The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-10-22

other! But how about the girls atti-
tude toward himself E? A subtle
smile crept to the corners Of his mouth
at the thought. and he hastily took his
eyes from her face. looking i~ntently at
the glowing cigarette between his fin
! gers instead.
What is the matter?" she asked.
"A second ago you were merry. Now
you look quiet. wise-dangerous? How
you changed"
Dangerous! Far from IT." he ex-
claimed, pushing back his chair, that
is, unless you call overwhelming curl
osity dangerous. Personally | think
It less dangerous than a lack of curl.
osity; to the individual, at least"
And what makes you curious?" she
asked.
Then Pedro, who did not know how
to lead gently up to any subject,
plunged In.
Were you engaged to Hill?" he
asked abruptly.
"ANhOhb tl ms nv ulOoO III
walked away to the window, where she
stood for several moments before re-
plying, her back turned.
Yes" she said at last.
And do you still care for him?"
To her W intense surprise she
found that she could not reply at once.
81 beg your pardon, Madonna" said
Pedro eoftly.
"Oh, you don't understand" she
cried wildly, throwing out her hands
IL don't care, | hate-oh! why did you
ask me?"
81 think l do understand" he said
very distinctly, looking straight at her.
A wave OF crimson flooded her
cheeks. What did he mean? Unable
to face him longer, she buried her face
In her hands. He came toward her
and stood where he could have touched
her.
Sam Hill is a great SOUL" said he
softly. HE Is generous and good. He
is talented, he is :" g.
"He is nothing to mel" she gasped,
looking up.
He is my friend" finished Pedro
firmly.
She flung her arms wide, and turned
to him with an appealing gesture, her
face revealing an emotion she made
no attempt to conceal, nor he to
ignore.
"Pedrol" she began ~passionately,
you will think me mad for saying 1t,
but ali! cannot help it-you make
me! Pedro, l love . ="
There was a crash a. his liquor
glass fell to the floor.
"Hush!" said he.
What is it?" she asked, for the mo-
ment startled into normality.
"Nothing!" said he, only you are
not to finish your sentence. Never
mind the glass, it was done intention
ally. Let us talk Of other things"
But, Pedro" she said HISTORICALLY.
Il cannot! am possessed! How can
you be so cruel?"
please, pleased" he begged her.
Madonna, | am abject; ! an in tor
ture! Have pity"
ut is akin to pity" she replied.
Pedro walked to the hearth and
stopped to mend the fire. Then he
Strengthened up and spoke.
"Imposslble!" he said quietly. ut
terly impossible"
And she, watching him ~intently,
knew he had believed her, although he
presented this denial. She felt, too,
that her cause was nearly hopeless.
you do not care, them" she said in
a low voice.
Madonna Lady" he said sadly, 81
ARE for you a great deal, but not as
Hill does; not rs a man should, to be
your lover. You charm me beyond
words; you are lovely as a dream, and
II | could love any woman, II would
be you-but you are not for me-"
why not2" she asked sharply, be.
tween her tortured breaths.
"The reason is beyond my power to
alter" said Pedro.
"Then," said she, 81 suppose | had
better go. Shall you wish to finish the
picture?"
"Iris!" he cried In a suddenly
changed tone, come here, listenl OF
course | want to finish the picture; II
is going to be goodl And what Is
more, If you will be so gracious, with
your permission we will finish it, and
renew our friendship at the same
time"
Friendship" said she, with a mirth
less little laugh.
"Come!" he cried, with an attempt
at putting the incident behind them
81 must talk to you about something
very important. You asked me to hell
you find out who wac troubling your
father"
YES" she ~assented, without much
interest, however.
"Well," he said slowly, Il am mos
distressingly placed, Madonna. an
almost certain that he Is being eithel
blackmailed or mleled in some man
ner, and yet my hands are absolutely
tied. ] can do nothing"
what do you mean?" she demand
ed, aroused.
81 seem fated to be a nan Of mys
terry" he lamented, but | cannot hell
It! have ascertained that a mar o
doubtful character is in communica
ton with your father; that much
learned last week. But at the instan
Of my discovery of this fact a cir
cumstance arose that makes It impos