The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1916-03-10

meanwhile what had he. himself, done!
Heavens! Last night, what had he
said to her? What would she thinkf
The beloved of his friend-the friend
who had done everything for m
who had benefited him beyond any!
What a traitor he would appear! OF
course, his love-making was the merest
joke-nothing but a pretty game.
played in an idle moment; and when
he started II he had not known 1t was
she who lay at the root and source OF
his adventurei His love-making! He
almost laughed aloud at the thought
OF 1t. Why, 1t was only in fun. And
undoubtedly tie Madonna Lady had I'M
derstood 1t SO. 1t was impossible that
she was serious! 1t was quite useless
for her to be so, at any rate. Pedn9
was NO lover for her.
At the thought he laughed merrily.
But Hill could not know that. Sup
pose the painter were to hear Of his,
PeSros. attentions to Miss Wander
pool!
Well. now that the little society item
had revealed the true state Of affairs,
there would be no more flirting, that
was assured. But a friendship was
surely another matter. He liked her
SO much! Next to Leigh. she appealed
to him more than any of his new &C.
quaintances. He really must get to
know her better. Then there was that
exquisite line OF her throat; he simply
must paint it-a real Madonna, with
blue draperies about her head-a leaf
out Of the book of the old masters, yet
quick with life.
Just as he reached this amiable con-
clusion the studio door was flung open
to admit the vivacious figure of .
young woman, all gold and pink and
white. from her fluffy head to the hem
Of her frilled apron Of lawn.
This young person was Miss Cassie
Goodell. from the floor below-the
young lady of the violets.
"Mornin. Pedro" she greeted him.
I've come to do your rooms"
"Impertinent!" he gasped, closing
the door behind her. How many
times have I told you to knock before
entering. eh?"
"As often as l come ap!" she ad-
mitted, making a raid upon the cigar
cites.
Some day you may be sorry!" he
warned her. Suppose l were not
clothed?"
Lord bless you. Pedro DEAR" she re-
piled amusedly, II shouldn't die Of the
shock, having posed in a pleasant
smile myself for over FIVE years."
well, you knock next time!" he
said excitedly. 81 care, II you don't"
She finished with the dishes and set
herself to making the bed, after. as
usual, vainly searching for toilet ar
ticles to put away. AS ever, she mar
veled anew at the nicely with which
his personal belongings we're kept in
contrast to his shabby housekeeping.
She soon finished what there was to
do and returned to the studio, Just
pausing to prink a bit before the mir
ror. AS she entered. Pedro beckoned
to her.
Hold out your arm a minute, Cas-
sie." he babe her. speaking without
coming out of his absorption. moi
SO; the shoulder little higher. That's
it,"
Then he worked violently for few
moments.
Rest" he said, then: That's all.
I'm not going to work this morning.
I've got an engagement for the noon
meal"
She turned to go, gathering up her
gaily checked dish-cloths. At the
door she paused.
"Is she a good-looker, the lady you're
going to lunch with?" she asked mis-
chievously.
He wheeled toward her in surprise.
"Ah! l did not say l was going to
lunch with lady!" he exclaimed
so she is pretty" said Cassie, with
a pseudo-melancholy sigh. "Ah, mel"
Then she was gone, closing the door
softly behind her.
HUM" said Pedro. staring at the
floor. Il invited that! l must be be-
coming as awkward as a"
Here he stopped abruptly; put a
hand upon his lips, warning himself to
silence: took away the hand; found it
streaked with brown paint, and
straightway fell to washing his be-
smirched countenance with soap pow
der of a peculiarly cleansing sort.
An hour later he was sitting down
at the noon meal" with Iris.
For" she said, father is never
punctual; II we waited for him we
might wait until night"
In the cold light Of day, and in tho
more formal setting of her own house.
Iris was finding it somewhat difficult to
continue the romantic impetuous at
mosphere which had come SO naturally
In the semi-darkness OF the Milligans'
balcony. He fascinated her beyond
any of her acquaintances. Indeed, she
had begun to consider him even more