Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-20

not, l should not greatly care, so long as !
could have Geraldine.
Thinking thus / walked up to the door
and, placing my hand on the bell, gave it
a good strong pull. The little silver-plsted
handle did not move an inch. l rubbed my
eyes and tried 1t once moreno effect! l
then sat down to consider. Was all the
world bewitched? l racked my brain until
the door opened and one OF the children
ran out. She came over to the chair l
sat In and dropped into my lap. l got out
Of the chair in a second, Just how l could
not say. l am not over fond of children
OF that age.
why, Jennie" l cried somewhat indig-
nantly, what do you mean by jumping on
my lap in this uuceremonious manner?
Where is Geraldine? Go tell her l want to
see her at once"
/ was getting angry, but would you be-
lieve 1t, that child went on playing with
her doll and completely ignored me! 1t
was too much. / wondered II the whole
town were in a conspiracy to drive me
crazy. In despair l resolved to see Ger
aldine at nee and at the risk of being
shot for a burglar l turned to the door the
little girl had fortunately left open and
walked in.
AS l entered the hall my foot slipped on
the marble filing and l fell heavily against
an exquisite bisque head standing on the
newell post. When / picked myself up,
sufficiently sore from my fall to be con-
WINGED that 1t was a real one, the bisque
hgurehea1 was standing safely and smiling
at met was a laughing head-in a way
conceived to be particularly exasperating
| was so excited by this time that l struck
It a furious blow with my fist, and still
that Internal head stood and grinned at me
II l did not see Geraldine soon l felt
that / would 90 mad, so l marched upstairs
until l came to the door of her room.
knocked gently on the door-there was nc
sound. l tried the handle. with the same
illsuccess as before. This was the last
straw. l confess that l stood at that door
and shouted and screamed and kicked it
pounded on 1t until l sank exhausted on the
noor-and still no thought Of my real con-
dition entered my head.
1t happened in my present position thai
my eyes were just on a level with the key
hole. / peeped in. There was Geraldine
l could see her plainly and in another mo-
ment / saw her take a letter from he
pocket, kiss 1t passionstely and burst init
a storm Of sobs and tears. I was 81
wrought up by this time that in spite o
my fatigue l jumped to my feet and in an
other second l found myself by her side.
She was clad in some soft white wrapper
her hair all unbound, and was kneelinl
with her face in her arms on a chair.
was inexpressibly touched by her heart
broken attitude. | had never been anythinl
but a very formal lover as l said before
however, / thought the circumstances Nigh
warrant me In waving a little ceremon
especially as she evidently needed
comforter sadly. so l walked quickly owe
to her and laid my hand on her shoulder
Geraldine" / said. MY darling, l an
here to help you . . Geraldine, won
you speak to me?"
There was no answer and no intermi
to the sobs and tears she was pouring o
my letter. I thought this was pushin
shyness to a distance. and l had never sus
pected her Of being shy. However, as sh
made no objection to my hand being on he
shoulder. / thought that was a good sigr
and l knelt down beside her and slipped m
arm around her neck and said:
Geraldine, dearest do not cry so .
courage . Il will be all right
. Pause. Wont you speak to me
Please. please, Just look at met" Longe
pause "Geraldine!" I shouted savagely
look at me at once or I'll leave you Tor
- ever!"
No movement What did 1t meant