Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-10-25
CHAPTER XIII.


1t seemed an especial exhibition of
the total depravity 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 Colorado zephyr" that at
certain seasons seems especially aimed
90 try the souls of good housewives.
She stood still for q moment, diSap-
Dointedly heSitating, but still she could
| not bring herself TO renOunce the cher
/ ished plan. IL was but short walk to
the office at most, and she felt strong
enough In her eagerneSs to combat any
| obstacle.
But never did those three blocks seem
/ so long a journey. She was obliged 20
face a driving column of yellow dust
notified with crumpled papers and rags,
/ dead leaves and twigs, the unsightly
/ litter of ill-kept back yards, in which a
nucleus in the form Of small boy
seemed presently evolved, his bare feet
/ scarcely touching the ground, as be
\ chased his hat, which was ever 6owled
/ away Just beyond reach Of the clutch
| ing fingers.
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-
I gether, their backs TO the wind, and a lit
| tie girl with basket, apparently profit
/ ing by the example of the kline, was
cautiously shutting along backward,
| curiously blinking through the yellow
haze at the lady who, but for this un-
natural reversal of gait, would have
been lust behind her. Anita, holding
on TO her hat with both hands, the wind
wrapping her skirts about her limbs IN
til each step was new difficulty, found
herself CuriOusly embarrassed by the
gaze OF those childish eyes, small and
black and bright as couple Of shoe
buttons sewed in the little dust grimed
face. Ii seemed a confession of mental
weakness 10 be seen on the streets in q
dust-storm like that by anybody, to say
nothing OF appearing blown and dis
heveled, stripped of all the graceful
dignity which Mrs. Bartels regarded as
her indispensable adjunct.
Her impulsive spleen was quickly
lost, however. in kindly concern, as the
needless little experlmenter came to
grief on the uneven pavement. Anita
stopped TO help the child upon her feet
again and restore the scattered contents
70 the basket, while, as il it had been
mischievously watching for the oppor-
tunity, the wind at this moment seized
upon her own hat and sent it spinning
away through the dust. The
child, not to be OutdOne in
kindness, darted after it and presently
returned triumphant, but not until the
wind had made havoc with the arrange
ment Of Anita'S hair, while the story Of
its adventure was grimly marked upon
the hat. Again Anita heSitated as she
shook her dusty plumes, glancing I'M
certainly back; but now it was farther
to go home than to press on to her first
goal; and, after all, hUrrying on, what
would il matter TO Donald in what guiSe
she came TO him?
Alone I'm the long hall outside the
Office she stopped, with swift feminine
touches striving to improve her dis
heveled appearance; and when she had
brushed her hat and with Sundry little
pats helpless to improve had assured
herself how far her hair was awry, when
she had shaken her skirts and smoOthed
up the long wrists Of her gloves still she
fingered, her heart unanimously beat
ing. She would not 60 in through the
large outer office, but went on to the
door more seldom used opening into
Donald's private room, hating with the
door KNOB in her hand, swallowing a
lump that had risen in her throat,
while In incoherent thought she tried
10 frame what she first would say;
but In the chaos of her mind only
rose the vision OF Donald as be would
look, the glowing love that would be in
his eyes as he rose to clasp her in his
arms.
Softly she turned the mob, a tender
smile curying her lips, her eyes lumin-
Gus with anticipation, softly pushed
omen the door and entered the room.
Donald was sitting st his desk, as she
had anticipated, but there the picture OF
her fancy ended. She did not cross the
room to lay her hand upon his shoulder,
because in the way, very close TO Don
aid, aud pushing back her chair with a
little start Of confusion, as il she had
been still closer, sat Mrs. Rogers.
oWeN, upon my world" she laughing
" exclaimed, first to recover her voice
in the surprise Of the renconter, "did
YOU blow down?"
81 should suppose it would seem suff-
GENTLY evident" with faint, sardonic
smile, angrily conscious Of her battered
hat and the dusty untidiReSs or her
dress, while her glance took in the ex-
| ouisite neatness Of the others toilet, the
smooth hair and the dainty, dustesS