Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1914-10-23
CHAPTER XII.
The Ball at the Villa.

The Ball at the Villa.
'It 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: "To a 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 acct
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 it 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 if you tried. The sentiment
in you which should be developed
us mercy?"
mo; justice, the patience to weigh
the right or wrong Of thing"
Padre, have eyes, eyes; I 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
is there we sift the evidence"
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 If that gentleman had
really preferred to stay?"
Nora looked confused.
Shall / tell you? I suspected; 80
questioned him last night Had /
been in his place, should have chas-
tised Herr Rosen instead OF bidding
him be gone. It 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
way women have Of modifying either
gooG or bad impulses! It would have
been fine of you to have stopped when
you said you were sorry"
Padre, one would believe that you
ha1 fol to
''If I had / should have to leave 1t
after today. l 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-
tons. Be happy while you are young,
for old age is happy only in that re-
flected happiness of recollection.
Write to me, here. / return in No
vember. Benedicite?" smiling.
Nora bowed her heard and he put a
| hand upon 1t.
| Celeste stood behind Abbott and
studied his picture through half-closed,
critical eyes. You have painted it
over too many times" Then she
looked down at the shapely head All,
the longing to put her hands upon it,
to run her fingers through. the tousled
hair, to touch it with her lips! But
no! Perhaps you are tired: perhaps
you have worked too hard. Why not
put aside your brushes for a week.
I've a good mind to chuck it into
the lake. / simply can't paint any
more" He flung down the brushes
I'm Il fool, Celeste, fool. I'm crying
for the moon, that's what the matter
is. What's the use of beating about
the bush? You know as well as l dc
that it's Nora"
Her heart contracted, and for little
while she could not see him clearly.
But what earthly chance have ~
lie went On, innocentiy but ruthlessly
No one can help loving Nora"
NO." in a small voice.
ITS all rot, this talk about aff1ni
ties. There's always some poor devil
eft outside. But who can help loving
Nora?" he repeated.
who indeed"
And there's not the least chance II
the world for me-"
You never can tell until yoC put i
to the test"
do you think have chance? I!
it possible that Nora may care little
for me?" He turned his head towsrs
her eagsrly.