New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-27
OUT OF STEP.
VI.
THE ONE HE'S ENGAGED TO.

where she had entered with the outer door open,
and the deep dusk of the early morning showing
over the sky behind her. Mrs. Gerry was aware
Of dull surprise that she Should notice how
clear the stars shonc.
Porta had been holding warm mantle about
her shoulders her bare, ringcd hand closely grasp
ing it, Now she dropped the mantle. She en-
tended her hand mechanically.
Mrs Gerry felt "a Discrimination to touch tho
hand. reprovng herself meanwhile that she should
have that feeling.
Isn't this the place." asked the girl. lie
is here?'
Mrs Gerry framed an iuaudibc Yes" upon
her lips and drew back a little.
Portia looked about her, Her gaze remained
fixed upon the open bedroom door. Every line
of her figure showed how tense she was.
The telegram said: Badly hurt; come to
Dwight Scudders ! did not lose any time. is
he -"
She was plainly unable to 60 on.
Mrs Gerry pushed chair toward the new
conner, who sat down in 1t. But she rose imme-
diately. The tenseness seemed relaxing, ana
tremor was taking its place She made two or
three aimlcss steps about the room 1t was
strange Mrs Gerry thought, that even now all
Miss Nunally's movements were characterized by
her old independent grace of motion
hold of her arm.
us he alive?" she whispered.
Mrs. Gerry nodded
Then let me 90 10 him. He is in there p
looking toward the open door.
The mother was thinking of her daughter
She was trying to arrange some way IN which
70 shield her. although she knew perfectly how
useless was such an attempt She moved gently
between her companion and the door.
"He will not know you," she said Don't
Co."
"Not know me-" with slight emphasis on
the last word Then her face lighted as she con-
tinued, YES, he will know me- Because love
him so welh he must know me.
Mrs Gerry shranlx somewhat as she heard these
words and the tone in which they were spoken
At that moment she knew that she had not be-
fore given Portia Nunally credit for certain
capability.
When she had been told that Portia was en-
gagged to Moore, shc had thought that for some
reason it suited Porta to be engaged to that young
man. Porta was quite accustomed to engage
ments-not that Moore was not one who might
easily be loved
But from this moment Mrs. Gerry's attitude of
mind toward Miss Nunally underwent change
a change quite as likely to be wrong as the atti'
tude she had known before. But Mrs. Gerry
could not be aware Of that fact. She could not,
from the very nature of things, have any true
conception Of nature like Miss Nunallg's.
Portia pressed gently forward until Mrs. Gerry
had stepped aside. Why should she uselessly
try to keep those two girls apart
Porta paused abruptly when she was where she
could look into the room. She saw Moore lying
there and Salome sitting by him. Salome was
leaning forward as she had been doing, but her
head was now bowed on the arms which rested
on the bed
crimson 30 deep that it was almost purple
rose up to Portals brow, and then she became
very pale. The spark in her eyes grew more in
tense; her short upper lip, which so often had
scornful aspect, was now drawn down sharply,
giving her whole face look so foreign to it that
It almost seemed another face.
After that instants abrupt pause she walked
into the room and mp to the foot of the bed. She
placed her hands on the footboard. but lightly
placed them there, if she resolved to
tain herself upright unaided whatever the strain
upon her.
She looked for a long, absorbed moment at
Moorcs face as it lay peacefully on the pillow
She drew her breath in sharply, her face still re-
tanning that drawn expression.
Has il ever been stated of this woman that she
knew better than most, the value Of an emotion
She knew when 10 give way to it.
She remained standing there after she had
ceased looking at Moore But she was now gaz
inc at Salome who was not yet conscious Of this
presence which had arrived almost noiselessly.
Miss Nunally's face changed from all softness
to that peculiar hard, steel-like appearance which
blond face can take on much more strongly
than any other.
But her movements were as gentle as possible
as she walked round to the girl BY the bel and
bent over her
Salome started up quickly. glanced at Portia.
braccd herself 20 stand quietly and then said, in
low voice:
So you have come"
II was very strange thing which happened
then
The instant that Portals eyes rested on Salome S
face every particle OF that hard look. that some
thing like tigersh combativeness, vanished from
her own face
oh" murmured Porta, and the two girls
gazed at each other intentlv
IL was at this time that Mrs Scudder perhaps
moved by sense of the happening of more un-
usual things. stirred uneasily in her chair, and
then rose, not really awake, but in awaken
ing state.
She gazcd hazily at Mrs. Gerry. Then, hearing
Mr.. Scudder snoring on the lounge she remarked
that men always would sleep through everything.
For her part, she wished that she was made up
%, but
At this point she interrupted herself to ask
Has he come TO -
No.
Mrs Scudder rubbed her eyes
Il dknow out we better try mustard agin on
The back OF his neck" she said.
Ms Gerry made no response To this. She