Las Vegas optic., 1914-08-21

son petals fiuttering over the sleeping
form of Iris herself.
"Diosl" whispered Pedro.
For breath or two he stood staring
down at her. and then, being careful
not to awaken her. he drew up large
armchair to the opposite side OF the
hearth, and dropping into 1t, sat re-
garding her intently, his hands clasped
about his knees, his head bowed.
That Iris had been at ball or fes-
tivity Of some sort was plain from the
gown she wore.
Her hair seemed washed with melt
ed gold, after the manner. of the an
clients, and her carmine lips half parted
over the little, even white teeth, might
have been stained with henna, so red
they were-so very red-like wounded
poppy-and her skin was so very, very
white, yet creamy, too.
princess of the past ages" he mur'
INJURED softly, your soul shines
through the flesh Of today!"
Pedro arose, and bending over her,
brushed a new-fallen petal from her
lips. And Iris awoke, looking at him
with love in her eyes.
81 knew you would come tonight
she said smiling. Something told me
sol"
She held out her hands, and he as.
sisted her to a sitting posture.
"What made you think l would be
! here tonight?" he asked, his voice stip
| low and level. 81 did not know it my
self"
81 was not sure, of course!" she pro
tested. at was only that l felt you
might be, and I-ohi l was mad to
come, suppose, and you will think me
yet, l could not stay away.
Something seemed calling and calling
me! Are you not glad to see me? ]
-oh-say you are glad. for am SC
ashamed" She had arisen and stood
before him with downcast head.
"Why?" said Pedro.
"Ah If you need to ask that, then
am not ashamed" she cried. "You
always understand! knew yol
would that is, IL you werl
here at ALL"
"This time / do not quite under
stand, Madonna" said Pedro, "but you
are very gracious. VIII you not b'
seated?"
Il was frightened when came ir
here" she confessed. "The studio ii
so vast at night, and SO full of shad
ows, and then, coming up the stairs
that is, the unusualness of I
all, you know And l have been Sc
worried about you'll"
But why?" he asked again.
"The paper that l signed!" she
ing to the truant locks of his hair
, "The paper, and the mad way in which
/, you seized upon 1t. Then this mys
terious absence without warning Ant
yet | knew you would return; m!
presence here proves my faith in you
, ability to win out. Have you an!
news?"
> mot yet" he said, thinking it bes
to let Hill tell his own story in hi
own time, "But tell me, Madonna lady
! is 1t conventional in America for youni
ladies in society to go about alone a
such an hour as this? ?"
He was watching her intently as h,
spoke, and she, wondering how limo
cent the speech was, felt the hot bloo'
mounting to her forehead.
"No-no!" she stammered, "but W
surely you understand NJ
one keeps account of my coming or &c
ing, and as far as my household is con
cerned, l might easily be at the dane
until even later than this! Then w
are such-we have been such goo
friends, surely we are different. Th
ordinary conventions do not concerl
as"
Don't they?" he asked softly. "No
me, poor waif, perhaps-but you! Tn
world is small and full of gossipin
tongues"
THE world is idioticl" she declare
tIemulously. at never believes i
friendship between men and women!
There was tense pause. Then h
spoke, and the words fell sharp a
knives upon the thick emotion that sh
had conjured up.
Are we friends2"
The question held much more tina
the spoken query. 1t was denial, an
a challenge.
Her voice was low and vibrant a
she made her reply, her words, lik
his, carrying a double meaning tha
was equally apparent to them botF
under its pretense of being matter-o
raet.
Il don't feel very much like
friend of yours" she said.
How do you feel, them" he aske
gently.
"How do I feel?" she cried. 'T fee
like-like this!"
And slipping from the sofa befor
he could prevent her, she fell upol
her knees in front of him, and claspin
her hands as IL in worship, gazed u
at him adoringly, almost touching hir