The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-12-13


pected that Yix feels great lump growing
in her throat, and a sudden splash. as OF
rain, on her book warns her that crying
fit will be the next thug to follow unless
she can get away from his sight. Giving
him one imploring glance from beautiful
drenched eyes, she turns her back upon him
and after hastily throwing her unfinished
work into a drawer--a very remarkable
thing for her little methodical self to do
vanishes from the room.
In five minutes she is out on the street,
hurrying home, and so blinded by tears and
a thick veil as not to discover stalwart fig
ure that follows closely upon her footsteps.
For once in her life vix is unable TO tell
her mother the cause of the binding head
ache that makes her prisoner 20 her room
for the next two days. She is miserably
conscious that this sudden sickness will
perhaps be misunderstood at The office; it
will certainly bring to standstill there her
portion of the work, and so lose her per-
haps her situation!-with painful contrac-
ton of her heart at this thought that Is
worse than anything yet, and leaves her
very white and still on her pillow. Wise
Mrs. Dean does not seek to pry into the Sc
crets of her reticent little daughter, but
there is much foreboding in her gentle
heart over this state of affairs: laughing,
open-hearted Vix silent and self-contained
and bearing her two days. suffering with no
word of complaints thing never known
before in this babyish member of the house
hold.
At the end of the second day, "Vix is bet
ter, but not we'll enough to see callers"
when he calls and inquiries after the welfare
of bis secretary. He goes away at ler 9Th az
ter leaving kindest expressions of sympathy
for her suffering?
And Vix? If possible her head is more
unruly than ever after his call. At last she
turns her flushed cheeks TO the wall and
makes solemn vow to herself that if on the
morrow her head is still on her shoulders,
and not flown into a thousand pieces-as it
bids fair to be--she will show Mr.. Rex
Stratton that she can be at her post and 60
through with whatever work he has for her
to do, and pay her acager, too,-if it's TO
wheel him to Jericho, or--or-any of the
thousand and one things that he will be I'M
generous enough to ask of herl
So, you see, poor Vix is getting better.
Aud she is bester in the morning, swell
enough she tells her mother, ''to go to
work"-which thing she persists in doing.
Rex is fairly shocked at sight of her palid
cheeks, and he peremptorily refuses to die
tate a word, doing the work himself, while
she sits in hurt silence in her chair and tries
to appear busy over Encouragement of her
desk, calling ''order out of chaos" appar-
entity by the extraordinary length of time
she is at work over it.
When finally that no longer offers an ex-
cuse, she takes up the fashion magazine that
Rex had thoughtfully provided latter decid-
ing in his CONSERVATION that she should not
work. The pages have no interest for her
and luckless Vtx is usually so wild over
fash.on-plate! But she makes it shield for
her face while mentally going over the same
old ground reviewed so often lately; when
and how she can introduce the topic of that
miserable election horror, since Rex plainly
does not mean to help her in the least.
Before she is aware of il in her preoccupa-
lion, The forenoon's work is over and the of
fee deserted, save by herself and a silent
figure still writing diligently at his desk.
Sprlnging to her rept, she is about to beat
a precipitate retreat-(O, Vix, to forget this
is the very opportunity you have been wait
iug iori)-when gentle, determined
'VixV' from Mr.. Stratton brings her to q
standstill. He is at her side ia another
moment, AID is saying with forced calmness:
"Why are you so unkind to yourself and
me Of late? You are miseis able, aud If this
continues" with happy inconsiderateness
in his tone, 81 do not know where we shall
be with the work, if am left to make such
botch of it IS have this morning, without
your assistance. Tell me-" impatiently,
"what have or have not done to you, Viz,
that you seem to regard me lately very much
as you would the plague. If it is all on ac-
count of that silly joke of mine about the
election, you may rid your mind of the whole
business. I shall never ask you to keep
your word, you may be sure, il the thought
of it is sufficient to make you sick,'
"Bat it is not that, but because do not
know what -expect-of-me," in 9 very
small voice, and with a sigh of relief that
the ice is broken.
"Oo, you do not know what e1p ect of
you! Very true; though 1 had begun 10
think you did by the way you have had late
ly of looking at me as though the tragedy
of Red-Ridinghood and the wolf might be
enacted at any moment in this office"
Then in softer tone, as he sees the delicate
color is retreating from her face and lips,
eff you will feel better to know what l re-
ally did want you to do 1 will
tell you on our way through the
Park-onls remember. shall tell it just as
it was" very grizzly to keep up his depart.
ing courage. 81 suppose you can get out of
it by saying that bad promise is better
broken than kept"
81 never broke promise in my life, Mr.
Slratton, and you have no reason to say I
shall make beginning with youp' flashing
into momentary anger at the unbelief In his
tone. so am ready now, this minute, TO
hear what remarkable feat you expect me to
perform for your edification, and that of the
whole store, perhaps"
care you, VixT' with quick, passionate
ring in the low tones. "Then-kiss mer'
Had thunderbolt fallen on her devoted
head, Vix could not have been more stunned
or speechless than she is now, as she stands
and gazes into Rex STATIONS flushed face
and warm, imperious eyes. For brief in
slant she doubts if she can have heard
Alright, then buries her face in her hands
aud sinks weak and terrified into her chair.
In all her widest imaginings and forebod-
ines she has never thought of anything like
this!
Rex is on his knees beside her instantly at
such disastrous effect of his words.
"Vix! Darling! Forgive me if have
hurt you by The brutal joke! 1 will never
ask you to kiss me unless you love me with
your whole heart, even as do you. Will
you not speak to me, my own little girlr'
winding tender arm around the slender
waist. and seeking to remOvA the anvious