The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-07-18

II am not killing myself she an
swered, with a smile.
Then what do you cough in that way
for ?"
"Beeauee it is the only way to cough
that haYe learned, | suppose
Carl frowned fiercely.
"It doesn't seem to me in the best of
taste,n he responded, GROSSLY, "tO jest
about thing like that
Cecil smiled but she did not continue
the subject. ....
And these South American letters
are to go next p she asked,
Yes" he answered with grept gnity
and an air which said plainly enough.
"aftcr all, why l should | trouble myself
about you 2"
But Cecil sighed as she turned back to
her work, and said to herself that she
had done wrong in remaining in the
office after she found that Carl was
there. She was weak and lonely and
ready to break down. but she had plenty
of spirit. She had no mind to give up
now, although when she tried to think
what the end of this would he she found
no way out of the snarl. She could not
bear to give up, however, and more than
that she could not make up her mind to
leave Carl. She knew that they could
no longer be anything to each other, OF
course, but still her woman's heart
pined to be near him. II vas something
TO see him and to hear his vaice, even if
he only spoke of the business of the day
and dictated the letters to SJuth
America.
Meanwhile Carl was making his way
ltnyif ni1tfu 10 hiRh QslrnrlaInU
and one fine day he was taken into the
firm. This would in the natural course
of things have put the duty Of laying
out the work of the copyist into other
hands, but he somehow contrived TO
keep it himself. Cecil noticed this, and
while she did not build any hopes upon
it, she did own to herself that she was
secretly glad She did not reaIiz1 that
in making a man think of her woman
has accomplished great deal, and Carl
had thought more of Cecil since they
had come together this second time than
he had in all his life before. He puzzled
over her, ,and speculated what she would
say to a proposal that they should re-
sUme their old relations. Not that he
had any intentions of making such a
proposal, but being so sure of his own
feelings in the matter. he told himself it
was only natural that he should be lit
tie curious about hers.
Chance supplied at this juncture of
affairs just that spice Of jeaIously which
was needed to set into flame all the
latent tenderness for Cecil which Carl
really felt. One OF her old school friends
had been left widow, and at her hOuse
Cecil had met the lady's brother. He
acted as escort to his sister, and IT was
natural that now and then Cecil should
make one of a party to the theatre or to
some concert. On one occasion when
the three were TO go to the play the Sis
ter was taken with bad hea lache al
the last moment and WAS unable TO 20.
She insisted that the others should go
without her, and as 1t was too late TO
invite third person, Cecil and the
young man went together.
1t happened that the young man was
very handsome young man, and it
chanced, too, that Carl was that evening
at the theatre and saw the two together.
Next morning he said to Cecil with his
most sternly Judicial air {:
81 saw you at the theatre last night.
"Ah," she murmured, flushing little
at the tone of his voice.
EYES," Carl went on. "Who was that
dandified fellow with you ?'
Il do not know, Mr.. Rpuse, that the
fact that am in your employ gives you
either the right to question me about my
movements outside the Office, or to abuse
my friends who are not here to defend
themselves"
1t was Carl's turn to flush, and it was
with difficulty that he repressed the an
CRY retort which rose to his lips. 1t was
perhaps the first time in his life that he
had allowed Cecil to rebuke him unan
sw cred, but it is to be supposed that the
discipline did him no harm. He turned
on his heel and walked swiftly away, but
this time Cecil, who after all knew her
ex-husband pr, tty well did not sigh, but
smiled.
For day or vo ate this Carl was
stately and distant in his treatment of
Cecil, and then he broke this stiffness
suddenly with a request that she should
20 to the theatre wIth him.
~ thank you vely much" Cecil said,
but think on the whole | had better
say no. You must be aware of the
dreadful amount OF ronseDse
there is talked about the relations be-
tween type writer's and their employers,
and perhaps, as in our case, you know
that there might be especial reason for
talk"
Nonsense !" he broke in impatiently.
What do care what people cay any
way And l haven't had really good
time at the theatre since you stopped
going with me-
IL am very eorry," she replied. not
looking at all 80, "but don't think
had better do II, thank you"
"But you went with that other fell
low"
"Oh, but that is very different
thing"
"How ia It, should like to know p
"Thero is no reason should not re-
ceive any attention from him that |
please" Cecil said wickedly, casting
down her eyes and smiling. at is
natural that should have man to go
to the theatre with me, isn't IL ?"
The blood flew into Carl's face with
rush.
"No," he cried yehemently. "Il's in
decent ! And never would have be-
lieved that you could say such a thing.
1t shows what your associations have
been"
Yes" Cecil answered quietly, IL sup
pose it does. once had a husband, and
when he got tired OF me. he told me that
| was now free to find myself husband
more to my mind than himself. The re-
mark at that time hurt me good deal,
but upon ref ction was on the whole
full of sound common sense, and"
"See here, Cecil" Carl broke in fierce
ly, sit is"
A tap at the door interrupted him.
Come" called Cecil Instantly.
An office boy put ip his head.
"Mr. Rouse is wanted" he said in the
automatic fashion in which he usually
delivered his messages.
Cecil seated herself at her type writer
IL think understand" she said, as If
some matter Of the correspondence had
been under discussion; and inwardly
furious, but forced TO be outwardly calm,
Carl followed the Office boy.
1t was evident that matters were rap
idly approaching q crisis, and there was
no telling what direction the current of
events might take, A few nights after
this conversation, Carl came down TO go
home, and found Cecil waiting by the
street door for horse car. 1t had come
on to rain in sudden and unexpected
fashion, and she, like many others, had
been caught down town without an UNI
breIla, Carl looked at her with the air
of considering what he could safely do
aud then in the most oyerpoweringly
masculine fashion, he hailed a passing
cab, and when it stopped took Ceci on
the elbow and helped her into it. She
stared at him In astonlshment, and as
he followed she attempted some remon-
STRANGE.
"Where are We goiug?' she demand
ed. you didn't give him any address.
| IOh. no. we are going TO D.lmonico 3