Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1909-05-18

open. No, you had to rum"
He would have entered the car
with us, he would lave known where
he was going, he would have had the
patience to wait till dhe saw beneath
our wells. know that mani" with a
hopeless anger.
ct was your flight. It told him
plainly that you recognized him."
81 was afraid, Kitty 1t was in
stinct which caused me to fly, blinl-
ly."
| And there you left me, standing
like fool, wondering whether to run
or not Kitty was angry for half a
dozen reasons. And why should you
run from any MANI"
La Signorina did not reply, prefer
ring to hold her tongue. lest 1t over
throw her. She unwound the thick
veil and unpinned her hat. Her hands
trembled and in her eyes and about
her mouth there was the WEAKNESS o.
ages Yet, not all this weariness, not
all these transitory lines ff pain, took
away one jot of her beauty
kitty" she began sadly, in. this
world no one trusts us wholly. We
must know why, why: loyalty must
facts. You have vowed your love and
loyalty hundred times, and STILL
when great crisis confronts me, you
question, you grow angry, you COM
plain, because my reasons are un-
known to you. Because l am lonely
because I feel the need of even your
halfhearted loyalty, shall tell yoI
why. why. Do you know what ter
ror is? No. Well, it was blind terror
which made me run. counted not
the consequences; my one thought
was Of instant flight. shall tell you
why am lonely, why the world
bright to you, Is dark. am proud
but shall bend my PRIDE With n
quick movement she lifted her head
high and her eyes burned into Kitty's
very heart. II am"
Stop! No. no! forbid you!" Kit
ty put her hands over her ears. She
might gain the secret, but she knew
that she would lose the heart of the
woman it concerned II am wrong,
wrong. l have promised to follow
you loyalty, without question. l will
keep that promise. / am only angry
because you would not let me speak
to Mr.. Hillard. And when he. called me
by name, 1t was doubly hard. Had
not seen your hand waving from the
doorway, l should hive spoken. Who
this italian is I do not care 1t IS
sufficient that you fear him. And
myself hanbor no kind feelings to-
| ward him. rubbing her bruised wrist.
"And If he comes down one side of
the street shall take to the other, to
say nothing Of lodging round the near
est corner. But he is very handsome" :"
Kitty added thoughtfully
Are vipers handsome?"
"He is strong, too
Strong and cruel as tiger How
hate him! But thank you, Kitty,
thank you. Sooner or later, If we
stay together, must tell you. The
confidence will do me good. Look
into my eyes" Kitty approached and
La Signorina drew her close. Look
in them. They will tell you that I
have neither conspired nor plotted.
save for your own happiness; that I
have wrought harm to no one. But
on my side they will tell you that l
have been terribly wronged And sill
wish is to be left alone, alone. 1t
was cruel of me to forbid you to speak
to Mr.. Hillard But l do not want
him tangled up in this miserable, hope
less labyrinth. I wish him to rec
ollect me pleasantly, as whimsical
being who came into his life one night
and VANISHED out of 1t in two hours, .
But surposing The memory cuts
deeply?" ventured Kitty. "Men fall
in love with less excuse than this
"He does not even know what I
look like; he, knows absolutely moth
ing except the sound of my voice"
1T is all blind man needs-a
voice."
| Nonsense" La Signorina opened
the window to air the room. She
fingered musing. "You are very good
to me, Kitty"
''I can't help being good to you, you
strange, lovely woman! For your
sake as well as for mine, hope my
letter from home will be in Venice
when we arrive. Now | am going to
write letter"
La Signorina still fingered by the
window
Merrihew was pocketing currency
in exchange for his gold, when Hill
| tdTQ pdSSeu. dll OpSneu lSLL6T CO MIN
1t was early IN the morning; the sky
was as yellow as brass; patches OF
dew still dampened the sidewalks, and
the air was still with the promise oi
heat in the later day. Merrihew
stuffed the last bill into his wallet and
gave his attention to the letter. He
was not long Indifferent, for the lei
ter was from no less person thar
Kitty. 1t was, however, addressed tc
Hillard.
/ My Dear Mr. Hillard-Do not seei
us. 1t will be useless. This sound.
terribly ungrateful, but it must be s.,
If Mr.. Merrihew is with you, and
suspect he is, tell him that some da,
will explain away the mystery. Il
present know no more than you do
But this please make plain to him
If he insists upon searching for me
} he will only double my unhappiness.
Kitty Killigrew.
Merrihew soberly tucked the lette
| away. Il knew it," he said simply
She is in some trouble or other, somt
tangle, and fears to drag us into it
. Who left letter here this morning?
he of