Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-12-27
OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON: FRIDAY EVENING" DECEMBER 81 1899

"Grace laughed. "No, thank you,
Mr.. Springer" she answered. ~ have
plenty, but l forgot to say l want
some celery"
Every we'll. I'll sendit. Oh! Miss
Wilde?"
"Yes?"
"Tve just been tcllinga young man
who is here the way to your house."
Probably book agent. Pm sorry
you told him."
"No; he wasn't book agent. His
name was White. He has met with
terrible accident"
"An accident!" cried Grace.
What was it?'
"'He had broken-b-z-z-zz .es.-
"What is it?" called Grace. "Oh!
have him sent up here at once, at
once. Call carriage! Quick! Mr..
Springer"
But the empty buzz of the wires was
the only response to her agonized cry
to the market man. She dropped the
tube and ran through the house call
ing Mrs. Corson. That worthy woman
remained concealed. Grace seized an
armful of blankets from her mothers
room, and rushed down to the library,
piling them up ON the lounge. She
would have her wounded lover laid
there till he was able to be carried up
stairs. She saw carriage coming up
the road, then up the drive to the
house. She shrunk with faintness on
the thought of seeing John White
carried in pale and helpless. She felt
responsible for his injury. She could
not help closing her eyes for an in
slant as she threw open the door. The
faintness increased as she opened her
eyes and saw the carriage rolling away !;
saw John White standing on the
piazza before her hale and strong,
smiling though with much anxiety
"Oh! ohw she cried, swaying toward
him. He was within doors in an in
slant, with his arms around her. She
shut the door and stood facing him,
pride and indignation struggling with
the torrent of tenderness of Joy at see
ing him safe.
"How dare you" she said. "How
dare you force yourselfinto this house !
Oh! is your arm brokenp
"My heart was broken. It's some
what better" He looked very hum
BILE and little foolish.
ooh! what pity; what a ridiculous
artiAce," she said, with scorn in her
voice and love in her eyes. "Go away
this minute. To pretend you were a
marketsman by the telephone. Con-
temptiblew
al merely asked you if you wanted
any raisins," said John, "you drew
your own inferences. I was in box
at the telephone station. No one
heard what said to you."
GAS if that makes bit of differ
ence," she retorted, condescending to
argue the point with him. al wish
the whole world could hear"
SHOW much 1 love you," said John
making fruitless effort to get hold
of her hands. Honestly, Grace, you
must listen. The beginning of our
troubles last fall was all in the strange
neglect Of your family to my family's
invitation to Thanksgiving dinner,
which they never got till few days
ago."
He ratified off the explanations as
fast as he could talk.
But all that does not explain your
atrocious conduct to me at Young's
last night" said Miss Wilde. "I tele-
phoned in to let you know I was at
your house. 1t was very silly thing
to do, l know, but thought if 1 heard
your voice before l saw you again, it
would be easier to see you. was so
angry at myself for coming at all to
your house. 1t was SO much more
than half way-to come at your bid
ding. OIL 60 home this minute. /
hate the sight of you"
John paid no attention to this re-
mark, as he now had one half-reluc-
tant hand in his own.
"Upon my word thought it was
Annie who telephoned to me at my Of
flee yesterday, Grace. The Office boy
said it was Miss White. Don't you
see how easily he could mistake it for
Miss Wilde? 1 was busy. 1 never
dreamed of your being near Boston.
DO you suppose I would have asked
you off-hand to come in and go to the
theatre that way? Didn'tI say both
er your mother too! / thought you
meant my mothcr-Annie's."
81 hated myself for going to meet
you in such an uncermionious way.
OF course Charlie promptly invited
Annie to go, too, and makeup theatre
party. But John, it was very absurd
of me. did want to see you awfully!
And then to think how you snubbed
me-"
"My poor darling"
"Oh, you needn't poor darling me !!
You'd better 60 down on your knees
and ask forgiveness for this telephon-
ing business, and for all those dreadful
things you said to me last winter
about my heartlessness and selfish
ness"
"Let's go into the library. 1 hate
to 60 down on my knees in the hail.
Mrs. Corson might happen along this
way"
Grace glanced toward the stairway.
avery WE'LL" she said, drawing away