Motion Picture Story Magazine (Feb-Jul 1912)

120 TEE MOTION PICTURE STORY MAGAZINE had of her absence was when the telephone bell rang sharply, and a sweet, familiar voice floated over the wire, announcing that little Florenza was there, and wanted to remain there. When Pedro left the telephone his face was ashy white. Margaret's words had awakened him to bitter realization of the life into which he had drifted. Was it true, then, that he had neglected his little sister — been false to himself — left the lonely little heart to suffer until she had, in desperation, gone to beg solace from her bu'ful lady. And had he not shown the basest ingratitude to his first and best benefactor? Had he not quite forgotten his real self, and turned aside, for a time, the promptings of his own heart? .A new, stern light was in his eyes as he turned away from the telephone, after assuring Margaret that he would come to her home at once. At his side stood Mrs. Seton, looking anxiously into his face, smiling her old seductive smile. 1 1 1 could hear her voice, ' ' she whispered. "She is only a fair-haired baby, that Margaret, easily excited, and impulsive as a child. Give no heed to her. She is silly and sentimental. Your sister is a spoiled baby ; she should be punished for running away like that. Forget it all, my darling. Are we not happy?" She held out her arms to Pedro, a lovely, alluring figure, as she stood, with gleaming, inviting eyes, begging him to forget the words which had awakened his soul. But Pedro, after a long gaze at her, shook his head, slowly, and turned toward the door. Then, as the desperate woman rushed to him, hindering him with pleading hands, the revulsion of feeling became complete, and he flung her savagely from him as he rushed out into the street. At the door of Margaret 's drawingroom he paused, repentant, with shamed, downcast eyes. Margaret was holding little Florenza in her arms, seated in a low chair before the open fire. The child was smiling contentedly, one little hand smooth ing Margaret's golden hair, while the other clasped the beloved, broken dolly. Glancing up, the child caught sight of her brother, and immediately shrank closer to Margaret, with a scared wail: "I dont want to go with you," she sobbed. "I love my bu'ful lady. I want to live with her." Margaret rose hastily, and, with one caressing hand on the child's head, stood looking reproachfully at Pedro, who came forward, extending his arms to the child, who still shrank from him. Then he lifted his head, as if to speak, but, instead, he only stood gazing into Margaret's clear eyes. As the dark eyes gazed penitently, the blue ones wavered, and fell. A flush crept over the fair cheeks, and when Pedro, coming nearer, whispered simply, "I'm sorry, Margaret," she looked down at Florenza with a little smile. "Shall we forgive brother, Florenza?" she asked. "He's going to be good now." The child gazed hesitatingly into Pedro's face. What she saw there seemed to satisfy her, for, with a sudden, impulsive movement, she flung herself into her brother's arms. "Oh, yes! Please do!" she cried, radiantly. Was it the witchery of the firelight, the sweet artlessness of the child's plea, or only the natural culmination of an affection which had lain unrecognized in their young hearts? For a brief moment Pedro hung his head in humiliation, his jaws set, his chest heaving. Then his dark, wet eyes looked up, as if for a sign of encouragement. Margaret quickly turned her head, but not quickly enough to conceal her heart's secret. ' ' Forgive me, dear one ! " he breathed. ' ' I pray you, forgive me ! I love you — I adore you!" Pedro's arms opened, and Margaret, with shining eyes, slipped into them, to share their passionate embrace with little Florenza. "Be careful," cautioned the child, laughing happily. "You'll hurt my dolly again ! ' '