Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-09-03

sharply. However she might accuse
Donald herself, the wifely instinct would
still defend him against the attacks OF
all others. Il don't know what you
mean to imply"
my dear Nita," expostulated Gray
gently, "aren't you a little hasty? Did l
necessarily imply anything beyond what
| saidy"
Anita looked away in offended silence.
1t had grown colder of a sudden. The
sun had hidden behind Clouds end the
breeze that famed their faces seemed to
blow a greeting straight from the eternal
SHOWS. Another storm had crept up in
the west, throwing a misty veil over the
range until the stern outlines were al
most lost. Out toward the north it was
hurrying now. a dense smoky cloud,
throwing down weird sIanting pencils
of gray to paint all the serried hills its
dull monochrome. On it came, creep
ing nearer as they watched, fading and
softening one after another the shades
of the wooded valleys, blurring all the
outlines, fair and lovely as the hazy pic
ture of a dream.
'.Come. cherie, have | not been pun
ished enough?' urged Gray insinuating-
ly. at length, bending forward to force
her to meet the glance of his laughing
eyes,. IF you keep up this ic~eberginess
much longer | know il will give me my
death of cold"
at seems to me that your linguistic
attainments are pretty nearly as circum-
scribed as the repertoire of a cuckoo
clock. regarding him in a mood of fairly
quarrelous i'll humor. "Of all foreign
tongues you seem to have picked up only
the words adapted to spooning."
Il always went in for that which was
least useful to me, you know" with o
faint tinge of bitterness III his tone.
Least usefulr' with a scathing glance.
"Well. if anybody could crowd in more
endearing terms than you in his talk l
would just like to look at him. He
would be the champion flirt of the age.
Your little stock of honeyed words seems
simply worn threadbare with constant
use"
''Only with you, Nita," imperturba-
bly, splitting a grass blade to strings.
"As if | didn't know better than thati"
with scorn unmeasured. "And ! wish
you would not-with me. Can't you see
that pet names to me now are altogether
out of place. You must remember that
| am a married woman"
"You need not remind me of it." sulk-
lily biting his grass shreds.
81 must remind you that we are going
to get a wetting if we stay here any
longer suddenly starting up. 1T is
going to rain before we can get back TO
the house."
''Nonsense!" incredulously, sitting still.
''There is enough blue sky overhead to
make breeches for a regiment of Dutch
men," But, even as be spoke, the rain
came pelting down upon them, and Anita
was hurrying down the hill.
They had reached the trail when Gray
discovered, a little at one side, a cluster
of pines and spruces whose thick inter
laced boughs, flanked by a high wall OF
rock, left a small spot of ground com
paratively sheltered.
'sStop here. Nita. We shall be drenched
if we go on. This is almost dry, and the
shower will soon pass over" She stopped
obediently beside him. Lean against
me, and shelter yourself as much as pos
sible," he urged, racked with cruel
coughing as he moved to bring himself
between the wind and her.
'But it is you who should shelter
yourself" laying her hand on his arm
with anxious kindness to draw him
back. II am afraid You have taken more
cold already, Gray" He quickly COW
cred the little bare hand in a passionate
clasp.
1T seems appropriate that, in our last
hour together, the heavens should fall to
weeping" he murmured sentimentally,
pressing closer against her. Anita shrank
back hastily from his touch, the sudden
kindness fading from her face.
''Our last hourl Do you think the
crack of doom has Gomez" she retorted
impatiently. For my part l count very
confidently on tomorrow"
sBut it will not be the same, Mia.
Donald will be here. All this happy
week it has seemed as if we had gone
back five years in our lives and were boy
and girl together again; but now must
wake to reality and-Mrs. Bartels. Say
kOOQDl W mCs MIA OCAOAC 4 hdfC W tCt
you go" he exclaimed, ~passionately clasp
ing her in his arms.
"Oh, Gray, let me gor" frightened at
his sudden fierce tenderness. writhing
away from his bending lips.
Nonsense, child! You have kissed
me a hundred times; what can one more
or less matter nowY" he cried, roughly
clasping her closer. "Who is to ever
know but you and /? kisses leave no
marks; if they did" laughing recklessly,
"you would have been branded with
mine before any other mans. Why will
you struggle so, darlingY" his tone chang
ing to coaxing tenderness. at is not
much | ask. A kiss can cost you moth
ing. Give me a dozen, and you will have
plenty left for that husband Of yours
if it happens that he does not prefer Mrs.
Rogers"
How cruel you arel-how brutalr'
her face flaming with anger. Let me
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