The Dolores star., 1910-03-18

gan to read. At FIRST her delivery was
timid. with short breaks and a voice
that came scarcely farther than her
lips. But as the beauty Of the work
grew upon her II carried her out Of
herself.
Tempest listened. . shielding hand
over his eyes. He remained as he
was. without comment. until the 81.
lence grew painful Her eyes. when
he at length looked at her. were on
the photograph Of Lady Ormond. and
he put his hand. back. took the photo
graph. and held II out to her.
Lady Ormond-you nnd her. OF
course. lovely?"
Very lovely"
"No," he contradicted, you do NOT
mean what you say. You hnA the
face too vain to be lovely-too cold
to charm: you think II shallow per.
fectness. for perfect II 10. The old
complaint, II y manque rame?"
His assertion was . question. d.
though he evidently gave his own
point Of view. and she was obliged to
reply. to say something In response.
Il don't know Lady Ormond,"
Nevertheless. you think all this!
Answer me. please"
Then yes" she said rather de-
hantly. since you read another ~om-
ans character for me and analyxe for
me my Uniformed thoughts"
Tempest smiled bitterly and un-
fastened the velvet at the pictures
back and took the pssteboard out.
"Since you feel 80 about her. isn't
Il unfair to keep her in evidence! ?"
ne leaned over and laid the photo
graph on the IRE. The flames grew
somber under II and then giowed
through II. the edges blackened and
curled. e. zsss .. .s.
Tempest's action, unreserved - Il
was In the presence Of . stranger.
did not cause Miss Carew embarrass-
ment. She was conscious Of being
an unregarded witness-he almost
too utterly ignored her. She rep
resented. 20 she believed. nothing per.
sonal, more unremarked than the OBJ
jects Of the rooin. which were, no
doubt. directly connected with their
chooser. When the picture had al
tered to q mass Of blackened tissue
nim Tempest attentiveiy came back
to the picture that was A. yet unde-
stroyed-Miss Carew In the empire
chair. her dark head against the yel.
low brocade. the freight on her
cheek and on her hands holding the
manuscript. He held out his hand
authoritatively.
"Now-the manuscript"
She was about to give II to him
when she caught herself.
ITO do what with!"
"To destroy"
Miss Carew held II tightly. A slight
red flushed her cheek and anger
stirred In her against the burned god.
dess. Was she such fetich that this
sacrifice must follow!
With tenacious jealousy she clung
10 the paper she held.
"You can't mean to burn this?"
"Yes-lay II on the flames. please"
NO." she said quietly and a. de-
terminedly.
why nots"
because Il n too beautiful. I have
read II badly. but II is too beautiful
to destroy"
Grave and charming. she leaned
forward In her empire chair. He
seemed nmused-or. more correctly.
delighted. Her brows unknit. though
he still held his hand out.
Come. give II TO me-"
She smiled and shook her head.
Tempest leaned forward. II shall
have to take II by force"
She psied . little a. he put his
hands over hers that held the manu-.
script: with force gentle ~ II was
strong he took both her hands for 4
moment. lifted them 10 him. half way
TO his lips. then let them fall and said
petulantly:
why didn't you say you liked II.
then. before, You are my public, my
audience. and you read without com.
ment." She aid not answer. II will
spare you needless words OF praise"
he smiled. but you have pleaded for
twill you sponsor ~"
She had risen. and % n 10 put tho
manuscript out Of harms way laid Il
on the mantsl where were her gloves
and the roses together. you have
not answered me. WIN you sponsor
this new novelY'
II think ] don't understand you"
Tempest threw his head back: un-
der his mustache she thought he bit
his lip. lie made . slight gesture Of
his hand % u hs threw away some.
thing he held.
mo-" he said. .of course you 90
not"
The Napolsonic lamp. three sllsight
bronss candlssticks undss the vivid