Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-05-26
CHAPTER v.

CHAPTER v.
i SENTIMENTAL EXCHANGE.
VI Lorry slept that night he was
i not aware of It. All night long he
| tossed and thought. Her face was
everywhere. Her voice filed his
ear with music never ceasing, but It
was not the lulling music that invites
drowsiness. He heard the clock strike
the hours from 1 to 8, when he arose,
thoroughly disgusted with himself. he
worshiped his mother, but in several
instances that morning he caught him.
self just in time to prevent the utter
ance of some sharp rejoinder to her
pleasant, motherly queries. Twice she
was compelled to repeat questions, his
mind being so far away that he heard
nothing save words that another wom-
an had uttered, say, twenty-four hours
before. His eyes were red, and there
was heavy droop to the lids. His
tones were drawling and his voice
strangely without warmth. His face
was white and tired.
"You are not well, Grenfall," MS
mother said, peering anxiously into bis
eyes. 1.-The trip has done you up. Now,
you must take good, long rest and re-
cover from your vacation"
He smiled grimly.
| "a man never needs a rest so much
as he does at the end Of his vacation,
ell. mother? Well, work will be rest
full shall go to the office this morn
ing and do three days work before
night. That will prove to you that !
am perfectly WELL"
True to his intention, he went to the
office early, virtuously inclined to work.
His uncle greeted him warmly and a
long conference over business affairs
followed. To Lorry's annoyance and
discontinue he found himself frequent
| ly inattentive. Several important cases
were pending. and in day or two they
were to go into court with damage
suit of more than ordinary conse-
quence. Lorry senior could not re-
press his qualification over the return
of his clever. active nephew at such an
opportune time. He had felt himself
unable to handle the case alone. The en-
durance of q young and vigorous mind
was required for the coming battle In
chancery.
They lunched together, the elder ea-
ger and confidential, the other respect
| full and-absentminded. In the after.
noon the junior went over the case and
renewed search for authorities and
opinions. fully determined to be con-
slant in spite Of his inclination to be
tickle Late in the day he petulantly
threw aside the books, curtly informed
his ast)nished uncle that he was not
feeling we'll and left the Office. Until
dinner time he played billiards afro
ciously at his club; at dinner his moth.
er sharply reproved him for fragrant
inattentions; after dinner he smoked
and wondered despondently. Tomor-
row she was to sail! II he could but
see her once more!
At 7:3O his mother found him in the
library searching diligently through
the volume or the encyclopedia that
contained the G's. Wien she asked
what he was looking for. lie laughed
idiotically and in confusion informed
her that he was trying to frd the name
of the most important city In Indiana.
She was glancing at the books In the
case when she was startled by hearing
him utter an exclamation and then
leap to his feet.
Half past Z! can make it!'
"What is the matter, Gren. dear"
"Ohw he CALCULATED, bringing himself
up with a start II forgot-er-yes,
mother, I'll just have time to catch the
train, you know. Will you kindly have
Mary clean up this muss Of books and
80 forth? I'm of, you see, to New
York--for a day only, mother-back
tomorrow! Important business-just
remembered it, you know-ahem! Good.
by, mother! Goodby" He had kissed
her and was in the hall before she fair.
ly understood what he was talking
about Then she ran after him, gain.
ing the hallway in time to see him pass
through the street door, his hat on the
side of his head, his overcoat futtering
furiously as he showed his arms Into
the sleeves. The door slammed, and
he was of to New York.
The train was ready to pull out when
he reached the station, and 1t was only
by a hard run that he caught the last
platform. painting, but happy. Just
twenty-four hours before she had left
Washington, and it was right here that
she had smiled and said she would
expect him to come to Edelweiss. He
had had no time to secure berth In
the sleeper, but was fortunately able
to get one after taking the train. Gren.
fall went to sleep feeling both disap.
pointed and disgusted - disappointed
because Of his submission to sentiment,
disgusted because of the man who oc-
cupied the next section. A man who
is in love and in doubt has no patience
with the prosaic wretch who can sleep
so audibly.
After a hasty breakfast in New York
he telephoned to the steamship COM
pany's pier and asked the time Of sail
| ing for the Kaiser Wilhelm. On being
informed that the ship was to cast on
at her usual hour, he straightway call
ed n cab and was soon bowling along
toward the busy waterway. Directly
he sat bolt upright, rigid and startled
to find himself more awakened to the
realization Of his absurd action. Again
| It entered his infatuated head that he
was performing the veriest schoolboy
trick in rushing to steamship pier In
the hope of catching final and at best
unsa tisfactory glimpse Of young wo-
man who had appealed to his sensitive
admiration. A lovesick boy could be
excused for such q display Of imbecil-
| ity, but a mana man Of the world!
| Never!
1.-THE idea Of chasing down to the
waters edge to see that girl Is enough
to make you ashamed Of yourself for
life, Grenfall Lorry," he apostrophised.
i