The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-12-25

hhANoo upon Iuo tnlCh oiuotiOu tudS ouo
had conjured UP.
Are we friends?"
| The question held much more than
the spoken query. 1t was denial. and
| a challenge.
Her voice was low and vibrant as
she made her reply. her words. like
his, carrying double meaning that
was equally apparent to them both,
under it's pretense of being matter-of-
fact.
Il don't feel very much like a
friend of yours" she said.
| How do you feel. Them" he asked
gently.
"How do feel7" she cried. 81 feel
like-like this!"
And slipping from the sofa before
he could prevent her. she fell upon
her knees In front of him, and clasping
her hands as IL In worship, gazed up
at him adoringly, almost touching him
as she knelt.
THAT Is how feel" said Iris.
Don't, dont!" said Pedro in a
broken voice.
Il love you'll" said Iris. why, you
surely know it-you must have seen
| it,"
She spoke with the glad note of one
who confesses what they believe to be
the most desired of facts.
"Don'tr Pedro pleaded again.
But why should I not?" she asked
radiantly. II love you! Do you not
like to hear me say 1t? Does not my
having come here in this manner
prove it,"
mol" he cried in agony. springing
to his feet as though to defend him
self from something. mo, it proves
nothing Of the kind. You do not, can
not love me! 1t is impossible, impos-
sible. have already told you so. All!
cannot endure to have you act SO!
And this is Hills own room!"
But do love you'll" she cried, fol-
lowing him. Pedro. touch me-tell
me that you care! Kiss me, Pedro!"
"Never!" he said fiercely. "You do
not love me-you love Hill Yes, yes,
you do, although you do not realize it.
/ am really nothing to you but a re-
action-a pastime!"
THAT is not true!" she sobbed.
ct Isl" he shrilled you have loved
Hill all along! Me! Why, 1t Is out of
the question that you should care for
me. 1t is against nature! The atmos-
phere of the studio is what you love
here, the informality, the careless free
| hut
itself primarily, and tonight it has
mastered you. But the man whom you
love is HILL"
"Ah, so you care nothing for me.
after ALL" she moaned. But I am
past pride; kiss me, Pedro!"
81 will not!" he cried, retreating
from her. Il love you in my own way
as much as l can love any woman
but l will not kiss you! You are mad
tonight. 1t is the environment, the
situation, not me, that has 80 aroused
you. You must go home!"
Kiss me, Pedro" said Iris with out
stretched arms.
Roughly he flung her away.
"Listen!" he commanded, you don't
know what you are doing. You are
nothing but an infatuated little animal
tonight. You no more love me than
you love that lamp-than the lowering
moth loves It! There is a splendid
man who does love you, and you re-
turn his affection. although you do not
appear to be conscious OF 1t; but take
warning-and open your eyes to the
fact. Do 30 before you succeed in
smuggling your wings at some such
earth-fire as you have tried to light to-
night! Love is sacred, wonderful
thing, and 1t comes to us but once"
But she had not been listening.
Kiss mel" said she.
mol" cried Pedro.
Touch me, them" she cried wildly.
Take my hand-anything! am mad
for the touch Of your hand!"
will you not listen to reason?" he
implored. II cannot endure that you
should belittle yourself SO! I cannot
love you as you wish, and again re-
peat, you do not love me-"
She gasped little. and then came
to him swayingly. and placed her
hands upon his shoulders.
II do not careI" she breathed. you
may not love me-but love you'll"
Silence. Then
ut Is impossible!" he calculated.
Another short pause.
why did you lead me on to speak ?''
she demanded, a note Of anger creep
ing into her voice.
Because knew It had to come. The
sooner the matter was explained the
better" he answered.
But you are making no explana-
tion." she complained. tenderly.
Come! / shall not let you go until
you dol"
And she slid her hands down to his.
gripping them tightly.
II cannot"
"But you shalll" she insisted. What
is this mysterious reason why you can
\ not love ma-whv IA ~ imnOasihIa ?