Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-08-28

"at about four o'clock"
"You find her society very pleasant, do
you not?"
Eric starts noticeably, and says:
! "I'm not fool enough, Aunt Edith, to
suppose that you care much whether an
swer your question or not. l feel sure
that YOU have formed certain opinions
provided, of course, you have observed me
at ALL
eyes, Eric. Do you know, the whole
thing strikes me as-as sadly un1ortu-
nate?"
Eric almost leaps from his chair, start
ling her by the quick heat OF his answer.
| "Why unfortunate, pray? She is superb
| " superior to all the other women whom
| have met. Do you remember how, be-
| fore having seen her, l called her infirmity
a charm, in that stupid letter of mine?
| Well, repeat my words now. l esteem it
a charm that completes all the others in
| her possession A week ago l was men,
| tally groaning over the fact of so bright
| jewel being so terribly flawed. Now see
| clearer, / find that | have misnamed and
misjudged what is really a browning
grace"
Mrs. Ramsay has grown quite pale.
"You don't mean to tell me, Eric, that, If
If she could, by any strange circum-
! stance, regain her speech"
| He breaks in rapidly, right here: 81
want no change in her To me she is per
| feet as she is. love her for just aohat she
| is. AT one time my pity and regret nearly
maddened me- All her loveliness seemed
unreachable. Now laugh at myself for
| desiring more--for desiring anything a
whit different"
Mrs. Ramsay is no longer pale; she is
deadwhite from brow to throat, and rises
nervously while Eric's fervid eyes search
her face Excuse me-" she falters, 81
| have forgotten my handkerchief / will
return in a moment"
| As she enters the hall she meets Gladys,
| face to face. did you hear?" she wills
pers, tremulous-voiced.
Gladys mods yes. Then she catches
both of Mrs. Ramsay's hands in both her
own, and the two women stand staring at
each other for little space.
a am going to end it right away"
she bursts forth, with a rough huskiness
of tone, glittering eyes, and pallor that
well matches Mrs. Ramsay's. " No mat
| ter what the result is, it must be done at
| once"
| Two tears glitter now on Mrs. Ramsay's
cheeks :" But think of what he has just
said to me- Gladys" the poor creature
| does nothing except halfcoherently CUR
gle. "Hc laughs at himself for having
| desired any thing whit different from
your present dumbness. What DM he do
| when he learns the real TRUTH"
Hate me, suppose" speeds the girls
| hard, harsh retort.
"Hate you, Gladys?" is the plaintive
iteration. "Oh, my darling, hope not!
| for you simply adore him. I'm not such
fool, dear, that haven't made this easy
| discovery"
Gladys has grown peony-color to her
temples. "Oh, hush, Mrs. Ramsay, in
| the name of all decency" She has drawn
| both hands away, and her voice is touched
| with proud ire. 90 had best go right out
and speak to him." She hurries along
with softening tones "He should learn
as soon as possible that he is in love with
| a woman who has never existed"
| After that, she turns with abrupt sud
denness and walks firmly out upon the
piazza, never pausing till she is within
| ward of Erics side. He rises the instant
he sees her, his face glowing with wei
| come.
But presently the welcoming look dies
away, for he discovers that she is greatly
agitated, and that she tries without avail
to master a powerful tremor OF the frame.
| Wondcringly he points toward near
chair. She refuses, with lifted hand and
a little negative shaking of the head.
| Then she fires, so to speak, the cannon
of her appalling revelation. Her voice
falls even and full, with only faint UNI
steadiness at the ending of the last word.
| 81 have deceived you | am very sorry.
But it cannot be helped now, and can
only beg you to pardon me-"
Eric stands, for slight while, like
man who has just seen some blood-frecz-
| ing specter. But in few minutes his
| face wears much calmcr look, though it
| is still touched with great bcwilder-
ment, almost resembling terror.
Then Gladys speaks again, seemingly
| with strong effort:
81 have been quite prepared for your
anger on learning the truth-your very
righteous anger, / admit. Indeed, it
must have been the thought of this anger
that has deferred me so long from telling
you. If had-had not CHANGED to see
that queer letter of yours to Mrs. Ramsay,
the trick would never have been played"
Don't call it trick" he murmurs,
while kind of dim ironic smile seems to
flicker across his lips, and then instantly
fade. at surely deserves grander name
than that We do not talk of petty lar
ceny to man who steals million"
Her brow clouds a little as she answers
very swiftly:
"Call it whatever you please-a gross
falsehood-a shameful hypocrisy. But
let me know as soon as possible, l beg,
Mr.. Palmer, whether you mean to forgive
me for making you believe that | was my
sister Eva. suppose there is no use of
our speaking any further just now
Words will only aggravate matters. The
mere sound of my voice must remind you
of how have lately reveled in deceit"
| While the last sentence leaves her lips,
she turns away from him and takes step
or two toward the hall entrance. But
just then Eric, hurrying forward, plants
himself in front of her. Every sarcastic
trace is gone from his mouth and eyes;
4 nothing but sort of questioning passion
ateness Of appeal seems to fill his face
| GLADYS" he breaks forth, while his
eyes meet hers burningly, "you cannot
ask me to pardon you until hear one
thing"
"What is thats" she quivers, as though
| fOreseeing the answer.