The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-09-15

mounted 70 his face.
You don't seem to notice that you're
: paying me poor compliment" he
said. If you can't put trust in nv
word when l tell you things right,
why. it's pity that you ever said
you'd have nae. Can't you understand
that | know more about these things
than you doy
Yes. of course" she said. catching
eagerly and piteously at chance of
propitiating him. "Of course Won
know better about everything. All.
DEAR
We'll, then, do as I tell you" he
said angrily.
Gladys lifted a pair OF beseeching.
infinitely perpexed but resolute eyes to
his face.
"oh, All. don't-don't ask me- she
said. III person thinks a things
wrong. why, then It's wrong for them
TO do H."
But Loftie's was not temper that
bore opposition. The band was PLAYING
selection from comic operas selec-
ton which Gladys recalled with detes-
tation long after its brief career ON the
hand organs was over, andsduring the
instant in which roll OF drums made
speech impossible she saw his face
harden and whiten with anger. AS
soon as he could make himself heard he
spoke.
Now look here, Gladys" he said.
its no use talking like that / have
asked you, and do ask you. and If YOU
won't tell me it's all off between us-so
noww
A food of crimson color rushed over
Gladys poor little face and ebbed
away, leaving 1t very pale. But she
only said piteously:
''0h, ALI, don't say thatr'
It's your own doing" he returned
grimly.
They had neither of them noticed that
the curtain had gone up on the last act,
and their whispered words were sud
denly hushed into silence by the com
plants Of their nelghbors. They sat
looking at the brilliantly lighted stage
until the curtain fell again. and then
Loftie rose mechanically. He led The
way through the crowd, followed by
Gladys, and as they got into the street
he said:
Are you going to tell me?"
But Gladys only shook her head.
Gladys never knew very well how she
got home that night. she was only |
quite sure that Ioftie did. not 40 with |
her She told her mother that she had |
THE headache awfully bad" and bury |
Ing her face in the pillow as soon as |
might be she pretended to 90 to sleep.
1t was not till the next morning that
the high tide Of her nnhappiness broke
upon Gladys.
II couldn't help 1t, she said to her
self as full realization came upon her. |
x couldn't help 1t. But, oh, / do wish |
was deadn'
Mrs Shorter's keen perceptions early
told her that Gladys headache was
,nly to be accounted for by something
wrong with her and Alfn Being Il /
woman OF much discretion, she did NOT
)rcss her daughter for her confidence.
1ut left her i'll bed, luxury which
sunday morning alone permitted her.
md brought her the. only balm she
'ould offer In the shape of a cup OF tea
md In bed Gladys lay and cried till
be could cry no more.
She got up eventually and wandered
lown TO the little sitting room ii the
asement-a disconsolate and disheyel- !
d little figure. And when the time \
anne for evening church," Mrs. Shor- I
ar's one weekly dissipation, that wor- {
ny woman was In twenty minds at T
nee as to whether or no her daughter +
fould take 1t kind If she STAYED NJ d
ONE with her. Finally she decided
lat Gladys didn't want any notice
'ok" and proceeded to array herself \
her Sunday clothes. +
she doesn't expect young Loftle g
lats certain" Mrs Shorter said "a
arself as she proceeded rfong the pas- 4
lge to the street door. shed have
lrled her hair If she had, whatever
ere'd been between them. Now I do
,pe and trust
she opened the street door at this \
'int and her rumlnatIons were cut n
ddenly short, for there on the door n
ep stood young Loftie" himself. n
''Oh, good evening. Mrs. Shorter he
id neryously. IL was Just going
ring the bell"
Good evening, Alfred,' returned
re-. Shorter graciously, though she Felt
Dang for her daughter as she thought n
the uncurled hair. "You'll excuse
being on my way to church. won't
u: Gladys Is downstairs in tho slt- &
q room, but she's not we'll. ~
May go DOWN" said Ioftie IN
'You know your way" said Mrs m
orter.
'iadys, downstairs heard the front ~
'r shut, ana she rested her face IN y
~ sofa cushion and began 10 cry
I'm Then suddenly she heard step
the Kitchen stairs step that she N
sw She lifted her head and looked II
md at the door, picture OF blank /
shtenod amazement. The steps came 4
WY on, and at last the door was
'hcd open and Loftic stood there. IS
'rt II was quite 4 different Loftie 30
N the angry, aggressive, determined -,
ing man from whom she had parted a.
the previous night. This Loftie was
recating In expression and shame. th,