Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-02-06

81 am going now. Good by" holding
ont his hand to her with n determination
not to be changed. Griselda takes it and
shakes it genially, nay. warmly. His hui
NOR is decidedly hostile, and if he ac-
quaints the old father of their incivility-
Anything to propitiate him, she tells her
self. will be the correct thing. and she
grows positively friendly toward him,
and beams upon him with gentle entreaty
in her eye.
IF You must go. do us one service
first" she says. "Do you see that rose?'
"A rather unkempt and traggling speci
men of its kind that trails in unadmred
disorder just outside the door. 1T has
bailicd me many II time, but you are tall
oh. taller than most; will you lift these
awkward tendrils. and press them back
into shape"
She is smiling divinely at him. a smile
that Tom Peyton would have given sew
eral years of his life to possess: but Dy-
salt is disgraccfully unmoved by it, and,
refusing to return it, steps outside, and,
with decidedly unwilling air, proceeds
to lift the dropping tendrls and reduce
them to order.
Griselda. naturally girl of great re-
herself provided Catching Nera's arm,
she draws her back out of sight.
"Now's your time.' she says. Say
something. DO something. 1t doesn't
matter what, but for heavens sake
smooth him down one way or another. If
you don't you'll have the old man down
upon us like
Il can't gasps Vera, fearfuly.
~.
ITS impossible to know what sort of
man he is. If revengeful he can play
old Harry with u.s.
Without waiting to explain what par
ticular game this may mean, or the full
significance thereof. she steps lightly out
side and gaZcs with undisguised rapture
upon Dysart's work.
Dysart returns to the summer house
with all the manner of one in mad haste
to be gone 1t is merely part of an I'M
pleasant whole, he tells himself, that he
must first say chllingly courteous word
or two of farewell to the girl who has
openly declared toward him such an I'M
dying anmosity.
IL am afraid" says Vera, speaking
with cold precision, as one delivering her
self of an unoved lesson. that you are
going away thus abruptly because of
what you heard me say this morning"
'You are right. That is why am 60
ing replies Dysart, calmly.
Yes" in chilling tone, and with
family lifted brows. Il regret exceed
ingly that should have so unfortunately
offend You. but to go for that-it all
sounds "A little trivial. don't you think"
mot by going. | think. don't see how
can do otherwise. Why should | make
you uncomfortable? But you may call
it trivial if you like, to talk of detesting
man you have only seen for an hour
or two. and who in those hours" He
pauses. Did make myself so specially
Objectionable? demands he, abruptly,
turning to her with something that is
surely anger, but as surely entreaty, in
his eyes.
"As told you before" indifferently,
zone says foolish things now and then"
Would you have me believe you did
not really mean what you saidY'
II would not have you believe any
thing" returns she. haughtily. II only
think it Il pity that you should curtal
your visit to your father because a
chance remark of mine that cannot pos
sibly affect you in any way"
rs that how you look at it,
''1s there any other way? Why should
you care whether or not detest you'll,
whom you saw for the first time yestcr-
day."
"Why, indeed" He regards her alb
sently, as if trying to work out in his
own mind the answer to this question,
and then. suddenly:
Nevertheless. do care" he says,
with a touch of vehemence. at is the
injustice of it to which l object You
had evidently determined beforehand to
show me no grace. defy you to deny
it! Come. can your
Miss Dysart is silent The very i'm.
petuosity of his accusation has dcadened
her power to reply and besides, is there.
not truth in it? Had she not prcjudged!
by the bye" he says, Il am afraid
you will have to put up with me for a
few hours every week. | shall promise
to make them as short as l possibly can
But my father likes to see me every sew
| en- days or so. and like to see him. DO
you think" a slight smile crossing his
face, you will be able to live through
it,?
Il have lived through good many
things" says Vera. her dark eyes aflame
THAT gives you a chance here: prac.
tice makes perfect | am sorry to be
obliged to Inconvenience you so far, hut
if stayed away, am afraid my father
might want to know why. He might
| even he so absurd as to miss me-"
why should you take it for granted
| that | desire your abSence?' cries Vera.
her voice vibrating with anger Come.
| remain. or stay away forever-what is il
| to me?"