The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-30

cd 0Sr SeNSFai GialeSs N1sAA Sp4fsE.'ts
like prayer in his eyes, and with
strong, but sternly concealed passion
that left him trembling and staggering
like drunken man when she was gone
After Layifia and Di,ier were gone
that night Bart sat out on the kitchen
steps, smoking his pipe. He STOPPED
forward, his elbows resting on MS
knees His right hand held the pipe and
his left supported his right arm. His
eyes looked straight before him into
the purple twilight. The wiFsd had gone
down. but now and then a little gust OF
perfume came around The corner from
the Wild clover. sill Ia delicate pink
blossom on the north side OF the house.
The stars came out, one by one. in the
deep blue spaces above, and shrill,
nlournful oafcries came from winged
things in the green depths of the ferns.
Already the torches of tue salmon
spearers were beginning to fare out
from the shadow Of the cliffs across
the bay Mr.. Walden was not at home,
but Mrs. Walden was walking about
heavily in the kitchen. finishing tbs
evening work.
Mrs Walden was not quite easy IN her
mind. She really liked Bart Winn, but,
to be unnecessarily and disagreeaDiy
truthful, she liked even better his
noble donation claim. which he was now
selling OF in town lots. Tina and time
again during the past month she had
cautioned Lavinia to not Ego gaiiivant-
in round with that Di.ler so much;
and on numerous occasions she had at
81, 1srt TAI
fool along till she let Bart Winn slip
through her fingers, after ALL" Stiil. it
had been an unconfessed satisfaction
to her to observe Mr.. OILERS
frank admiration of her daughter-to
feel that Lavinia could s'have her pick
o. the best any day." She knew how
this ranked in some OF the neighbors
breasts. She wished now that she had
been mora strict. She said to herself,
as she went ont to the spring house:
ST wish I'd "a set my foot right down
on his goin' step with her. An there
I started it myself, a-sendin' her off to
that c'noe race with him, just to tam
talize Mis- Bently am her troop o girls.
But land knows never dreanit O. its
goin' on this way. What's a newspa-
per fello' compared to Alienation claim,
I'd Hike to know
AT nine O'clock she went to the door
and said. in that tone of conciliatory
tenderness which comes from a re-
morseful conscience: We'll, Bart, 1
guess I'll go to bed. I'm tired. Iou
goin' to set up for Laviny?'
Eyes" said Bart; good night"
"Well. good night, Bart" She stood
holding a lighted candle In one hand,
protecting its flame from the night air
with the other. "I reckon they'll be
home by TO-"
IT reckon So"
AT the top OF the stairs Mrs. Walden
remembered that the parlor windows
We're open, and she went back to close
them. The wind was rising again, and
as she opened the parlo- door it pulled
through the open windows and sent
the curtains streaming out into the
room; then it went whistling on
through the house. banging the doors.
After a while quiet came upon the
house. Bart sat smoking silently. The
Vaidens lived on q hill above the town.
and usually he liked to watch the
chains'of electric lights curving around
the bay; but tonight he watched the
|
pipe down with passionate movement
and stood up, reaching inside the door
for his hat. But he sat down again as
suddenly, shaking himself like a dog.
as IL to fling off something that was
upon him. mo; I'm did If willr'
he said In his throat. ct won't watch
her! She said 1t want so. an I be-
lieve her" But he did not smoke again,
and he breathed more heavily as the
moments licked by and she did not
come. At half-past ten Mrs. Walden
came down in a calico wrapper and a
worsted shawl.
"Why. amt she come YETI" she
asked, holding the candle high and
peering under 1t at the back OF the si-
lent figure outside.
no, said Bart, quietly, "she amt"
why. it's liaif-past ten! She's never
ben out this away before. D'you
think anythin' c'u'd "a happened?'
mo" said Bart. slowly; II guess
they'll be along
"Well, I don't want that she sh'u'd
stay ont tell this time o. night with
anybody but you. She's old enough to
know better. 1t don't look well"
'Tt looks all right. IS fur = that goes"
said Bart.
''oh, IL you think so.'.
Mrs. Walden lowered the candle
huftily.
Bart arose and came inside. He was
pale, but he spoke calmly. and he look
ed her straight In the eyes.
Its all right fur 3 she goes;
I'd trust her anywheres. But how
about him? What kind Of a man is
he?"
"Oh, don't know" said Mrs Walden.
weakly. "How d. you expect me to
know what kind OF a man he is? He's
nice-appearin,' polite sort OF a feilo.'
an he writes for newspaper m New
York-one o them big ones. But he
don't seem to me TO have much back
bone or stand-upness about him.
sh'u'd think he's one o. them that
never intends to do anythin' wrong.
but does it just because 'ts pleasant
for the time bein.' and then feels sorry
for t afte'ard.'
Bart's eyes bent together. hlackiy.
But I must say''--Mrs. yaiden's tone
gathered firmness-"you might pattern
after him a little IN politeness. Bart.
/ think Laviny likes t. Hess a.,vus
openin' gates for her. an rannin' 10 set
chairs for her when she comes into n
room. an takin' OFF his has to her. an.
carryin' her umbrella. an fetchin' her
fow'rs; an I b'iieve he'd most die be-
fore he'd walk on the inside o. the side