The Ordway new era., 1910-03-18

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 won.
ans character for me and analyze for
me my uniformed thoughts"
Tempest smiled bitterly and un.
fastened the velvet at the pictures 8
back and took the pasteboard out.
Since you feel so about her, isn't
1t unfair to keep her in evidence ?"
He leaned over and laid the photo.
graph on the fire. The flames grew
somber under 1t and then glowed
through It, the edges blackened and
curled.
Tempest's action. unreserved as 1t
was in the presence of a 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. SO she believed, nothing Der.
sonal. more unremarked than the OBJ
jects Of the room. which were, no
doubt. directly connected with their
chooser. When the picture had Al
tered to mass Of blackened tissue
film Tempest attentively came back
to the picture that was as yet unde-
stroyed-Miss Carew in the empire
chair. her dark head against the yel-
low brocade. the nrelight on her
cheek and on her hands holding the
manuscript, He held out his hand
authoritatively.
"Now-the manuscript"
She was about to give 1t to him
when she caught herself.
TO do what with?"
ITO destroy"
Miss Carew held it tightly. A slight
red flushed her cheek and anger
stirred in her against the burned god.
dess. Was she such a fetch that this
sacrifice must follow?
With tenacious jealousy she clung
to the paper she held.
You can't mean to burn this?"
"fes-lay 1t on the flames. please"
No" she said quietly and as de.
terminedly.
why not?"
Because 1t is too beautiful. I have
read 1t badly. but 1t is too beautiful
to destroy"
Grave and charming. she leaned
forward in her empire chair. He
seemed amused-or. more correctly.
delighted. Her brows unknit, though
he still held his hand out.
Come, give it to me-"
She smiled and shook her head,
Tempest leaned forward. II shall
have to take 1t by force"
She paled a little as he put his
hands over hers that held the manu-.
script: with force gentle as it was
strong he took both her hands for q
moment. lifted them to him. half way
to his lips. then let them fall and said
petulantly:
Why didn't you say you liked It,
then. before? You are my public. my
audience. and you read without com.
ment." She did not answer. II VIII
spare you needless words OF praise"
he smiled. but you have pleaded for
twill you sponsor it,"
She had risen. and as II to put the
manuscript out OF harms way laid II
on the mantel where were her gloves
and the roses together. You have
not answered me. Will you sponsor
this new novel?"
Il think ] don't understand you"
Tempest threw his head back: un.
der his mustache she thought he bit
his lip. He made a slight gesture Of
his hand as II he threw away some.
thing he held.
No" he said. "of course you do
not"
The Napoleonic lamp. three straight
bronze candlesticks under the vivid
green shade. had been lighted. and
the light fell on the girls hands as
she drew on her gloves Tempest
started with sudden eagerness as II
to speak. Indeed. she waited in A
state close to agitation. Then he
caught himself up as man who
turns of sudden in roadway with.
er he has been walking at a good
swing. Tempest mentally turned on
his heel
,TO BE cONTINUED)