El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-05

although his tone was gentle, even i'm
! ploring Tell me how / have offended
| you"
Offended me-you?" she calculated,
| her glance an insult.
"f you could imagine what it is to
me- he went on hurriedly in a choke
voice. 81 had been so proud and happ.y
for a moment to think that we were al
most friends, and them
II cannot imagine what reason you
can assume" she frigidly interrupted,
"to seem to call me to account. Will
You allow me TO pass, please?'
"Oh, if you put it like that beg
pardon for OBTAINING you, Miss Ellery, "
he said, standing aside with exaggerat-
ed courtesy. ALLOW me TO wish you
good night.
She had taken half a dozen steps
when she halted, looking back uncer-
tainly. ''Have the boys come back from
the dance yet?'' she irrelevantly asked
him.
mo. They won't be back before
morning probably. They generally make
a night of it when they celebrate in this
part of the country"
Still she waited, nervously interlac-
ing her fingers, regarding him irreso-
lutely. ''They We're talking of that fell
low Jim this evening, " she began hest
tatingly after a moment. looking up at
him with troubled questioning. They
were saying that he is a bad man, par
ticularly when he has been drinking.
81 believe he does rather try to pose
as terror sometimes, he returned
listlessly, looking at her with dull won
der.
And L think, with certain prim
dignity, speaking with palpable effort,
81 think you ought to be informed that
he has uttered threats against you on
account of your devotion to Artalissa. ~
well, upon my word'' he cried,
laughing harshly. THANK you for
warning me, Miss Ellery. 1t is really
very kind, especially that delicate little
reference to my devotion to Artalissa.
I cannot sufficiently express my appre-
ciation.'
Il might have known you would take
it like that; that would get no thanks
for meddling with your AFFAIRS she
exclaimed, angry tears rising to her
eyes. lii truth, she could have bitten her
tongue out now for the impulsive words.
"Heaven knows why l did it
But l do thank you, Miss Ellery
Have | not said it, he replied, his tone
bitterly irOnical. lit shows IA solicitude
on your part l should hardly have ex-
pected. 1t is really quite fiattering
But, to reassure you, I don't think Jim
Will wax very dangerous until my de-
votion TO Artalissa with an angry
emphasis on the words shall have
developed into something beyond the
bald acquaintance 1T has been up TO
date. -
Il don't know what your idea of bald
may be. she rejoined,
irritated beyond reason at the soothing
words, but l may as we'll tell you that
Jim saw everything at the dance the
other night. From the glimpse of his
face L caught afterward 1 think he may
be inclined to disagree with you per
haps as TO the privileges involved in
bald acquaintance
but what on earth was there to see,
Miss Ellery? 1 confess that 1 am at "a
loss to imagine, he said now, with
genuine concern in his face. will you
explain little further, please?'
You can hardly expect me to go into
Details, the girl said, drawing back
'oldly, yet seeming irresistibly impelled
20 go on. 1T should be enough to say
hat L, too, happened to see it all, and so
If course know what l am talking about.
had walked away from the house a
little way-they had been urging me to
l was standing behind some
hrubs when you walked by with Ar
alissa, and moment later / saw Jim
behind you in the shadow
But why am 1 telling you all this?
What right have l to interfere in your
'ffairs?' she exclaimed, breaking off
harply, with movement as if she
would fly from him.
Heaven knows you have right,
diss Ellery. nobody "a BETTER he
protested. coming close be-
idle her, though what you are talking
bout now l confess l know no more
han the dead. l was strolling along
hat night, hoping to meet you, if you
Till allow me to be wholly frank, when
met Artalissa, who turned and came
Nth me. 1 did not ask her, did not
7ant her, but what could l do? We
talked few rods and then simply !
talked back again. That's all there
7as to it. I can really imagine nothing
lore harmless. She was Joking me '
lost of the way about having been ,
with the boys, and to prove ,
~ innocence l laughingly blew in her f
ace. Was that what Jim witnessed
nat was SO terrible? 1t was not very
certainly, but no worse, to my
than the girls foolery which
lvited it, If you think ] am TO be shot
IT this t
Was that all there was to it?'' she L
facing him sharply. c
What else, in heavens name. should a
t
Those half lights are confusing v