The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-09-24

He Came to a standstill Beside the
Open Gateway.
ing harder; for Leigh had come to sat
isfy him 80 completely that he fan
cied no one else could take the sculp-
tors place. On the seventh day,
Leigh not having as yet returned, he
ate a solitary meal, and feeling lonely,
went to the gallery of a theater.
The play was a melodramatic affair.
and on either hand sat people who re-
fused to respond to his critical analy-
sis of the dramatist's work; so. after
the second act, he left, much bored,
and filled with a longing for dancing
and companions, for laughter and in
consequential talk: a most natural
and wholesome desire for the amuse-
ments common to his years.
81 WISH" said Pedro aloud, that |
was going to a party"
Then a thought struck him. II a
party was what he wanted to go to
why not 60 to one? There were the
cafes-but no! He wanted a real
party, with invited guests, and laugh
ter, and refreshments, hospitality Of
fered
Suddenly he felt like a prisoner,
Jailed in a prison that is limitless, yet
cramped because 1t is, in fact a prison.
| r. ,huly. ,ec chic pnArhfI fanny hn
began to run, and sped through the
silent, frosty streets as though the
gruesome, sardonic spirit OF ciylliza-
ton was speeding after him with
handouts.
Breathless at last, and Indignantly
helpless, he came to a standstill be-
side the open gateway of a little i'm
passe that had once or twice attracted
his passing attention. From wall to
wall II wac paved with uneven flag
ging. and down the center ran an open
gutter. The buildings were squat two
story affairs of old brick, and had
once been stables, but as he looked
more closely, the light Of the scat
tered bracket-lamps revealed the fact
that they had been converted into
studios. All the other buildings but
one were dark, and like a bit OF the
old world, the miniature street nestled
timidly almost In the shadow OF Its
giant neighbors, the sky-scrapers. At
its hospitable aspect Pedro felt better
directly. From the lighted building,
halfway down its limited stretch, a
soft radiance shone out, uncurtained
and CHEEKY, and the sounds OF revelry
came mufled to his ear. Quite shame
leesly he walked to where its window
met level with his shoulder, and fiat
tening his nose against the pane,
looked in.
A dimly lit room full Of animated
people met his gaze. A youth, with a
cigarette dangling from the corner OF
his mouth, was playing softly on the
piano, while, just beyond, two couples
were dancing. Immediately in front
of the watcher was a row of heads,
their owners being seated upon a
bench which ran directly beneath the
window.
Suddenly the street door was flung
wide to emit a little knot of men who
carried between them the limp form
OF a woman. Pedro drew back into
the shadows and watched.
The exact nature of the trouble he
could not determine, and neither could
he see the woman very distinctly. but
the air seemed to revive her, and pres.
emily a cab appeared, into which she
vas put, and driven off with one OF
the men. The rest then re-entered the
house, closing the door with a bang
The little episode affected Pedro
strangely.
Again he stepped to the inviting
window and pressed his face against
II. only to be confronted instantly by
a mass of red-gold hair! At first he
could scarcely believe his eyes; but
It was true-there was no mlstakine
those cleaning braids-she was there
the Madonna Lady, standing within
the warm room, her shoulder turned
} toward him. Acting on a sudden i'm
: pulse, Pedro ran to the door, ant
knocked.
/, Almost at once 1t was opened by {
/ little man with a smooth, boyish face
1 and sandy hair. Although far from
, handsome, the magnetism of his per
[ sonality struck Pedro Immediately
r awakening an answering chord In thu
latter. Fer a moment the little maj
; looked the boy over, and then hi
i weird, expressive face broke into
smile.
v Were you looking for Milligan?" hi
asked.
0 81 was looking for a party" salt
Pedro, smiling in return.
a well, there's several inside" salt
the little man, waving a hand towar,
the dimly lighted behind him
Some friend of yours here?"
ID 81 Just wanted" began Pedro, whel
8 a girls voice broke In:
"He Is a friend Of mine. DON" sal