The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-07
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b Come. Mr.. Bines If am to take that
tramp you made me promise you, It's time
we were off.
Outside she laughed deiciously. You
know you did make me promise it men
tally becauseI knew you'd want to come
and want me to come, but / was afraid
Mrs. Allemit mightn't understand about
.telepathy, so pretended we'd arranged
it all in words
''Of course Great joke, wasn't it," as
scented the young man. rather awkwardly.
Down the broad sweep of roadway, run
ming between it's granite coping, they
strobe at a smart pace.
you know you complimented my walk
ing powers on that other walk we took.
away off there where the sun goes down."
Yes of course he replied absently.
Now. he's beginning she said to her
self. noting his absent and somewhat
embarrassed manner.
In reality he was thinking how few
We're the days ago he would have held this
the dearest of all privileges; and how
strange that he should now prize it SO
lightly. almost prefer, indeed, not to have
it.; that he should regard her, of all
women, "the fairest of all flesh on earth
with nervous distrust.
She was dressed in tan corduroy; citation
was in her face; her waist. as she
stepped. showed supple as a willow; her
suede-gloved little hands were compact
and tempting to his grasp. His senses
breathed the air of her perfect and COM
polling femininity. But sharper than
| all these impressions rang the:
words of the worldlywise Higbee:
shes hunting night and day for a rich
husband; she tries for them as fast as
| they come, shed rather marry a sub
treasury-she'd marry me in minute
| she'd marry you; but If you were broke
she'd have about as much use for you
Her glance was frank, and encouraging.
Her deep eyes were clear as a trout-brook.i
He thought he saw in them once almost a
! tenderness for him.
She thought, He does love mel
| Outside the grounds they turned down
a bridle-path that led off thru the woods
off thru the golden sun-wine of an Oc-
! tober day. The air bore a. clean autumn
spice. and a faint salty scent blended with
! it from the distant sound. The autumn
silence. which is the only perfect silence
In all the world. was restful, yet full Of
significance, suggestion, provocation From
the spongy lowland back of them came
! the pleading sweetness of a. meadow
lark's cry. Nearer they could even hear
an occasional leaf f1utter and Waver down.
i The quick thud of falling nut was almost
loud enough to earn its echo Now and
| then they saw a. lightning flash OF vivid
I turquoise and heard a jays harsh scream.
i In this stiffness their voices instinctively
lowered. while their eyes did homage to
the wondrous play of color about them
Over a yielding brown carpet they went
among ma pie and chestnut and oak. with
+ their bewildering changes thru crimson
russett, and amber to pale yellow; under
the deep stained leaves of the sweet gum
they went. and past the dogwood with
scarlet berries gemming the clusters of jts
dim7red leaves. ss ai.s} So. asf
But thru all this waiting. melting sill
] Hi~e 1S1%~,
words. she had felt so certain would come
: Sometimes her companion was voluble
, again he was taciturn-and thru it all he
was doggedly aloof
Miss Milbrey had put herself bravely
:, in the path of destiny. Destiny had turned
, aside. She had turned to met it, anc
= now it frankly fed Destiny. as she hac
construed It, was turned fugitive. Sh,
was bruised, puzzled and not a littl,
a piqued. During the walk back, when thi
v much had been made clear. the silenc,
,. was intolerably oppressive. Withou
: knowing why, they understood perfectl
a now that neither had been ingenious.
r "She would love the money and pla,
q me for a fool he thought, under tn
- surface talk. Youth is prone to endow it
: opinions with all the dignity of certai
- knowledge.
v "Yet am certain he loves me- though
' she. On the other hand youth is dfte
ia gifted with a credulity divine and un
a erring.
~ At the door as they came up the road
:, way a trap was depositing man who1
- - Miss ,Milbrey greeted with evident SUI
l. prise and some restraint. He was Sigh
dark and quick Of movement. with fnel
le cut nOstrils that expanded and quivere
H. nervously like those of a high bred hors
rt in tight check:
> Miss Milbrey introduced him to Percivs
Sc as Mr.. Ristie.
a Il didn't know you we're hereabouts,
a she said.
"I've runNove from the Bloynes to din
10 and do Halloween with YOU" h
Id answered. flashing his dark eyes quickl
I'd over Percival and again lighting the gi
IS with them.
r. surprises never come singly,". she IT
I'd turned, and Percival noted a curious Ii
tile air Of defiance in her glance and maj
. lsner..
as Now it is possible that Solomon's in
re piled distinction as to the mans way wit
re a maid was not, after all, so i'll advise
.. For young Bines. after dinner, fell
~ love with Miss Milbrey all over agai
-, The normal human mind going to one e:
80 IRENE will inevitably gravitate to its o.
49, posite If, given time. Having put h
-, away in the conviction that she w
- heartless and mercenary-having fast
-, - in the desert of doubt--1e now fou,
iie himself detecting in her an unmistakab
~ appeal for sympathy. for human kindnes
perhaps for love. He forgot the words
. Higbee and became again the confider
unquestioning lover. He noted h
rather subdued and reserved demeant
/, and the suggestions of WEAKNESS abo
her eyes. They drew him. He resolv
"a at once to seek her and give his le
~ freedom to tell itself. He would no lon
"a er meanly restrain it. He would even
~, her all his distrust. Now that they h
~ gone she should know every ignoble' ST
~ picion; and. whether she cared for h
~ or not, she would comfort him for t
~, ~ hurt they had been to him.
md The Ha1lowe. en- frolic was on. Thru t
NJ long hall. lighted to pleasant dusk by r.
in Jack o'-lanterns. stray couples strollt
with subdued murmurs and soft Taught
hat In the big white and gold parlor, in
i'd dining room, billiard room, and in t
her tropic jungle of the immense palm gard
in the, party had bestowed itself in &C
ing genial groups, ever intersecting and for
out ing anew. Little flutters Of high laue
led ter now and then told of tests that we
ing being made with roasting chestnuts, 9
ing pie parings, and white Of an egg dropr
my into water, or the lighted candle before
open window. Il.
am Percival watched for the chance to fl
my Miss Milbrey alone. His sister had j
vas ventured alone with a candle into
lilly library to study the face of her future HI
ain band in, mirror. The result had be
ugh in a sense. unsatisfactory. She had
inn held looking over her shoulder the faces
the Mauburn, Fred Milbrey, and