Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-09-03

down the street. \ sudden hope tool;
LoSsesSion of me. He always CAME
when | was in some undignitied AMI
ridiculous plight And-yes!
"Oh. DR.. Griffin called out.
| He pulled up at that quavering cry.
and looked at me for a moment in the
blankeSt amaZement.
And what are you doing in Rock
etts. miss" he demanded, as he helped
ne in.
y wild wave of eXhilaratin had come
over me when felt myself safe in the
vehicle.
Il was only paying some calls" !
said in an off-hand way. Aren't the
claims of society burdensome? l am
really tired"
Calls" he repeated. "And where
were you calling in Rocketts?"
Il was going to the PlunkettS'." |
said. But never mind-it isn't their
day anyway"
| began to repent my nonsense when
he took little red notebook out of his
pocket, and, utterly ignoring my pres
cnce, began to look over it with knitted
| hlONs. We drove on in perfect silence
for several blocks. and he manifested
no intention of reSuming the cOnversa-
tlon at all. while |. on my part, was
occupied in regretting that had totally
forgotten that | was ION my dignity"
rs my old nurse would say.
"Well, Miss Frances" he said sud
denly. without looking up, "have you
forgiven me-"
Forgiven YOU, for what?" question
ingly replied. but reminiscent wave
Of modification swept over me.
He gave short laugh. still turning
the leaves of his book, but did not an.
Swer.
As he sat looking down, with his brow
furrOwed and his rugged face showing
very hard line at its hardest in the
clear daylight, l stole timid glances
at him and wondered how | had ever
had the temerity to recIte those mis-
cradle, sentimental verses of mine to
Lin, of all men! | blushed hotly as
thought of my folly.
The horse had slackened his pace, but
the doctor did not seem to notice it.
Have you been writing any more
poetry?' he asked, as if becoming con.
scious of the claims of civilty.
NO" | said stifily.
He made no pretense of interest in
my answer. Indeed. he was quite evil
IDENTIFY not at all attending to what |
said. Il didn't like that-whats its
name?-sonnet of yours he remarked.
Tapping the horse with the reins.
"Ah," l said, as if l had not already
been crushed by the snubbing which
it had received.
DO you want to know why didn't
like it?" he went on. He put his book
down and looked at me with a queer
smile.
Yes l said, but still with the
haughtlness born of inward humilia
Son.
He took off his hat and looked care
fully into the crown, frowning as if lie
had that moment remembered leaving
something Of the highest value which
seemed to be missing. And then he put
it on again. He cleared his throat and
jerked at the reins.
II didn't like to think of your whim-
perlng about some whipperSnapper, d"
he said, when l want you myself"
When the trees and houses had ser
tied back into their normal places AMI
the waterfall had ceased rushing anl
roaring in my ears looked at him and
saw that he was talking on, but Of
what he said l had only the vaguest
notion. The blankness of my face
must have struck him at last, for lie
stopped abruptly.
Wait, don't say anything yet" hi
said.
We were drawing near to my own
home, but the horse went very slowly.
IF You could tell me-" he began
there was something positively uncan.
ny and awful to me in the humility of
his tone-"but don't say anything un.
less 1t is yes Take time-any length
Of time"
lime. 1t seemed to me that it had
been 1000 years already. 1t was such
an old old fact that DR.. Griffin had ask.
ed me to marry him that l felt that
had been born with the consciousness
of it. tried to remember how things
were before it happened, but no, there
was nothing before that.
Neither spoke as he helped me out OF
the buggy and solemnly walked with
me up the long green yard. lie paused
at the porch.
If he said, you could possibly say
Nes-don't make me wait"
! ran up the stcps without replyinr