The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-26
incongruities

lne moon, nau almanac ncOnErulleS
served the queen OF night.
And thus clothed on with airiness, the
girl sunk on her knees by the bed with
low, wailing windsor OF moan-canine in
its ptiful depths of pain, far-far beyond
the reach of gingerl
The flecked fleece flew in either window
on the strong draft, whirling an aureole at
meeting, Just over the red glory-crowned
head, then softly shifting down upon the
shining shoulders, thence TO the floor
carded woody. The breath OF the wind god
blew colder from the south by sou-nor-
west. The flakes grew larger and more
unmeltuously solid. Still they fell upon
the slant-sloping shoulders, glanced to the
floor, rose ankleward up TO the dimpled
knee.
Agamemna rocked not for them. Chilled
TO the very marrow of her souls bones.
she still pondeTed upon her owninclement
future, undiyerted by trihes light as sum
merry snow flakes.
Next moving, at gray dawn, Sarah-a
shrivelled African, full OF sypathy, muscle
and apple toddy-prepared her mistress
bath OF altar OF roses, diluted with tea
cup Of warm water.
Where was the MISTRESS?
Sarah dug her out OF six foot drift with
the fire shovel, warming her with embrace
ful sympath and hot Scotch.
There was heavy tread in the hall be-
low, rs the slant sunset dyed the swart
east with aniline dnts, patented only in
Virginia.
Handsome, hectic and with suppressed
hccough, Agamemna descended the I'M
gfaanV atairu Clio t,anga1 not az tl,a Hoo.
but passed bravely up 10 the rug, where
Rock stood with his hands in his pockets,
firebacked with ruddy glow.
'Hug me, Rock, )" she said naturally.
"Wait Bit" the man answered gloom
lily. "Pve a conundrum for you first"
None OF your wormy chestnuts, she
rippled back in playful irony-"Hug
me p
lie repealed her with lifted foot. "Not
yet, You are going to marry me"
Yes hug me-"
with, or without, divorce"
Rock hug me.
whether win or lose; and whether
Rye wins"
"lIug meW
"Not until you answer me fully"
She broke down his guard; and with
long, tentaculous arms, chung TO him des-
perately, rs he struggled and gasped:
mo, my pantherous John l.. Sullivan,
not till you tell me-Nay, you shall an
swcr my beautiful Mitchell dodger!"
And, with quick heel-lock, he bent her
back to the tiger-skin rug, holding her
down with his knee upon her tumult-
heaying boson-"Now; you will love"
"lIug me! Hug mel
"-Love only me; no thought Of"
"Ah, Rock hug me ~
ANY other mani am as grasping
as a begging church charity; and I'd
sooner work for living than share"
''Hug meW
"The half-wiie OF twin husbandl"
81 love you more than everybody; moro
than Rye, moro than myself-more than
you and Rye and myself rolled into onel-
Now-hug mel"
lie removed his stiHening knee; took
both her shelly ears in his strong hands
and lifted her face to his
With slow. heavy handy grab he took
the postal and read 1t with gloom dazed
eyes.
"what must do2' he muttered after
hoarse pause.
600 away, please she an
swcred cheerily. "Rye will be home for
breakfast, and YOU know he wouldn't"
With wild cry he threw his arms about
her strawberry head, crushing II vicely
against his breast. "But You said you
loved mo-" lao moaned. "You said it
acted IT,"
She lay torpid on his breast winter
snakely. No tremor touched her voice in
answering
81 did, Rock-I did. But Rye was fat
busted then" Aud once more her ewes
fell to deyouring the postal card.
''Im chumpl A flip chum," the man
groaned, In all the oloqucnce Of agony-"a
chuma that any fly grass widow can play
for flat and win. No hard feelings, Aggy.
This time Tam goner for good No moro
telephoning; and Ill walk 10 the station.
Ia, Ia"
lie turned and strobe away; his grand
figure glooming through the mists.
Agamemna never raised her eyes from
devouring the postal card. "Au rcvoir,"
she muttered, in long absent voice; and
went on reading.
At the frst fork Of the path, Cheesley
turned abruptly. rushed back Rerccly and
fell before her, wallowly. He seized both
her feet, placing them ON his head onco
more.
"Agal" he cried groveling -''soon you'll
be flush. say;-'rll lend you teiner.
Rock"
She said II very sweetly, as though she
meant IN do it.
"Ill lend you a toner, Rock" but
above his buried head she made very
strange signals, with fingers wriggly ex-
banded and thumb held close nosely.
lie held her feet n moment; then roso
and went down the path with n flip flap.
But Agamemna was still reading the postal,
when Cbcesley closed the far front gate,
bang slamly.