The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1901-03-23
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l his continued absence made Allen nm.
easy. He did mot know whether Hal,
pert cared about his refusal to accom-
pany him, but he knew that he himself
! cared, yet he felt that he could not
acqualnt his friend with the real rea-
son until he had actually gone.
| AT y O'Clock HaIbert came back-not
| exactly on stretcher, but leaning on
| the arm OF his valet He had had
| pad TALL somewhere on. the riverside
| drive, and had turned his elbow badly
-spralned it, in fact. They had ac-
tually subjected him to the annoyance
OF carrying him to hospital because
ne had been too dazed to demonstrate,
and when his mind was eventually
clear he demanded removal to his own
| rooms.
His valet settled him comfortably
on dlvan and had left the room when
f1albert sank into a slight sIunber. In
a tew moments Allen came in, white,
naggard, limp with anxiety, and stood
there looking at Ha1bert with startled
pain in his gaze. Then, with sudden,
uncomfortable impulse, he kne1t down
beside the divan for a moment and,
grasp1ng one of the sufferers hands in
MS own, crushed it to his lips with a
sob Of distress and pain.
'Halbert opened his eyes and turned
TO look at him. He was almost too
dumfounded to speak. Allen got up
| IN confusion Jo1l
and staring at him in a riot Of bewil-
dered ideas, cropping as he did in a
queer labyrinth of uncertainties, like
a man struggling to face some peculiar
situation that his mind refused to
grasp. -
Il trust you will pardon my intru-
slon,' Allen said, standing by win
dow and looking out into the night,
"Dut they told me you had been seri-
ously hurt, and-and-it almost broke
my heart ~
,Halbert sat up on the edge of the
dlyan, and, drawing his dressing gown
around him closely, remained there,
looking at Allen like one surprised in
half toilet and somewhat nervous be-
cause OF it. The kiss of the youth
burned still in the flesh of his hand,
and 1t Travelled along the channels of
feeling and warmed his heart.
Something was cropping in his mind
Tor recognition. He still stared at AL
len and took in, with careful, scrutin-
lzlng gaze, the supple lines of his tall,
slender figure, the curves Of his long
neck, the slender hands and feet.
Allen" .Halbert said, and he got up
and walked close to the youth and
stood near him, his eyes still search
ing the boyish face, "Allen, want to
ask you a question. In Gods name,
don't be offended if am wrong. But
don't think I am wrong. 1t never
occurred to me before, but am blind
fool and it unnerves me. Look at me,
Allen, and answer this: Are you a
woman?"
Allen WINGED and turned farther
away and leaned against a table as if
to steady himself. The young face was
scanned with pain. There was long
silence as Halbert waited for the other
to speak. "You are woman" he re-
peated.
"Yes, am woman" The words
came at last, firmly, almost defiantly,
like thunder in Halbert's ears, stun
ming him.
"My Cod" was all that came from
between the parted, eager lips Of the
other. @But this costume-why this?
I don't understand"
Because everybody has a prejudice
against petticoats in the professions"
the girl answered, "and I was bound
I would not let that interfere with my
progress. Why should l be bowed
down, tied like a slave, because of a
mere selfish, unreasonable prejudice?'.
The color burned in her cheeks bril-
liantly, and Halbert stepped toward
her with a sudden, quick movement
his arms outstretched, love on his
tongue, in his eyes, in his gestures.
i The girl stepped away from him as
he would have touched her arm.
Mr.. Halbert," she said, with dig
/ nifty, Il am your secretary, and in
your rooms, and you have discovered
i that am woman. Please respect my
unhappy position, for ! want you to
believe that ] am neither a designing
1 adventures nor simpering doltz
/ There is another class that you seem
to be unacquainted With-that you dc
not seem to take into consideration"
She looked at him steadily, her eyes
burning with determination. s
4 Halbert's head sank under the Siege
II of her look. Her speech hurt him; it
crushed him. Yes. he loved this girl;
u he understood it now. He had been a
4 blind, self absorbed fool .@s=55 ss.
Girl: don't crush me under your
i heel He had not thought that there
could be lack Of respect where love
4 dWelt.
w lille am Your secretary you must
q not speak Of love It is an unfair ad.
Il vantage.