The Tupelo journal., 1902-10-24

lSlt HILL, piquSu, DdHlcu, Will Hull
angry eyes, frowning down upon an
innocent geranium.
Il might be her father!" he re-
lected, walking slowly home. "She
is more than lovely, but she is an
icicle. She has no idea of the mean
ing of love; but she shall learn, and
1 will teach her. She is a statue
now, but she shall come to life be-
meath my influences, my touch!"
Even as he made this half-fierce
resolution some memory came to
him that drove the color from his
face. With an impatient gesture he
turned into his own house, deter
minedly thrusting aside any dis
turbing thoughts.
"You are not unhappy now?"
AS Meredith asked the question
he shipped his SOULS, bent a little
forward and tried to get the better
of the gathering gloom and the
great brim of her hat in an endeavor
to meet her eyes.
The river was ~througed, there was
an incessant busy hum of voices;
now and then some pleasure-seekers,
whose only idea of enjoyment was to
make a great noise, cleft the air
with shouts and songs. But Marion
Gerard and her companion were deaf
and blind to all about them.
She did not answer-she was a
woman of so few words-only her
mouth and eyes smiled together.
hands and pull off the loose glove,
and rest his lips on the veins that
crossed in a blue V at her wrist, and
then lingering on each separate fin
ger. Her eyes dwelt fondly on his
dark, bent head, and a thrill of pas
sionate tenderness swept owe her,
but she gave no sign. And when
they had landed, and he was walking
by her side between two great
hedges of syringa, he said again, half
impatiently:
"You are not unhappy now?"
"Why ask-when you know"
Because l like you to tell me; be-
cause 1 can't read your thoughts
through the back of a straw hat;
because you say so little that every
word is valuable. You are cold as
ice-you sleep-you dream! Will
you never wake to life-to warmth
to tenderness-for me?"
The words left his lips rather
rapidly, in unconsidered impulse,
while a wave of joyous exultation
passed owe him at the mute, unex-
pected, characteristic answer-two
soft, warm arms wound round his
neck, two shy, sweet lips held glad
ly, willingly, up to his.
"You are awake-at last?" he said,
hardly above his breath, and crushed
his mouth on hers in passionate
thirst.
That night, when Meredith had
gone, and Marion Gerard stood smil-
ing down upon the restless river, a
woman swept her skirts with a little
decisive rustic over the trim lawn,
and laid a gentle hand on the girls
arm.
Iou dlC IL lICIC Cill0, bic odIuy
without warning, with your old
world notions and your unfashion-
able ideas of life in general and
your mother is an idiot-always was!
That is why I, for your own good,
mea to speak. / am your aunt, any
how, and
'What have 1 done?" the girl ques-
toned in surprise.
Not much-yet. It's what you
may do. I haven't the remotest idea
how Kenyon Meredith took up the
part of tame cat about your house,
only I may as well tell you, before
matters go any farther, that his wife
is alive. They have been separated
for 20 years, but-she lives. Marion,
I am telling you"
For my good" the other inter
rupted, then paused, while her lips
grew white and her eyes wide and
troubled. Don't you know people
hate being told things for their
good?" and turned away, blindly,
gropingly, with a little despairing
gesture that forbade further speech
on her aunt's part.
"Is it true?"
The simple words left the girls
lips in a sort of painting whisper,
next day, as she stood on the oppo-
site side of his library table, facing
Meredith.
"My dear child, I thought you were
above listening to the petty gossip
Of
rs it true?"
He came to her side, and held her
forcibly to him before he answered.
Eyes, but"
"Let me go"
"Not till you have heard me-"
So she made nc further struggle
to escape his hold, but leant YEARLY
against his arm while he spoke.
His voice was very low and per-
suasive. His explanation might have
been convincing to other ears, but
she was shutting out from hers the
insidious, pleading tones, striving
with all her might to steel herself
against him. And when he was silent
she unlaced his fingers determinate-
~ from about her wrists, and went
a little distance from him.
81 don't believe you have been lis
tening-that you have heard a word"
he declared. discontentedly. following