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

1t seemed an especial exhibition of the
total dspravity Of inanimate things that
as Anita stepped out of doors she should
find the wind rioting in the street, the
air clouded with rushing whirlwinds of
dust tossed up by the lively little Col
orado zephyr" that at certain seasons
seems especially aimed to try the souls
of good housewives. She stood still for
moment disappointedly hesitating,
but still she could not bring herself to
renounce the cherished plan. 1t was
but short walk to the Office at most, and
she fell. strong enough in her eagerness
to combat any obstacle.
But never did those three blocks seem
so long a journey. She was obliged to
face driving column of yellow dust
notified with crumpled papers and rags,
dead leaves and twigs, the unsightly lit
ter of i'll kept back yards, in which a
nucleus in the form of small boy
seemed presently evolved. his bare feet
scarce touching the ground as he chased
his hat. which was ever bowled away
Just beyond reach of the clutching finr
gers.
Here and there in the quiet street,
under the cottonwoods upon which the
yellow leaves were already stealing, as
pathetic in their beauty as gray hairs on
the head Of youth. in groups of two or
three, cows were sorrily punched to-
gether, their backs TO the wind, and a
little girl with a basket, apparently
profting by the example of the kline,
was cautiously shuffling along backward,
curiously blinking through the yellow
haze at the lady who, but for this I'M
natural reversal of gait, would have
been inst behind her. Anita, holding
on to her hat with both hands, the wind
wrapping her skirts about her limbs
until each step was new difficulty,
found herself curiously embarrassed by
the gaze of those childish eyes, small and
black and bright as a couple of shoe but
tons sewed in the little dust grimed face
IT seemed a confession of mental weak
ness to be seen on the street in dust
storm like that by anybody, to say moth
ing OF appearing blown and dlsheveled,
stripped Of all the graceful dignity
which Mrs. Bartels regarded as her IN
dispensable adjunct.
Her inpulsive spleen was quickly lost,
however. In kindly concern as the need
less little experimenter came TO grief on
tba Uneven pavement. Anita stopped TO
beln the child upon her feet again and
restore the scattered contents to the
hasket while. as if it had been mis-
chievously watching for the opportunity
the wind at this moment seized upon her
oyrn hat and sent it spinning away
t,,ro,yb the dust. The child, not to be
ort1one IN kindness. darted after it and
PRESENTLY returned triumphant, but not
,,nt;l the wind had made havoc with the
.,rsngemeut of Anita's hair, while the
story Of its adventure was grimly marked
mon the hat. Again Anita hesitatea a.
sbs shook the dusty plumes, glanclng un-
,.arta,nlv hack. but now it was farther
= "a home than to press en- to her trst
oval. and. after all. hurrying on what
s,,o,,l5 II matter to Donald III what gulse
she came to him2
ga Alone in the long hall outside the office
che stoned. with swift feminine touches
e Irwin to improve her disheveled APP
-.na,..,,s,a. and when she had brushed
- ,,at and with sundry little pats help
les 10 improve had assured herself now s
ssT her hair was awry, when she nad
sS,sl-en her skirts and smoothed up tne
Iong wrists Of her gloves still she hngeI-
~. - her heart unanimously beating. she
80 .,-s,,l5 NOT 20 in through the large outer
- So tr,t went on to the door more sci
IN 'I.. - onening into Donald's private
nom. halting with the door KNOB IA ms. hsl
ban-i swallowing lump that naa l rlssn
-. tl,r,st. while in ineoherent tnougnt
=. ~ :. s-;.s-I Is frame what she first would
~ 'i -. n the chaos Of her mind only