Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-14

with mingled invectvc, threats and enreaties
Above their tumult 1t was dllhcut Tor us 10
make our voices heard.
What they shouting ahout" demanded
Gaunt.
shes explaining that she's tired of him and
ties him and always has hated him and always
will" answered; "and he's threatening to muir
der YOU and her IL you lay a finger on her. He's
also reminding her of the vows they've eX-
changed and of his undyng love for her. The
rest can only be described vulgar abuse on
both sides"
well, l think he's loosed off quite enough"
said Gaunt with decision. as he marched to the
door and joined eagerly and unnteligihly in
the alteration.
For five minutes three angry voices held
forth in two languages to the limit of lung
capacity and with rich accompaniment or
pantomime At the end, Gaunt turned on his
heel and led Blanca back into the studio; the
rejected lover vowed vengeance in an operate
speech, but at length when he could hnd no
one to answer him even to listen, was COM
PEELED to go away.
and it's time for you to be going. too. /
told Blanca.
Whatever life she and Gaunt chose to make
for themselves, l determined that they
should not embark upon it until he at least had
thought over 1t for II hours in cold blood.
"My knife" she murmured, without looking
at me.
whats she talking about?" asked Gaunt.
"She wants her knife" l translated. She
says the other man will kill her at sight"
20, will he?" drawled Gaunt. Then think
III see her safe home" After one glance at
the knife he decided to leave it where it was.
Here my child, I'm not going to rob you. but [
think that's rather an unsafe thing to carry
about; you'd better have something that shuts
up even if it's not so useful weapon of de-
fense Explain to her, Bandon, that want to
effect an exchange"
Nv services as interpreter hardly
needed when once Gaunt had exhibited to her
delighted eyes a knife with two blades and a
corkscrew, spike, and saw. file and the long
steel hook traditionally designed for removing
stones from horses hoof. She was turning II
over with eager fingers and inspecting the inset
silver name plate they left the studio; l saw
Blanca look up with smile of rapture; and her
ugliness was burnt away by the radiance of her
eyes, revealing new beauty underneath. Never
theless though / too realized this new beauty
in her. it a sinister beauty; and I was OPP
pressed with what l must call panic fear because
l was afraid without reason.
When Gaunt returned hour later could
see that he would have preferred to be left in
peace; but l felt that, for all the disorder of
his wound and his excited emotions, must force
him to look ahead before he committed him
self irrevocably.
WED better be quite frank about this"
suggested. II see how things stand at present.
What you going to do next?"
That's just what can't tell you just yet"
She's made deuce of a hole in my chest. 1
went into chemists for some antiseptic-"
Don't run away from my question, Mar
SHALL" Interrupted Are you going to carry
her of? 2"
''I really don't know what I'm going to do"
he answered evasivey. That's the worst'Shs
your impractical artist"
Then let's think here and now-the two of
Are you going to carry her off, make her
your mistress, get rid of her when you're tired
laI
any kind Of life that she's used to-with per-
haps child in the bargain?'
Strange it may seem, am not" said
Gaunt with effort to shelter himself behind
his usual irony. 'Im given to understand that
it's most praiseworthy and delightful thing to
do but I've no experience my technique would
break down. Besides-what her phrase?
My body is sacred? She wouldn't let me carry
her off, even if I wanted to; and as it happens,
/ don't want to-"
''Then you mustn't see her again. told
him. And you will see her if you stay here.
you must clear out. You realize that?"
The irony in Gaunts smile and tone were
evidence to that he affecting to jest for
fear of bursting his frail bands of self-control.
Strange it may seem, don't" he
swered.
"Then, once again, what are you going to
do?"
You've surely not exhausted all the pos
sible solutions? What would you say if sug-
gested marrying Bianca?"
Il shouldn't readily think you capable Of
being such fool You're middle aged, and
she's a child; you're an angular. moody bach
eor, and she's a young savage; you've been
brought up in a certain way, and she's peasant.
Good God, you'd have to hire interpreter
before you proposed to herr"
II don't think that'u be necessary. After
all, we're naturally intelligent though
education has been neglected; she learn
English, and l learn Italian I know half
dozen words already. I've proposed already
That celebrated but unreadable romance
Promessi Sposi. Mark you, won't swear
that she quite understood what driving
at, but hammered away; and she's coming to-
morrow to give me her answer
While he was in this mood 1 knew It would
be fruitless to argue with him.
Lets talk 1t over in the morning" said
when you're cool. And now come out for a
walk"
IN come for a walk with pleasure, but
don't know what there is to talk over. shall
be grateful, all the same, if you spare time
to be present :"
Our interview next day was the strangest
that l have ever attended, the strangest that
any man, surely. could be required to attend.
My duty was to convey to helpless crea-
ture an offer of marriage from another crea-
ture so helpless that he said to me- in trem-
bling apprehension:
You're going TO play the game, aren't your
Swear you won't try TO set her against metz
l employed the shortest. simplest formula
that l could devise; and Blanca hanging her
head, answered.:
Il understood. He told me yesterday"
wei, he wants TO know what you say to
Her answer reminded ME of a phrase ths.
Cannt nSeS ip 20