The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-07

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to you, Miss Oakley, whether went or
stopped at home"
..And now that I've come here to your
ask a favor Of you I'd
ask of no other man. do you still think
your comings and goings are SO completely
indifferent to me?"
Vivien Oakeys voice was soft and Sc
ductive as she asked to question, which
would have thrilled thru the warm blood
in Breakspear's veins only last night: but
now another face seemed to have GOMEZ
between him and her, fading her beauty
into cold insigniicance for one man at
least.
Now, hope that you really think Of
me friend" he said.
Her eyes dropped, and she bit her lip.
THAT Is true" she answered, in a tone
less voice. but I am keeping you wait
ing all this time to know what is the SER
vice have to ask Of YOU Perhaps tho,
you have guessed? want you to drive
with me to that house where I dare not
go alone Will your
"Of course. If that is all the Service
as you call it, I wish there were more to
shew you how much I would do for you.
Are we to go now?'
yes now-now'' cried Miss Oakley,
suddenly showing signs Of impatience.
And when the errand Is done, you Will
take me home. where am to spend the]
nlSHC. MY uncle CQlnKS ! am dining WltA
the Brandon Paynes. My friends at Redl
Down Hall think that my uncle wasn't
we'll, and that I came to see for myself
how he was. So you see I have been
obliged to tell some fibs. But no matter.
Nothing matters. really! Ond now we
will go. I ought not to have delayed SO
long, for every minute counts. You are
| very good to come. and you will be still
| more good to make haste. Your hat and
coat? Oh, there they are, that sofa.
You must have been going out on some
affair Of your own-and I've interfered."
AS she spoke, she moved quickly away
from the fireplace and stood by the table,
resting one hand upon it. To take the
curl and the photograph, and put them
in his pocket as he wished to do, would
have necessitated reaching past Miss
Oakley, and drawing her attention to the
fact. Yet Breakspear could hardly make
up his mind to go out Of the house leav-
ing his treasures where they were, to be
stared at by the servant who would come
in to clear away his dinner. While he
debated what to do, he crossed the room
and picked up his coat and hat. BY this
time he had quite decided how to act.
He opened the door, and let his beautiful
visitor pass out, making as If TO follow
her. Then, appearing to remember him
self, he exclaimed: 81
"Oh by the way, there's something T
must go back for won't be an instant"
But an instant Is too long, if you are
as anxious to help me as you said,'
pleaded Vivien, laying a OBTAINING hand on
his arm. please don't go back for any
thing. I shall think it will bring us bad
luck for our expedition. You know it's
horribly unlucky to return for a thing
forgotten when you are starting away.
Please-please! You promised uncondi-
tionally to do anything-anything I
asked
What could Breakspear do? There was
nothing for it but to set his teeth to-
gether and humor her, or break his word.
So he chose the former course. But he
/ wondered grinly how he could ever for
a moment have imagined himself on the
road to love Miss Oakley. She did not
appear even pretty to him now. He
thought her an unreasonable, petulant,
, silly, superstitious woman, and he wished
that his mission for her was over, and he
at home again-with the photograph.
, But at least 1t was still in his power
to safeguard the latter from irreverent
2 hands In the entrance hall Of the house
3 was the servant whose business it was to
/ attend to the door, and with him Break
= spear left hasty instructions that on no
4 account was his table to be cleared until
. his return. Nothing in the sitting room
was to be touched during his absence.
e Leaving this message required but the
; fra lotion of minute; and at the minutes
4 end Miss Oakley and he were together In
o the cab which had been waiting for4her
]; during the quarter hour Of her visit in
r Seymour street. -
A few hours ago, the prospect of long
r drive alone In hanson cab with Vivier
e Oakley, after dark, would have seemed
n to Breakspear a delicious adventure
S The he was not exactly in love, and nigh
g have been sorry next day for what he hat
n done In a moment Of impulse, he woult
y very likely have told her that he caret
n m k-I-l l.,
IS a fever of impatience when he heard tina
6 he was to drive out as far as the Bottoms
= It would be an age before he could ge
y back to that dear, shining curl and tn
% photograph. ,-..
IT Nevertheless, ne managed to hide al
} traces Of his selfish annoyance; and to d.
this ought not to have been difficult, TO
% never in her life had Miss Oakley bee
" moro charming. She was keyed to a hig
~ pitch Of excitement-it was easy to Sc
I that. tho she kept herself splendidly Il
W hand-but she was still able to bring a
L the electric battery of her fascination
III to bear upon Breakspear. For fey
~ moments she would be bright and witty
IN just to remind him that he was with
clever young woman Of the world VIII
, knew how to drop diamonds from her lip
when she chose Then, not to let hir
q: forget that she was a girl, who had fun
/ herself upon his chivalry, her name
g: would soften into pathos. e =
l She did not attempt to explain til
ou mystery Of her Grand but by droppin
In several hints that she was almost riskin
a scandal for a dear, dear friend, she Il
or it be plainly seen that the concealmer
ne was merely for the friends sake, not hi
Oh own at all, and gave Breakspear chanc
er to guess how self-sa crificing was he
friendship If woman had in her sue
an depth Of feeling for a friend, what woul
she be when her love was awakened
IS. That was the question that Jim ought t
m have asked himself, but he did not. H
n was wondering whether those idiots
servants in Seymour street had let hi
ke treasures alone.
ly To be continued tomorrow.
az 3D.