Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-10-02
CHAPTER XII.
The Ball at tho Villa.

The Ball at tho 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 wom-
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 acci-
dents. And. oh! | have pride" She
folded her arms across her heaving
bosom; for the PADRES directness this
morning had stirred her deeply.
'Wilfulness is called pride by 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 II you tried. The sentiment
in you which should be developed
rs mercy%
mo; 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. 1t
Ia ell
'He had the insufferable insolence
TO order Herr Rosen TO leave" going
around the barrier OF his well-ordered
logic.
"Ah! Now. how could he send away
Herr Rosen II that gentleman had
really preferred to stay?"
Nora looked confused.
Shall tell you? ! suspected; SO
! questioned him last night. Had
been in his place, should have chas-
tised Herr Roeen 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 It was SO like him."
The padre spread his hands. what
a way women have OF modifying either
good or bad impulsesl II would have
been fine OF you to have stopped when
you said you were sorry"
Padre, one would believe that you
had taken up his defense!"
IF ! had | should have to leave Il
after today. return to Rome tomor-
row and shall not see you again be-
fore you go to America. have bid.
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.
tions. Be happy while you are young.
for old age is happy only in that re-
Elected happiness OF recollection.
Write to me. here. return In No
yember. Benedicite?" smiling.
Nora bowed her heard and he put n
hand upon II.
Celeste stood behind Abbott and
studied his picture through half.closed.
critical eyes. you have painted Il
over too many times" Then she
looked down at the shapely head. All.
the longing TO put her hands upon Il.
to run her fingers through the tousled
hair, to touch II with her lips! But
mol Perhaps you are tired; perhaps
you have worked too hard. Why not
put aside your brushes for n week7"
i've a good mind to chuck Il into
tho lake. simply can't paint any
more" He flung down the brushes.
I'm n fool. Celeste, a fool. I'm crying
for the moon, that's what the matter
is. What's the use OF beating about
the bush7 You know as well as I do
that it's Nora"
Her heart contracted. and for n 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 n small voice.
IT'S oil rot, this talk about afflni.
ties. There's always some poor devil
left outside. But who can help loving
NoraT he repeated.
who indeedi"
"And there's not the least chance In
the world for me-"
You never can tell until you put II
TO the test"
DO you think have q chancef Ii