Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1920-11-26
III. THE MAN MARIo-contlnu.d.

"And you also. l mean, you could
love me II you would, and In my love,
In the life offer you, become the self
that today you hide away so jealously,
your real self. woman fine and strong
and true. not this adventuTe-loving
companion of rogues and vagabonds-
and worse p He gave an imploring
gesture. "Ah. Leonora, II only you
would give them upl"
She looked up with wistful eyes, all
effrontery abandoned, only the woman
remaining, the woman whom this man
alone had the secret of perceiving in
her. In this, indeed. resided the true
reason for her fear Of meeting Mario:
he was disastrous to her peace of
mind, her self-complacence; when she
listened to him. satisfaction departed
and In its stead came inquietude, with
the wish to be what he would have her
to be, what intuition told her she
could be II she would but set herself
to overcome her own resistance.
She searched his face in wonder.
When he disturbed her so profoundly,
why did she like him so much? What
was It that gave him power to charm
her wits away, discomfort her with all
that had otherwise seemed excellent
and complete. make nothing Of the
steel Of her set purpose? Was 1t his
love alone?
He loved her. she was satisfied of
that. but with such forbearance, such
consideration, tenderness and under
standing as left her incredulous. In
the Street love was another thing en-
tirely. a fiercer. cruder business,
brusque and selfish without Disguise
something open, direct and casual, but
as essential as meat and drink. But
this was different, this love Mario had
for her.
Yes; and It was true, what he as
serted. he too was different; there was
no one like him, so gentle and strong
and brave, fastidious. reserved. and
thoughtful. In her world he made a
figure striking and Incongruous. Yet
he fingered on obstinately, In part Che
told herb because 1t was his passion
to study every side of life. but mostly
because he loved her and never would
willingly give up hope Of winning her.
He would never leave. he protested,
till she went with him.
"Leonora I" he pleaded. "Come
with me :"
In a moment of determination she
tried to put sentiment aside with a
hard little laugh of scorn. II guess
you don't understand: Red would kin
me II chucked himi"
"He would never find you where l
would take you, TO my home in Spain
or II he ever did. he would not dare
lift eyes to you. or know in you. q
lady, moving in the world for which
she was born, the girl he knew as Leo
nora and loved-after his fashion
with whatever feeling 1t Is he calls
lovel Come with me. Leonora, and be
your true self. Life can be beauti
ful :"
He played shrewdly on her most Sc
cret weakness: she was fond of bellev
ing herself somewhat better than hel
mIlieu, through some romantic acci
dent superior In point Of birth as wei
as, what was undeniable, In spirit anC
intelligence. vlstas of powerful Sc
duction opened to her contemplation
At heart an arrant egoist, she saw
herself primitively as she had seel
other women. In her excursions int
the haunts of the well-to-do, radiantl
begowned and furred and Jeweled. loll
ing insolently In limousine car, Mari
at her side dressed like a gentleman
But this vision was swiftly dissipai
ed by recrudescence Of that fear whic
Red inspired, in honest conviction tina
no earthly power could save her fror
his vengeance.
you don't know Red" She. shoe
her head solemnly in a spirit of fats
prophecy. He'd croak you, too; he
croak US both"
Mario smiled family. II am M
nfraid-"
You're not afraid Of dying"
what Is life without your love-
He hho a thoughtful moment. "Wt
knows but death may prove inhnitel
more wonderful than this life Of ours
There is but one way of finding ol
:"
She heard him in a stare. The wor
an in her could hardly be unaffectt
by the handsome gravity of that e
traordinary countenance, whose saliei
features gained so much through tn
Rembrandtesque play Of deep shadov
and dull light, Under the spell of b
mentality she acknowledged now
the first time that he was essentia
NIL else was nothing. And of q sudd,
care fastened cruel claws upon h
heart and wrung from 1t n cry Of Sc
betrayal.
maybe you're not afraid, Mario.
3 don't believe you are. But / am
afraid for you. wish you'd go away
you love mel" Her hands lifted
protest; he caught and inclosed the
both in his own. His shadowed fa
and eyes grew luminous, his sonoro
accents vibrated with emotion. 'Y
love me, Leonora-at last"
He was drawing her steadily towa
him. nll her strength seemed to la
ebbed from her limbs. There "
madness In the beating of her hea
madness mounting like mist into I
brain. Now she was in his arms. q
glad. His lips closed on hers. For
long breath she was n mere thing
reeling senses.
"You love mel"
II don't know" she murmuret
"maybe -"
Tomorrow you viii marry me, q
we will go away"
Stung by realization of what h
happened. she struggled to be free.
II don't know-perhaps-yes, l W
But not tolnorrow-not right away
ssNVhv-9u