The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1914-08-28
CHAPTER XII.
The Ball at the Villa.

The Ball at the Villa.
1T is all very petty, my child" said
| the padre. Life is made up of bigger
things; the little ones should be ig.
nored."
! To which Nora replied: ITO WON
an the little things are everything;
they are the daily routine, the expect
ed, the necessary things. What you
call the big things in life are acct
dents, And, oh! I have pride" She
folded her arms across her heaving
bosom; for the PADRES directness this
morning had stirred her deeply.
"Wilfulness is called pride Ivy some;
and stubbornness. But you know as
well as do, that yours is resentment.
anger, indignation. Yes, you have
pride, but 1t has not been brought into
this affair. Pride is that within which
prevents us from doing mean or sor-
did acts; and you could not do one or
the other if you tried. The sentiment
in you which should be developed
rs mercy?"
No; justice, the patience to weigh
the right or wrong of thing"
Padre, | have eyes, eyes; | saw"
He twirled the middle button of his
cassock." The eyes see and the ears
hear, but these are only witnesses,
laying the matter before the court OF
the last resort. which is the mind II
is there we sift the evidence"
He had the insufferable insolence
to order Herr Rosen to leave" going
around the barrier of his well-ordered
logic.
All! Now. how could he send away
Herr Rosen If that gentleman had
really preferred to stay?"
Nora looked confused.
Shall tell you? / suspected; 80
! questioned him last night. Had /
been in his place, l should have chas-
tised Herr Rosen instead of bidding
him be gone. 1t was he"
Positively. The men who guarded
you were two actors from one of the
theaters. He did not come to Yer
sailles because he was being watched.
He was found and sent home the night
before your release"
I'm sorry. But 1t was so like him."
The padre spread his hands. What
a way women have of modifying either
good or bad impulses 1t would have
been fine Of you 10 have stopped when
you said yop were sorry"
Padre, one would believe that you
had taken up his defense!"
IF l had | should have to leave 1t
after today. T return to Rome tomor-
row and shall not see you again be-
fore you 60 to America. | have i'd
den good-by to all save you. My child,
my last admonition is, be patient; OBJ.
serve; guard against that impulse
born in your blood to move hastily,
to form opinions without solid founda-
tons. Be happy while you are young,
for old age is happy only in that re-
Elected happiness of recollection.
Write to me, here. l return in No
vember. Benedicite?" smiling.
Nora bowed her heard and he put a
hand upon it.
Celeste stood behind Abbott and
studied his picture through half-closed,
critical eyes. You have painted it
over too many times" Then she
looked down at the shapely head. All,
the longing to put her hands upon It,
to run her fingers through the tousled
hair, to touch 1t with her lips! But
no! Perhaps you are tired; perhaps
you have worked too hard Why not
put aside your brushes for a week."
1--WE good mind to chuck 1t into
the lake. simply can't paint any
more" He flung down the brushes.
I'm fool, Celeste, fool I'm crying
for the moon, that's what the matter
Is. What's the use of beating about |
the bush? You know as well as ! do
that it's Nora"
Her heart contracted, and for little |
while she could not see him clearly.
But what earthly chance have II"
he went on, innocently but ruthlessly.
NO one can help loving Nora"
NO." in small voice.
IT'S all rot, this talk about afini-
ties. There's always some poor devil
left outside. But who can help loving
Nora" he repeated.
Who indeed"
And there's not the Ia 1t chance in
the world for me-"
"Yoa never can tell until you pu. it
10 the test"
DO yos think have chancef IL
Il cossihls that Nora may care little
Tor me~ He turned his head toward
he sageak.