Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-01-20

were, they were quiet enough! But
who could it possibly be? Again he
listened at the door, and at first heard
nothing but the distant roar of the
elevated cars, and the tense audible"
silence of the sleeping tenement. Then
faint stirring and-was it a sigh?-
came to him from within the room.
This was a sound not to be withstood,
and, very gently, he turned the door
knob, at the same time fitting In his
latch-key. Then, with swift stealthy
movement that was like panther's
maneuver, he opened the door>a crack,
slid through, and quickly closing 1t
after him, stood motionless with his
back against it. A curious scene met
his gaze. T. ~. - .
Two old Spanish lamps that hung
from the ceiling had been lighted, and
on the hearth glowed the embers OF a
dying IRE. BY the soft red light OF
these the room took shape, and
gigantic shadows stirred, in the cor
ners. s%Ssgs Il i. r " Il 5at5sssl ss}r
AT first the apartment seemed unoc-
cupied, but a. second glance showed
this impression to be mistaken one,
| for even as he turned toward the
couch. there was a gentle stirring
among the cushions and one OF them,
Earring stand full Of long-stemmed
roses near by. sent a shower OF Grim
son petals fiuttering over the sleeping
form of Iris herself. i.:5$ $
"Dios!" whispered Pedro.
For q 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 eide OF the
hearth, and dropping into 1t, sat re-
garding her intently, his hands clasped
about his knees, his head bowed. Il.
That Iris had been at a ball or les
tivity of some sort was plain from the
gown she wore. -, a..g....
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 muir
INJURED softly, your soul shines
through the flesh Of today!" 81 4
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. ~ .,
II knew you would come tonight"
she said smiling. Something told me
SOL" 49, a.
She held out her hands, and he as
sisted her to sitting posture.
What made you think would be
here tonight?' he asked. his voice still
low and level. II did not know it my
self" II E,a'5 g. ~.
q was not sure, OF counsel" she pro;
tested. at was only that felt you
might be, and I-oh! was mad to
come, suppose, and you will think me
| yet, I could not stay away.
Something seemed calling and calling
me! Are you not glad to see me? I
-oh-say you are glad. for am so
ashamed" She had arisen and stood
before him with downcast head. /.
"Why?" said Pedro. #
"Ah! II you need to ask that, then
I am not ashamed" she cried. you
always understand! knew you
would -. that is, II you were
here at ALI" M 5.G.
"This time do not quite under
stand. Madonna" said Pedro, but you
are very gracious. Will you not be
seated" 49, - E..of. 49,
| II was frightened when I came in
here" she confessed. 1.-THE studio 10
so vast at night, and SO full Of shad-
ows, and then, coming up tho stairs
that is, the unusualness of it
all, you know! And I have been 20
worried about you!" $~,--'' ~, -.
But why?"' he asked again. !
"The paper that signed!" she
laughed nervously, her fingers stray
ing to the truant locks Of his hair.
"The paper, and the mad way In which
YOU seized upon it. Then this mys-
FERROUS absence without warning. And
yet I knew you would return; my
presence here proves my faith in your
ability to win out. Have you any
news?"
"Not yet," he said, thinking it best
to let Hill tell his own story In his
own time. But tell me, Madonna lady,
ia it conventional in America for young
ladies in society to go about alone At
such an hour as this?"
He was watching her intently az he
spoke, and she, wondering how limo
cent the speech was. felt the hot blood
mounting to her forehead.
"No-no!" she stammered, "but We
surely you understand! No
one keeps account of my coming or 60
inx. and as far as my household is con-
cerned. might easily be at the dance
until even later than this! Then we
are such-we have been such good
friends, surely we are different. The
ordinary conventions do not concern
U.S."
Don't they?" he asked softly. mot
me, poor wait, perhaps-but you! The
world is small and full Of gossiping
tongues"
The world is idiotic!" she declared
TREMENDOUSLY. 1T never believes in
friendship between men and women!"
There was 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. 1t was denial. and
a challenge.
Her voice was low and vibrant as
she made her reply, her words, like
his, carrying double meaning that
was equally apparent to them both,
under it's pretense of being matter-of-
fact.
II don't feel very much like a
friend of yours" she said