Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1902-04-03

bll1ty of pain than upon the desirable
ity Of pleasure.
"You will consent, won't you?" he
asked, anxiously.
She paused moment to bid comm on
sense deliberate farewell. YES"
she said, 81 suppose We could manage
it by spring.
'Good! l ought to write Brown
Bros. by this mail, but I don't believe
can make it unless you will lend me
the use of your typewriter for few
minutes
Certainly. You know the wa to my
study?'
Right through this window, isn't
it? Thank you"
The girls hands frightened on the
arms of her chair. Was it pleasure or
pain?
At first they did not see very much
of each other. Crisp little business
notes furnished their medium of COM
municat ton, and as far as she was con-
cerned common sense put forth all her
strength to keep them crisp-and lit
tie. But gradually they grew longer.
Then the proofs began to come and
the strenuous task of final polishing
derided the me dunn of notes. He
dropped in daily to discuss the tricks
of the trade. There was usually some
member of the family reading before
her study fire-"it was such good,
quiet place." Their presence did not
interfere with the consultations. Her
desk stood in bay window at the 9th
er end of the room. AS long as the
weather contin ued cold he went
through the formality of knocking at
her closed door; but when 1t grew
warm enough to open the window on
the gallery he went in that way. and
neither of them noticed any 1sregu-
larity in the proceeding. He would
stop to exchange civilities with who
ever happened to be present and then
pass on to her desk, where he would
be seen holding forth over a proof
sheet. He rarely remained over IS
minutes and never sat down. Neither
did she rise or go through any form
of greeting.
''See here" he said, stopping beside
her chair one morning late in March,
'These fellows are trying to rush u.s.
They want that last batch of proofs,
and you haven't had time to look at
it. have you?" He thrust one hand into
his trousers pocket and glanced down
with bothered look her belittered
desk.
She paused a moment to make sure
of her eyes, as she always did, and
then leaned back to meet his glance.
'Oh, yes; i finished the proofs an
hour ago. 1t is this bit of outside work
that is about to drive me to the wall.
Has to go off by the next mail"
"Then had better take the proofs
and clear out" He reached for the
roll as he spoke and she mechanically
resumed her pen.
But about that''-the rest of the
sentence vanished from his intelli-
gence. His hand slipped from his
trousers pocket and his heavy ring
rang against her chair. He bent down
in sudden forgetfulness of the third
person and when he raised his head he
was wildly conscious of that other
presence. Also that he would have to
meet it face to face before he could
leave the room.
But the girl had never overlooked
the third person. AS soon as it hap
pened she plunged her pen into the ink
and began to write rapidly. The man
e}n tax; hov 1p,rcx mint
His hand rushed back otis pocket and
he toyed nervously with the roll of
proofs. He had got himself into the
very deuce of a scrape.
She realized it all and arose to the |
''Will you have time to run over that
before you go?" She showed some
sheets toward him and spoke briskly.
He caught them quickly, and, rest
ing them on the top of her desk. drew
out a blue pencil and began to draw
4 fine parallel line with painstaking
zeal.
"What Icannot understand" he said,
Il a worried tone, sis why ] couldn't
nave done ii one of the hundred times
We have been alone togcther.'
'There was no need for you to do it
At all" she replied, and her pen ran on
with increasing rapidly.
The lady by the open window closed
her book with slight yawn, cast a
glance toward the two busy
people at the desk and went out.
"Now is your chance the girl said,
without looking up. go on. I'll finish
hat"
He obeyed in stantly. The girl wrote
steadily for moment longer, then she
brew down her pen and reached for
he sheets.
AS soon as he gained the open air
he mans sensation underwent sud-
en- change. The horror Of his unpre-
neditated act vanished. All that re-
nained with him was the clinging de-
ciousness of that long, warm kiss. He
till felt the yielding pressure of her
Ups beneath his own. They had not
hrunk from his-he stopped in his
apid walk and stared in black con-
empt at the unoffending roll of proof.
"Blithering idiot! Talk about un-
Outstanding the tricks of the trade,
nd then go around for six months
.ot knowing what is the matter with I
ou. And she-knows." /
This time there was no third person. ;
lie realized that much as he went
through the window. His ring rang {
gainst her cha ir be fore she was aware
f his presence and she showed aside
sheet immargined with fine blue lines
ather hurriedly-