Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-11-03

''The fact OF the matter *. sir" Allen
replied respectfully, Il don't want to
90 with YOU"
1t was a blow. and it landed between
Halbcrt'S eyes. He loved Allen if he
ever loved any being on earth. and this
was the first time that he ever had
been thwartcd. Not given to sentiment
or pleading, he nursed his agony 81
lcntly. for Aliens abruptneSS Stung
him with all the agony of untilial in
gratitude. of unrcquited love- Of treach-
cry in Il flipnd-everything. 1t panied
IIalbcrt as he had never been panied
before. That afternoon he ordered his
horse for long ride and went ont de-
jcctedly with load on his shoulders.
He wanted to puzzle out the situation.
He had never to plead with any one
before in his life for what he wanted,
and he hated to plead now. 1t might
seem unmanly. he feared. He went
out without calling to Allen. and he
did not return for dinner
The secretary in the meantime felt
an unhappy sinking of his heart as the
hours dragged by and IIalbert did not
return. 1t was his custom at least to
return to dress for the evening. espe-
cially if he meant to dine out. and his
continued absence made Allen uneasy.
He did not know whether IIalbert
cared about his refusal to accompany
him. but he knew that he himself
cared. and he felt he could not ac-
quaint his friend with the real reason
until h" had actually gone.
At o'clock Hnlbcrt came back-not
exactly on Il Strctchcr but leaning on
the arm of his valet. He had had a
bad fall somewhere on the Riverside
drive. ana he had turned his elbow
badly-spraincd it. in fact. They had
actually subjected him to the annoy
ancc of carrying him to a hospital be-
cause he had been too dHZcG to remOn-
Strat". ana when his mind was cvcntu-
ally clear he demanded removal to his
own rooms.
His valet settled him comfortably on
divan and had LEFT the room when
Ualbcrt sank into Il light slumber. In
a few moments Alien came in. white.
haggard, limp With anxiety. and stood
there looking ut lIaihCrt with startled
pain in his gaze; then. with Il sudden.
incontroliaaic impulse. he kn"lt down
beside the diVan for Il momrnI klnd.
grasping one Of the sufferers hands in
his own. pressed it to his lips with Il
sob of distress and pain.
Halbert opened his eyes and turned
D. l. T., nj, tnn
dumfoundcd to speak. Allen got up in
confusion. and Halbcrt kept smiling
and staring at him in Il riot of bewil-
dercd ideas. cropping. as he did. in a
queer labyrinth of uncertainties like Il
man struggling to face some peculiar
situation that his mind refuses to
grasp.
Il trust YOU will parden my intru-
Sion" Allen said standing by Win
dow and looking out into the night,
but they told me you had been seri-
ously hurt. and-and-it almost broke
my heart"
IIalbcrt sat up on the edge OF the di-
van and, drawing his dressing gown
around him closely, remained there
lbphlllS at -Alitll llN' pll' sui IN lS't III
half toilet and somewhat nervous be-
cause of it. The kiss of the youth
burned still in the flesh of his hand
and it Travelled along the channels of
feeling and warmed his heart.
Something was cropping in his mind
for recognition. He still stared at Al
len and took in, with careful, Scrutl-
niZinG gaze, the supple lines of his
tall, Svelte figure. the curves of his
long neck. the slender hands and feet
ALLEN" IIHlbert said, and he got up
and walked close to the youth and
stood near him, his eyes still searching
the boyish face, ALLEN. | want to ask
you question. In Gods name, don't
he offended if am wrong. But don't
think | am wrong. 1t never occurred
to me before. but | am Il blind fool
and it unncrvcS me. Look at me. Al
len. and answer this: Are you Il wOm-
an!"
Alien WINGED and turned farther
away and leaned against n table as if
to steady himself. The young face
was scanned with pain. There was n
long silence as Halbert waited for the