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

ms al ftghI
'eYess" arching her eyebrows with an
affectation of extreme surprise, while a
sensation Of passionate relief swept over
her. She felt they We're coming to some
sort of an understanding, to what end
she did not care; anything would be bet
| ter than this sullen waiting, this intoler-
able calm.
"Will You come into the parlor?" cour-
teously as she might have invited a
stranger, leading the way
Il want to ask you," began Donald
when they were seated, taking bank
book from his pocket and selecting from
it slip of paper ''is this all righty
1t was her Cancelled check for three
hundred dollars Anita regarded it
curiously, slight smile on her lips.
"Why. yes" she said slowly, "it seems
to be just as | wrote it.
'sAnd there is no mistake about itY
perplexedly studying the paper.
Not the slightest, that / can see" her
smile broadening little, as if enjoying
his discontinue.
II thought when went away that you
had money enough-more than enough
for all ordinary requirements. | made
arrangements at the bank for You to
have all you might need in case Of any
Unforeseen emergency; but Ican't under
stand now what possible emergency
could have arisen to demand this" re-
garding her with grave questioning.
Nor can you noty' nonchalantly smil-
ing up at him. "Well. it is possible that
the emergency simply arose and then
sat down again, so to speak. If you will
look in you bank book, presume you
will discover that | deposited the full
amount two days later"
YES; but that does not make the mat
ter any clearer"
Il should suppose it would be suffi-
Gent to be assured that did not use any
Of it, with sneer she knew would sting
him like a lash.
'.As if | ever grudged you a dollar, or
questioned how you used it!' he retorted
warmly, flushing under her insulting
tone. "When have | ever limited that
you could use too much money!
'sNever, unless now" more humbly,
her eyes falling little under his indig-
nant glance.
"And not now. 1t only seems to me
that here is something that | should
know about and i ask you to tell me. Ii
you had used the three hundred dollars
three times over it would not have
troubled me like your curious reticence
about it"
Another thing" he went on, after he
had waited a moment in vain for her to
speak; "a fellow came up to my Office a
day or two ago with curious charge of
assault and battery against Fred Ingalls,.
Do you know anything about that?'
'Ig" with look of frankest astonish-
ment mo, indeed; how should Il"
well, in a somewhat relieved tone,
lit did not seem very likely-the tale he
told. He had been drinking, and scarce
ly gave his wandering yarn another
thought until / got my passbook and
Cancelled vouchers from the bank this
morning, when, in a wholly unreasoning
way, it struck me that there might be.
some connection between the two cir
cumstances.'
"And what was his storyy' her face
CuE1OuSlN ChstilSlHss ucA eyes cNCddAAg
fixed on the minute plaits she was folding
in her handkerchief.
'Simply that you were down in the
bank alone with Ingalls, one evening, and
that after you had come out together,
and you had turned and gone toward
home, this fellow. passing by, made a
joking remark to ingalls, about his bank
ing hours for ladies, when he found him
self knocked into the ditch"
"Ohr comprehensively, not looking at
him.
"Of course told the chump that he
had no case, and, incidentally, that he
was mistaken as to the identity Of the
lady. and that if ever heard of his re-
peating the mistake he would promptly
have occasion to bring action for assault
and battery against me.
'.All the same, meeting his eyes I'M
flinchingly, lit was l. F"
Donald did not seem surprised, al
though his face grew graver. And may
/ ask what You were doing at the bank?"
Certainly. went there to get the
check cashed."
sin the evening"
YES. The bank was closed when