Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-09-17

around To his house and asked him."
Donald rubbed his forehead in be-
wildered way: "And why could you
not have waited until the bank opened
next day.
Because wanted to take the early
train next morning."
And did your
Yes"
.And where did you go?" breathing
hard.
ITO Pueblo" with an inscrutable
smile,
TO Pueblo, and you took money
enough to take ycu to Parish suddenly
growing pale, as light seemed to break
mon his mind. "And did your cousin
20 with youg he demanded slowly
"Oh, no. with that little, cool teas
ing smile, 'but he came back with me. +"
"In other words, you went to meet
him. hoarsely, his eyes flashing blue
fire. We'll do You intend to tell me
the rest of itg'
"Ah. why should Iyr with careless
shrug of her shoulders, smiling always
''You are so keen at surmising.'
'Do you know you are leading me to
surmise very strange things"
"Yes?" indifferently.
"Tothink of my being tricked out of the
way with that little cock and bull story
Of your aunt's comingl" he exclaimed,
his voice SHAKEN with anger. "How you
must have laughed in your sleeve to see
me led away by the nose like an asst
"Well, no. not exactly. II anybody
laughed il must have been Mrs Rogers,
who did the leading. and whom. TO all
appearances. you were only to ready to
follow"
How like woman that is, +" regard
ing her with scorn ineffable, ito try to
whitewash yourself by throwing mud at
anotherl could not have imagined that
you would stoop to anything so small;
but, frowningly considering the check
he was twisting through his fingers, lit
seems you are capable of anything"
Yes, growing very white. do you
think so?"
What | don't understand. he went
on, slowly, cruelty. still studying the
check, lis how you happened to come
back at all Evidently you did not plan
to-
well, do you know, rather wonder
at that myself now" white TO the lips:
but it is a mistake most easily rectified.
] can go again.
Don't be idiotic." he roughly retorted.
BE satisfied with what you have already
done to disgrace yourself and me. Don't
imagine that you are going on to have
me pointed at as a deserted husband; to
have the history of your shame hawked
through all the papers in the land. If
you hankered for the excitement of an
elopement YOU should have embraced
the opportunity when you had it; rest
assured you will not get another.
Nor with an insolent smile. will
Mrs. Rogers never take you away AGAIN.
He opened his lips, but then, as if fear
ing to trust himself to speak. turned and
rushed from the room. Anita buried
her head in the sofa pillow and lay still,
making no moan, although every nerve
was a-quiver under the singing humilia-
ton Of Donald's tone and her own inn
potent anger. A moment later she lifted
her white face, DULY staring Donald
had come back.
Il want to take it all back Nita," he
said huInbly, even pleadingly, "all the
hateful things | have been saying. /
have tormented myself into temper
over this thing, and | have said more
than meant-a good deal more than
ought. 1t does look queer. and you won't
explain it. And the queerest thing about
1t is your reticence. All the same | be-
heve you could explain 1t ifyou chose so
as 70 put an altogether different aspect
upon the matter: and | think You are
keeping your lips closed in some foolish
whim of shielding your cousin some way.
know that he is at the bottom OF the
whole business: that-why, great heav-
ems, Nita, if an angel came to tell me
any evil about you | could not really
believe It'll" moving a little toward her.
Il believe nothing-nothing, Mia, ex-
cept what ! saw; and someway, some
how, believe in you in spite of that.
Anita had buried her face again IN the
sofa pillow for shame of the tears that
We're yelling from her eyes. so unused
70 the weakness of tears.
If you would only be frank with me-
Nitar' he murmured. wistfully regard
ing her. but moving no nearer.
Anita said nothing. Womanlike. even
IN her weeping she had her wits Wen
about her. and. seeing Donald ready Tor
reconciliation. she was full OF obstinate
resolve to move no step toward meeting
him half way. His had been the hrst
wrongdoing; legitimately his was the
humiliation Of confession and pleading
Seeing her in tears for his harshness, she
subtly planned. he, already disposed 70
tenderness, must be moved to take ner
IN his arms with comforting and cares
ing; and when he had come to that she
knew he would be completely at her
mercy. She would not yield to MN a.
once; his punishment must be prolonged
while the last remnant of her coldheart-
edness could endure: and her tardy Tor,