The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1896-07-15
CHAPTER x


Olaf Brun had for some reason made
himself invisible during the commotiou
that followed her return and Hulda,
though she was trihe disappointed, ex-
cused him on the ground that a stranger
always feels de trop during "a domestic
difficulty. 1t was his good breeding,
not coVardice, which made him respect
the privacy Of family affairs She lay
awake hour after hour anticipating the
inevitable interview in the blue room,
inyenting clever speeches with which 10
oheckmate her mother and invalidata
her argument. She was SO passionately
convinced that she was right that il
seemed impossible that anybody else
could think otherwise. And yet she
quaked little as she fancied herself
tete-a-tete with her mother in that sol
emn room crowded with "reminiscences
Of her childish misdemcanors. She fan
cied the tranquil severity of her ao-
cuser's eyes and her formidable judicial
calm as she relentlessly brushed away
her most cherished arguments as so
many cobwebs.
She grew more and more wakcful tho
longer she dwelt upon this scene and
Yiyidly depicted the smallest details.
Finally tie even breathing Of Magda,
who slept at her side, made her so nerv-
Gus that she jumped out Of bed, lit the
candles upon the bureau and mechanic
ally began to dress the fire in the stove
had long since gone out, and it was so
cold in the room that her breath was
visible. Yet her head was SO hot when
she pressed her hands against her tenn
pies that she seemed 70 feel the intense
feyerish thought within her. At the end
of ten minutes, when she had donned n
wrapper and the most indispensable gar
ments, she sank down on "A chair in pro
found fit of discouragement and catch
ing accidentally her reflection in the
mirror she maryeled at her own excite
ment and grew strangely skeptical as 10
all things, Then a chill stole over her,
and she rose hastily, seized candle and
merely TO keep in motion went into the
hall. A vagrant draft slammed the door
behind her, and the bang gave a star
Ting resonance in the nocturnal stiffness.
She paused for "a moment, anxiously
listening. But no one seemed astir eX-
cept the north wind, which kept rat
tling the outer windows [the Norwe-
gians of the better class have doubls
windows in their houses during the
Yinterl and knocking tine limbs Of the
great oak tree against the gables of the
house. A couple Of mice were gnawing
behind the wainscoting, and she could
hear them scamper away as her light
footstep fell upon the floor A vague,
adventurous feeling mingled with heI
nervous restlessness impelled her "a
walk on. Presently the odor Of fine
cigar was waited through the chilly
hall, and Hulda saw as she turned the
corner q slender ray Of light piercing
ghe gloom from the keyhole Of Brun''
door. She scarcely knew why that dis
eoyery set her heart beating so wildly
but somehow it conveyed TO her a deeI
consolation. Her unhappiness, she rea
EOned, was his TOO. He was kept awak,
by the same apprehension which Danish
ed her slumber So subtle a sympathy
argued profound affinity Of soul, sure
". BY AN irresistible force she wal
drawn toward that door, aud twice sh'
passed and repassed il with noiseles
step, lingering once for q full minute
signing, shiSering, breathing forth an
ardent wish that he would divine he
presence and come 70 her. But as shl
drifted back aud forth, holding tn
! pickering candle in her hand, she caugh
a glimpse Of her - in a distortinl