The Spectator. (Ozark, Ark.) 1911-1916, 1914-10-16
CHAPTER XII.
The Ball at the Villa.

The Ball at the 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 a WON
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 stuhbornness But you know. as
we'll 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
is mercy?"
NO; justice, the patience to weigh
the right or wrong of a thing"
Padre. l 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
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.
All! Now. how could he send away
Herr Rosen If that gentleman had
really preferred to stay"
Nora looked confused.
Shall tell you? l suspected; so
| questioned him last night Had
been in his place. l should have chas-
tised Herr Rosen instead of bidding
him be gone. II 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 4"
The padre spread his hands. What
a way women have of modifying either
good or bad impulses! 1t 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 1t
after today | return to Rome tomor-
row and shall not see you again be-
fore YOU go to America. l 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-
tiected happiness of recollection.
Write to me, here. | return in No
yember 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 IL,
to run her fingers through the tousled
hair. to touch 1t 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 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 / do
that it's Nora"
Her heart contracted, and for 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 small voice.
Its all rot, this talk about affini-
ties. There's always some poor devil
left outside. But who can help loving
Nora?" he repeated.
Who indeed"
And there's not the least chance in
the world for me-"
You never can tell until you put It
to the test"
DO you think l have a chance? Is
1t possible that Nora may care little
for me?' He turned his head toward
her eagerly.