The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-01-10

charm; you think 1t shallow per
sctness, for perfect 1t is. The old
omr.aint, II y manque Tanner"
His assertion was a question, al
hough he evidently gave his owl.
oint of view, and she was obliged to
eply, 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-.
family, since you read another wom-
ans character for me and analyze for
me my Uniformed thoughts"
Tempest smiled bitterly and un-
fastened the velvet at the pictures
back and took the pasteboard out.
Since you feel SO about her, isn't
it 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 it
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 per-
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 vel
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 It to him
when she caught herself.
ITO do what within
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 chung
to the paper she held.
You can't mean to burn this?"
"Yes-lay it on the flames, please"
NO." she said quietly and as de-
terminedly
why not?"
Because it is too beautiful. have
read it badly. but it 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. 81 shall
have to take it by force"
She paled a little as he put his
hands over hers that held the manu.
script; with force gentle as 1t was
strong he took both her hands for a
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. IT will
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 it
on the mantel where were her gloves
and the roses together. you have
not answered me. Will you sponsor
this new novel;"
IT 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 if
to speak. Indeed, she waited in
state close to agitation. Then he
caught himself up as a man who
turns of sudden in roadway with
er he has been walking at good
swing. Tempest mentally turned on
his heel.
II mean" he said quietly, that
have not written, as | told you, in
six months. That, thanks to some
lucky star, I am en- veine once more.
How long this will last l don't know.
may wake up to find myself an idiot
tomorrow. Tonight, at least, !
could write on until daylight. If there
is any merit at all in these papers
you have written out for me, let It
speak as strongly as it can"
He stopped. looked at her. saw her
interest, and went on: ~ mean to
say there will be no more unless this
mood continues without interruption
Still she waited, her face bent a ut
tie, her eyes on the roses in her
hands.