Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-09-25
Nora's heart tightened. What she saw
was beautiful uncut emerald.
CHAPTER XII.
A Comedy with Mualo.

balconies and private veranda In
the rear, looking off toward the green
OF the pines and the metal-like luster
OF the copper beeches.
1t was raining, fine, soft, blurring
Alpine rain, and blue-gray monotone
prevailed upon the face OF the waters
and defied all save the keenest scru-
tiny to discern where the mountain
tops ended and the sky began. 1t was
a day for indoors, for dreams, good
books, and good fellows.
Here they all were. Mrs. Harrigan
was deep in the intricate maze of the
Amelia AIRS Of Bologna, which, as the
initiated know, is wonderful lace. BY
one OF the windows sat Nora, winding
lnterminable yards OF lace hemming
from of the willing II aching diglts Of
the Barone, who was speculating as
TO what his Neapoltan club friends
would say could they see, by some
trick OF crystal gazing, his present oc.
cupation. Celeste was at the plano,
playing (pianissimo) snatches from
the operas, while Abbott looked on,
his elbows propped upon his knees,
MS chin In his palms, and quality Of
ecstatic content In his eyes.
PLAY the fourth ballade," urged
Abbott.
AS Celeste began the andante, Nora
signified to the Barone to drop his
work. She let her own hands fall.
Harrigan gently closed his book, for
in that rough kindly soul of his lay a
mighty love Of music. He himself was
without expression OF any sort. and
somehow music seemed to stir the dim
and not quite understandable longing
for utterance. Mrs. Harrigan alone
went on with her work; she could
work and listen at the same time.
After the magnificent finale. nothing
in the room stirred but her needle.
"Bravo!" cried the Barone, breaking
the spell.
You never played that better.
declared Nora.
That's some!" Harrigan beat his
hands together thunderously. Great
stuff; eh, Barone?'
The Barone raised his hands as II
to express his utter inability to des-
cribe his sensations. His elation was
that ascribed to those fortunate NOR
tails whom the gods lifted to Olympus.
At his feet lay the lace hemming. hope
lessly snarled.
Father, father!" demonstrated Nora
you will wake up all the old ladies
who are having their siesta."
Bah! I'll bet a doughnut their ears
are glued to their doors. What ho!
Somebody's at the portcullis. Probably
the padre, come up for tea"
He was at the door instantly. He
flung It open heartily. II was char
acteristic OF the man to open every
thing widely, his heart. his mind. his
hate or his affection.
Come in. come in! Just In tim,
for the matinee concert"
The padre was not alone. Court
landt followed him in.
I'VE have been standing In the cor
ridor for ten minutes" affirmed tn,
padre, sending winning smile arount
the room. "Mr. Courtlandt was TO
going down to the bureau and sending
up our cards. But | would not hea
OF such formality. am a privileged
person"
Sure yes! Molly. ring for tea, ant
tell 'em to make 1t hot. How about ,
little peg, as the colonel says?'
The two men declined.
How easily and nonchalantly tn,
man stood there by the door as Harri
gan took his hat! Celeste was aquive
with excitement. She was thorough,
a woman; she wanted something 4
happen. dramatically, romantically.
But her want was a vain one. Nor
hated scenes. and Courtlandt had tn,
advantage OF her in his knowledge o
this. Celeste remained at the piano
but Nora turned as II to move away.
mo. you must sing. That is what
came up for" insisted the padre. j
there was any malice In the church
man, II was OF a negative quality. Bu
II was in his Latin blood that drami
should appeal to him strongly. ant
here was an unusual phase in Tn,
Great Play. He had urged Courtlandt
much against the latter's will this day
to come up with him. simply that h,
might set little scene such as thii
promised to be and study II from tho
vantage OF the prompter. He knew
that the principal theme OF all great
books, Of all great dramas, was antag
onism. antagonism between man ant
woman, though by a thousand othel
names has 1t been called. He haC
often said, in n spirit OF raillery, that
this antagonism was principally due
to the fact that Eve had been con
structed land very welD out OF a rit
from Adam. Naturally she resented
this, that she had not been fashion ed
independently, and would hold Il
against man until the true secret oi
the parable was made clear to her.
Nora saw that opposition woult
be useless. After all. II would b,
better to sing. She would not b,
compelled to look at this man she
80 despised. At the beginning she had
intended to sing badly; but as the
music proceeded, she sang as she had
not sung In weeks. To All this man
soul with hunger for tho sound OF
her voice, TO pour into his heart a
fresh knowledge OF what he had lost
forever and foreverl
CeleAte turned from the keya aftey