Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-09-06
THE
| SPENDERS
A Tale Of the Third Generation
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By HARRY LEON WILSON
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Copyright, by Lothrop Publishing Company.
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CHAPTER XL-CONTINUED
Percival watched for the chance to
find Miss Milbrey alone. His sister
had just ventured alone with candle
into the library to study the face of
her future husband in a mirror. The
result had been, in a sense, unsatisfaC-
tory. She had beheld looking over
her shoulder the faces of Mauburn,
Fred Milbrey, and the Angstead twins,
and had declared herself unnerved by
the weird prophecy.
Before the first in the hall Percival
stood while Mrs. Akemit reClined pic
turesquely near by, and Doctor Won
Herzlich explained, with excessive care
as to his enunCiatiOn, that protoplasm
can be analysed but cannot be recon-
structed; following this with his own
views as to why the synthesis does not
produce life.
'YOu wonderful man" from Mrs.
Akemit 81 fairly tremble when l think
of all you know. Oh, what a delight
science must be to her votaries!"
The Angstead twins joined the group,
attracted by Mrs. Akemit's inquiry of
the saYant if he did not consider civ
tlization a failure. The twins did.
They considered civilization a failure
because it was killing off all the big
game. There was none to speak Of
now except in Africa; and they were
pessimistiC about Africa.
PerojVal listened absently to the talk
Of
the group in the dining room. Present
ly he saw her take a lighted candle
from one of the laughing girls and go
toward the library.
His heart-beats quickened. Now she
should know his love and it would be
well. He walked down the hall leisure
ly, turned into the big parlor, momen-
tarily deserted, walked quickly but
softly over it's polished floor to door
that gave into the library, pushed the
heavy portiere aside and stepped noise
lessly in.
The large room was lighted dimly by
two immense yellow pumpkins, their
sides cut into faces of grinning gro
tesqueness. At the far side of the room
Miss Milbrey had that instant arrived
before an antique oval mirror whose
gilded carvings reflected the light Of
the candle. She held it above her head
with one rounded arm. He stood in
deep shadow and the girl had been too
absorbed in the play to note his COM
ing. He took one noiseless step toward
her, but then through the curtained
doorway by which she had come he
saw a man enter swiftly and furtively.
Trembling on the verge of laughing
speech, something held him back, some
inexplainable instinct making itself
known in thrill that went from his
feet to his head; he could feel the roots
of his hair tingle. The newcomer
went quickly, with catlike tread, to-
ward the girl. Fascinated he stood,
wanting to speak, to laugh, yet power
less from the very swiftness of what
followed.
IN the mirror under the candle light
he saw the mans dark face come be-
side the other, heard little cry from
the girl as she half turned; then he
saw the man take uer in his arms, saw
her head fall on to his shoulder, and
her face turn to his kiss.
He tried to stop breathing, fearing
discovery, grasping with one hand the
heavy fold of the curtain back of him
to steady himself.
There was the space Of two long,
trembling breaths; then he heard her
say, in low, tense voice, as she drew
away:
"Oh, you are my bad angel-why?-
WHY"
She fed toward the door to the hall.
Don't come this way" she called
back, in quick, low tones Of caution.
The man turned toward the door
where Percival stood, and in the dark
ness stumbled over a hassock. In
stantly Percival was on the other side