Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-12-04
REJECTED WITH SCORH.

"If we can only make the workmen
hear before they get away"
DO YOU mean that if we do not we
shall be imprisoned here indefnitely?"
The sudden storm ragged about tho
high tower room in which Conrad
Hammond, bachelor and clubman. and
Virginia Redwood, prospective MD.
and missionary 10 native Hindu women.
found themselves. by the crashing to of
ponderous door. unexpectedly in
generated.
The tower belonged to an unfinished
country residence. and that country re-
sidence--the ubiquitous reporter had
already informed the country press
that it was to be one of the finest in the
cOuntry-was the property Of Conrad
Hammond himself.
An hour before the slantiug sun that
had been shining out of an unclouded
August sky had become abruptly OBJ
scured. and the young man, meeting
Miss Redwood in one of the long walks
she was wont TO take for miles outside
the sleepy old historic village with her
huge blooded mastiif, had offered her
the shelter of his tower during the i'm
pending storm. Great drops were al
compartment of thunder, and Virginia,
after brief hesitancv, had accepted
the prohered hospitality, while Ham
mond. who had been riding, tied his
horse to tree. And this was the re-
suit!
The tower stood on the farther side
of Il sweeping lawn that divided it from
the house. In which the sound of the
workmen's hammers and saws had just
ceased. aud to make ones self heard
from its windows in the tumult of the
elements had become an inpOssibility.
The wind which, suddenly pouring
down the winding staircase that led to
the tower-room, had violently flung
the door, above its last step. in the
lock, carried away Hammond's reiter-
ated calls in Intellectual whispers. The
lock was provisional and on the side of
the stairs only. And when the entire
situation dawued on the girls bewilder-
ment, she pus this last question to her
companion with a face that had grown
O trihe white and rigid.
The workmeu will be back early in
the morning of course, replied the lat
ter. endeayOring TO speak lightly, but
pulling nervously ut his moustache the
while, land we can't starve in the in
term. Still"
Arc you certain that the door can.
not be broken open?" Virginia in.
quired, controlling herself forcibly.
Unfortunately | fear it cannot"
He was IA man of muscular build. He
threw himself against the heavy plank,
pushing against it with his shoulders
until the veins showed on his forehead.
A faint cseaking of the wood was the
only reward of his efforts.
Then we must wave our handker-
chicfs-makc some signG' said the girl.
quickly. Surely some one must see
u.s.
But even rs she spoke she knew that
any such attempt would be futile. The
house and tower were isolated in the
midst of large grounds.
Evening was coming on apace and
they were three miles from the village.
The thought or the anxiety that would
he felt about her in her home added
fresh paug to her alarm. She was q
Young woman vino was exceedingly
proud of her self control, of her
equanimity in all eventualities of life.
But she was conscious now of u distinct
sense Of painful discomfort. And OF
all men. to be placed in such an EN-.
harraSsing position with this man.
With this Conrad Hammond for whom
she had so very small a measure of
consideration or respect, and so large
measure of contemptuous dislike!
With this idle man of the world, sup
posed to be so irresistible TO women.
Without knowing it--aud. indeed,
taI 20
such lofty aims in life linger upon
thoughts of her personal qualifications
Miss Redwood had face most eS
pressive of her inner soul. an eye beam
most eloquent of her condition Of feel.
ing and mind Looking ut her now
her companion in imprisonment said:
Il think need not tell you how
deeply regret that my carelessness in
leaving that door unpropped in this ter.
rite wind should have led you into so
unpleasant q situation. Miss Redwood.
Especially as l cannot but feel you
could scarce have met with such mis-.
fortune in the society of anyone who
would be more diSlasteful to you"
The rain had abated and the wind
was sinking, but the clouds hung
threatenincly low. and in these already
shortening August days a glimmering
greyness was beginning to invade the
tower-room. A rough wooden bench
used at some time by the workmen and
half covered with shav;ngs, occupied
one side of the circular room, and on il
Virginia had seated herself, her fingers
interlocked, her handsome young eyes
turned sternly away.
Although this Conrad Hammond
whose charms and good looks (and
riches) women so literally eXtolled. and
for whom she personally had Away;
felt such an unaccountable aversion
had had the good taste to take up hi
stand at the further end OF the small
room, she was uDcOmfortably aware
that his glance questioned her witt
strange insistence through the dark
Wrapped up ia her desire for a usefu
and worthy career. she had Away
shown herself supremely Indifferent
both TO her own severe. Diana-lik
young beauty and to any emotion
might arouse in the men with whom sh
came in contact. For this man he
usual indifference had become accen
tuated into Il latent and Irritating sens
of antagonism. All the summer thong
he had never shown anv pursuit OF he
that could be construed iIio deiiDerat
eourtship. sic l.yi been conscious of
silent attention on his part, Away
conferred on herself. She had resente
II tacitiy, at times with an undefine
nervousness which filed her with ango
against herself. o was fired with
constant wish to tell lin how yer
poor was the opinion sic had Of hin
Now as he stood regarding her wit
folded arms. thcsr indefinite feeling
rolled up within her VITA compile
force thai broke ut last in articula,
words i! oaly hc wou!d not stare S
bow thankful she would he.
Il don't know quite what you mean.
she rejoinod. tersely aud coldly, upc
his last speech. mo one could mai
this predieament itself anything bI
pnSelcome. II Is not a question
personal taste or distas's."