew men toll
erably 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, lonely, disappointed, CALLED as
it were by disillusion, might not with
stand much storming. And she had no
wish to add this irretrievable folly to
the original blunder Too late, too
late! Decidedly they must not meet
again. She was afraid
The red rim of the sun sank quickly
now, and the sea turned cold and
deeply blue, and the orange-tinted
sails grew drab and lonely. And
with the sun the brightness of her
dream went out. Would she never
cast out the life which was false,
though colorful and fantastic? Would
she never accept real life, dull and
sober? Romance? She was always
seeking it, knowing right we'll that it
was never to be found. Romance!
Had it not led her into this very pit
from which only death could release
her? This impossible vein was surely
the legacy of some far ancestor, some
knight of the windmills, not of her
father and mother both SO practical,
SO wise, so ambitious. All, she
thought in her heart. had they but
lived to see the folly of what they be-
lieved to be wisdom!
No, they must go their. separate
ways till the end. When she was old
would reread his letters. With sigh
she rose and went into the room. Kitty
was busy with the finishing touches
of her toilet. Kitty was not vain; she
was only pretty. The older woman
kissed her fondly.
pretty Kitty Killigrew!" she said.
ut is positively lyrical
the most beautiful woman in the
world?"
Little flatterer!"
"And if l were q man" Kitty
paused.
well and if you were a MANI"
'I'd fall in love with you and marry
you
La Signorina looked into the mir
ror.
CHAPTER XIV.
The fascination Of Monte Carlo is
not to be described; 1t must be seen
Vice shall be attractive, says the
Mother OF Satan. At Monte Carlo it is
more than attractive; it is compelling
A subtle hypnotism prevails. One
scarce realizes that this lovely spot /:
at the same time the basest. Wha
passions have stormed this cliff! Wha
rage and despair have beaten thei
hands against these bastions of pleas
ure! How few who plunge into this
maelstrom of chance ever rise again
| The lure Of gold, there is nothing
stronger save death. Fool and rogue
| saint and sinner, here they meet ant
mingle and change To those WHIT