The Spectator., 1915-01-08

lrlendShlp between men ana women!
 There was a tense pause. Then he spoke, and the words fell sharp as knives upon the thick emotion that she had conjured up.
 Are we friends?"
 The question held much more than the spoken query. It was denial, and a challenge.
 Her voice was low and vibrant as she made her reply, her words, like his, carrying a double meaning that was equally apparent to them both, under its pretense of being matter-of- fact.
 q don't feel very much like a friend of yours," she said.
 How do you feel, them" he asked gently.
 How do I feel?" she cried. q feel like-like this"
 And slipping from the sofa before he could prevent her, she fell upon her knees in front of him, and clasping her hands as if In worship, gazed up at him adoringly, almost touching him as she knelt.
 That Is how I feel" said Iris.
 Don't, dont!" said Pedro in a broken voice.
 T love youi" said Iris. Why, you surely know it-you must have seen it!"
 She spoke with the glad note of one who confesses what they believe to be the most desired of facts
 Don't" Pedro pleaded again.
 But why should not?" she asked radiantly. q love you! Do you not like to hear me say 1t? Does not my having come here in this manner prove it?'
 'No!" he cried in agony. springing to his feet as though to defend him self from something. No. it proves nothing of the kind. You do not can. not love me! It is impossible, impos- sible. have already told you so. An! l cannot endure to have you act so! And this is Hills own room!"
 But I do love you!" she cried, fol lowing him. Pedro, touch me-tell me that you care Kiss me, Pedro!"
 "Never!" he said fiercely You dc not love me-you love Hill! Yes, yes you do, although you do not realize it am really nothing to you but a re action-a pastime!"
 That is not true," she sobbed.
 Tt is!" he shrilled. You have loved Hill all along, Me! Why, it is out of the question that you should care foI me. It is against nature The atmos phere of the studio is what you love here, the informality, the careless free dom; but, me-ah! no You love love itself primarily. and tonight it has mastered you. But the man whom you love is Hill"
 "Ah, so you care nothing for me, after all!" she moaned But l am past pride; kiss me, Pedro!"
 'I will not!" he cried, retreating from her. "I love you in my own way as much as l can love any woman but I will not kiss you! You are mad tonight. It is the environment. the
 
 you. You must go home!"
 Kiss me, Pedro" said Iris with out stretched arms.
 Roughly he flung her away.
 "Listen!" he commanded, you don't know what you are doing. You are nothing but an infatuated little animal tonight. You no more love me than you love that lamp-than the lowering moth loves 1t! There is a splendid man who does love you, and you re- turn his affection, although you do not appear to be conscious of it; but take warning-and open your eyes to the fact. Do so before you succeed in singeing your wings at some such earth-fire as you have tried to light to- night! Love is a sacred. a wonderful thing. and it comes to us but once"
 But she had not been listening.
 Kiss mel" said she.
 "No!" cried Pedro.
 Touch me, then!" she cried wildly. Take my hand-anything! am mad for the touch of your hand!"
 Will you not listen to reason?" he implored. q cannot endure that you should belittle yourself so! I cannot love you as you wish, and again re- peat, you do not love me"
 She gasped a little. and then came to him swayingly, and placed her hands upon his shoulders.
 q do not care!" she breathed. You may not love me-but I love you!"
 Silence. Then
 Tt is impossible!" he calculated.
 Another short pause.
 Why did you lead me on to speak ?'' she demanded, note of anger creep ing into her voice.
 Because knew 1t had to come. The sooner the matter was explained the better" he answered.
 But you are making no explana- tion." she complained tenderly. Come! shall not let you go until you dol"
 And she slid her hands down to his, -mt. II. s..-1x