Evening journal., 1892-11-09

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
ne led away by the nose like an ASST
well, no. not exactly II anybody
laughed it must have been Mrs. Rogers,
who did the leading, aud 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, "it
seems you are capable Of anything"
"Yes, growing very white. "Do you
think SOP
"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-"
"Wen, do you know, | rather wonder
at that myself now, white to the lips
but it is a mistake most easily rectifed.
| can go again.
Don't be idiotic, thoroughly retorted.
BE satisfied with what you have already
done 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"
mo? with an insolent smile. 'Win
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 stinging humilia-
ton of Donalds tone and her own i'm
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 humbly, 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
II is your reticence All the same ! be-
lieve you could explain It if You chose so
as to put an altogether different aspect
upon the matter. and / think you are
keeping your lips closed in some foolisl.
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 10 tell me
any evil about you | could not really
believe itr' moving little toward her
Il believe nothing nothing. Nita 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
were yelling from her eyes, so unused
to the weakness of tears
If you would only be frank with me
NitaT he murmured wistfully regard
ing her but moving no nearer
Anita said nothing Womanlike. even
in her weeping she had her wits well
about her. and seeing Donald ready for
reconciliation. she was full of obstinate
resolve to move no step toward meeting
him half way His had been the first
wrongdoing; legitimately his was the
humiliation of confession and pleading
Seeing her in tears for his harshness, she
subtly planned. he already disposed to
81.
IN his arms with comforting and caress
ing; and when he had come TO that she
knew he would be completely at her
mercy She would not yield to him at
once: his punishment must be prolonged
while the last remnant Of her coldheart-
edness could endure; and her tardy for
giyeness must impress him once for all
, with the fact that her feelings were not
to be lightly disregarded
Wont you tell me, dear?" more ten
ilerly still Anita's head was shaken
with sudden sob5ing. He took it for a
gesture Of refusal, and without another
word turned and left her.
After moment surprised at the
silence. she looked up. chagriued to find
him gone. and, forgetting her resolve Of
cold quiescence, ran eagerly after him %
the hall door, but he was already far
down the street. hurrying on with a
quick, nervous stride, already beyond
reach of her voice if she called
But there was a rare light of happi-
ness on her face as she came back. sit
ting down in the chair where he had
D been, softly caressing with her cheek the
. cushion against which his head had
, rested After all be still loved her in
his large, passonless. unselfsh way, that
would think no evil even though his own
4 eyes had seen her in the arms Of another.
guilty kisses showered upon her face.
Even after that. if an angel came TO tell
him evil Of her he would not believe
eagerly repeating his words. And she,
, her face grew graver as she reverted
, to her own feelings. conscious that AL
q his magnanimity had been poweress tC
kill that pain Of lealous distrust Full
.of longing to meet ms tender couiidenc
with trust no less perfect than his OWL
It seemed still impossible that hri nan
should soar beyond hpr under ndia
y. a .tsI