Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-09-10

swore, in his heart, as many an oath is
uttered, while he retreated with what
grace he might
When Anita entered her room, a
couple of hours later, she found him
still sitting in the small, comfortless
bedroom rocking chair, modify tinting
the air of the room blue with cigar smoke.
"Whatl not gone to bed yet? Thought
you would have been asleep an hour
ago." she carelessly remarked, shifting
the air with dainty show of seorn.
Il waited for you" he said simply.
.'But I'm afraid this smoke is too much
for YOU had not realized that it was
/ quite SO bad"
''Oh, it is SO kind of you to speak of
i'll" subacid of sarcasm in her voice.
In fact, she did not dislike cigar smoke
IN the least, but it suited her mood to
make grievance of the matter.
sYou mean that | ought to have con-
sidered the consequences sooner; indeed,
you are right" with genuine contrition.
II will open the window as soon as the
light is out. am awfully sorry"
''Oh. don't speak of it., with perfume
tory politeness. She was slipping brisk
ly ont of her clothes. Donald watched
her for a few moments in silence.
"And so you have been putting in
your time flirting with your cousinT A
dozen beginnings he had framed in his
mind for what he had TO say, yet when
he came to speak he bitterly hurled his
thought at her, with no picking of words.
"Did Mrs. Rogers tell you that" look
! ing up at him with a nonchalant smile,
as she sat deliberately brushing her long
hair. ''If she did, it was somewhat
curious coincidence, don't you think,
that Gray should have limited to me,
only this evening, that youseemed to be
putting in your time flirting with Mrs.
Rogers?'
''That is not answering my question,
with stern insistence. 81 want to know.
want to know WHAT" her lips curl
ing in a slow, amused smile. Only she
could know what the effort cost her.
II want to know if You have been let
ting your cousin make love to you?"
.'Ohr with soft laugh, mocking, ex-
asperating. "And don't you think-all
things considered-that such question
from You is rather-well, peculiar, to say
the least?"
Peculiar enough; but insist upon an
answer all the same"
"And suppose-to be equally peculiar
Il should turn about and ask if you have
been making love to Mrs. Rogers
''Then should most emphatically an
swer, No
"Ah! i thank thee, jew, for teaching
me that word. Again that low, mock
ing laugh. "Then !. too, answer, No.
at is lier' he retorted roughly
There is no use beating about the bush,
Nita. | saw you before you saw me,
over there in the woods this afternoon,
and--it seems impossible even now-but
with my own eyes saw your cousins
arms around you. saw him kissing you.
and-you kiss him.
For an instant She seemed startled out
of her angry composure, but only for an
instant.
''Oh, did you?" she nonchalantly an
swered. "Well, as you once pithily re-
marked when we were discussing your
friend Mrs Rogers, that sort of thing is
very commonly done. you know
"And is that all you have to say?' a
hard, steely glitter in his eyes.
Nothing else seems to occur to me
just now. coolly dividing her hair into
parts for braiding.
She was one of those women who I'M
adorned are most seductively fair. Now,
leaning lazily back in the low rocking
chair, her tapering form softly outlined
under the scant folds Of her long white
gown. the hair she had been brushing
touching the floor, as with flushed cheeks
and sparkling eyes she looked mp at him,
the man must have been blind who would
not have been moved by her beauty.
"See here. Nita," he said gently, even
pleadingly, II don't want to be hard or
unjust. | thought you different from
other women, but we are all human.
could not for moment think you guilty
of anything really wrong, and can find
excuses for you if you have been little
foolish. Your cousin was in love with
you once, and of all men ought not to
be surprised if he has not gotten over it.
Anu nt IL slChs luc lOOt MIStCu laS a icS
in the grave, one may see at glance;
naturally you would pity him, and be
perhaps tempted to a warmer show of
tenderness than you really mean. !
know / have seen the worst Of it, but
do make what excuses you can for your
self Tell me how it happened Tell
me-oh, my Godl to think of my asking
such thing, Nital | know it is not so;
you have only been amusing yourself, or
you have been drawn into it through
pity for him, but tell me that you have
not been regretting that You did not
marry him. that you have not been fan
cying yourself in love with him after ALL
| know that you can explain it some
way so that it will not seem so horrible;
and am ready to believe anything you
say" He was wringipg his hands like
woman in his pain. Anita watched him
curiously, slow smile OF triumph curv-
ing her lips.
Il think told you had nothing fur
Their to say she answered, icily calm |
Surely whom the gods would destroy |
4box, ,.-r n, q 10 mad