Las Vegas optic., 1914-08-26

face was drawn with anguish.
Il can never atone for my actions!"
he thought "If he discovers that am
a woman, he will always despise me!
Better leave to him the memory OF a
boy friend whom he loved and who
ran awayl"
Then, gathering up his courage. he
went final round of the dearly loved
workshop, caressing each object as
he passed. as though it had been ami
mate. Everywhere were things that
reminded him of Leigh. There they
had sat and talked on such a night;
here he had perched while he showed
some tricks of technique; together
they had stood at this window looking
over the roof-tops at the city which
they had talked of beautifying, and
beside this table he had often drawn
a chair, when they sat down to share
| scanty meal and an abundance OF
talk on subjects dear to them. Oh.
1t was too cruel, too full Of poignant
memories. this place! Nothing was
to be gained by tarrying, but wounds
fresh wounds, added to that which he
was doomed to carry forever! Since
going was inevitable, best go quickly
and be done. To run away down the
dark stair, along the cold street
away, away, to the blossoming South.
land and the search for forgetfulness.
With set lips he put on hat and coat,
extinguished the candle, and by the
dim glow of the banked fire, began to
! gather up the belt of the knapsack.
Then a sound on the staircase caused
his heart to give great leap, after
which it seemed to stop beating alto
gether. Nearer and nearer came the
familiar step, and then, without pause
it crossed the landing and the door
was burst open to admit the towering
figure of Abraham Lincoln Leigh.
Are you there?" the deep voice
asked commandingly, as the man
peered into the gloom.
"I-yes!" answered Pedro weakly.
Thank God!" exclaimed Leigh.
Then, as his eyes became accustomed
to the darkness, he placed her.
81 was just going" began Pedro
family, q"
'Sit down beside me-" said Leigh
gently but firmly, Il want to say sew
eral things to you"
Yes, but" protested the girl.
"Sit down, my dear" said Leigh,
striking light.
There was tense silence while he
lit the lamp, the soft glow presently
revealing them to each other. Then
Pedro slowly obeyed the strangely put
command, and they sat silently for a
long moment, loking into each others
eyes with that perfect understanding
that had been theirs from the first.
Oh! How could she have doubted him
for an instant2 There was no misun-
derstanding the meaning of that
"dear"-nor of the tone tn which he
had spoken it. A wild tingling sensa-
tion began to dance through her veins,
and at the light in his eyes deep
flush began to creep over her face,
feminine enough now, despite it's frame
of close-cut curls. At length she spoke,
never taking her eyes from his.
$50 you know" she said superflu-
ously.
EYES,"
"How long have you known?"
"In my secret consciousness, from
the beginning of time," he answered
her. Since last night, in actual reali.
zation. Why, I've been in love with
you all these months, but did not un-
derstand it, owing to-"
He indicated her clothing and again
she blushed-a swift crimson this
time.
And you don't-don't despise me?'
she asked, ashamed.
"No, don't despise you; l want to
marry you," he replied. What is your
manner"
Pedro never had another. except,
ing Daussa y st. Iron, of course. But
i. j. do you mean it?"
"That is the first utterly dull remark
! ever heard you make" observed
. Leigh. Now, when shall it be2 To.
. morrow? It's little late tonight"
mol" she cried, springing up. mot
tonight; not tomorrow; 1 must go
away!"
"Why"
Iris knows about me- and think OF
> the talk! What would your friends
. say? Oh! believe me, must go away
: until can come back as myself" she
said distractedly.
: His face was stern as he replied.
II can usually see the reasons you
put FORTH" said he; but | cannot feel
: that there is any need for you to CO."
!. "Ah," she pleaded, "but l do! Let
me come back as myself-as a woman
; and as woman should. I want to;
: can't you understand"
"Yes-I think perhaps l do" said
he slowly. And in the meanwhile?"
'T shall be with Rico and Anna y
: she said, until they have the baby
Z They can he foeether all the mean.