The Spectator., 1914-12-04

aedVeuB. AbbL ul6ulp WAAt uou A0 said to her? What would she thinkf The beloved of his friend--the friend who had done everything for him who had benefited him beyond any! What a traitor he would appearl Of course, his love-making was the merest joke-nothing but pretty game, played in an idle moment; and when he started it he had not known 1t was she who lay at the root and source of his adventure! His love-making! He almost laughed aloud at the thought of it. Why, it was only in fun. And undoubtedly the Madonna Lady had un- derstood 1t so It was impossible that she vas serious! It was quite useless for her to be so, at any rate Pedro was no lover for her. At the thought he laughed merrily.
 But Hill could not know that. Sup pose the painter were to hear of his, Pedro's, attentions to Miss Wander pool!
 Well, now that the little society item had revealed the true state of affairs. there would be no more flirting, that | WdS d6SuIcu. bul u III0AubAlP W0S surely another matter He liked her so much! Next to Leigh, she appealed | to him more than any of his new ac- | quaintances. He really must get to know her better. Then there was that | exquisite line of her throat; he simply must paint it-a real Madonna, with blue draperies about her head-a leaf | ~f ho ,F ha old tnrc quick with life.
 Just as he reached this amiable coas- clusion the studio door was flung opeE to admit the vivacious figure of a young woman, all gold and pink and white, from her fluffy head to the hem | of her frilled apron of lawn. This young person was Miss Cassie | Goodell, from the floor below-the l young lady of the violets. "Mornin', Pedro" she greeted him. I've come to do your rooms"
 'Impertinent!" he gasped, closing the door behind her. How many times have told you to knock before entering, eh?"
 AS often as I come up!" she ad- | IllttSu, Udhlu6 iaio uPOA thO SA6e>A | cites.
 Some day you may be sorry!" he warned her. Suppose l were not clothed?"
 Lord bless you, Pedro dear" she re- piled amusedly, "I shouldn't die of the shock, having posed in a pleasant smile myself for over five years"
 Well, you knock next time!" he said excitedly. T care, If you don't ?"
 She finished with the dishes and set herself to making the bed, after, as usual, vainly searching for toilet ar ticles to put away. As ever, she mar. veled anew at the nicety with which his personal belongings were kept in contrast to his shabby housekeeping. She soon finished what there was to do and returned to the studio, just pausing to brink bit before the mir TOT As she entered, Pedro beckoned | to her.
 Hold out your arm a minute, Cas- sie," he bade her, speaking without coming out of his absorption. "Nol so; the shoulder little higher. That's it!"
 Then he worked violently for a few moments.
 Rest" he said, then: That's all. I'm not going to work this morning. I've got an engagement for the noon meal"
 She turned to go, gathering up her gaily checked dish-cloths. At the door she paused.
 ''Is she good-looker, the lady you're going to lunch with?" she asked mis- chievously.
 He wheeled toward her in surprise.
 An! did not say was going to lunch with lady!" he exclaimed.
 50 she is pretty" said Cassie. with pseudo-melancholy sigh. "Ah, mel"
 Then she was gone, closing the door softly behind her.
 "Hum!" said Pedro. staring at the floor q invited that! I must be be- coming as awkward as a." Here he stopped abruptly; put a hand upon his lips warning himself to silence; took away the hand; found it streaked with brown paint. and straightway fell to washing his be- smirched countenance with soap pow der of peculiarly cleansing sort.
 
 | An hour later he was sitting down at "the noon meal" with Iris.
 For" she said, father is never punctual; if we waited for him we might wait until night" Tn tho cold Npht Of day and Tn the more formal setting of her own house. Iris was finding 1t somewhat difficult to continue the romantic impetuous at- mosphere which had come so naturally in the semi-darkness of the Miliigans' balcony. He fascinated her beyond any of her acQuaintances. Indeed, she had begun to consider him even more 1 tenderly. Then there was that minia- | ture in her fathers desk! Where had