Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1906-10-05


swers to her occasional and cleverly-
sprinkied direct questions.
Ellersly sat opposite me, and | was
irritated, and thrown into confusion,
too, every time ! lifted my eyes, by
the crushed. criminal expression of his
face. He ate and drank hugely-and
extremely bad manners it would have
been regarded in me had | made as
much noise as he, or lifted such guam.
titles at time into my mouth. But
through this noisy gluttony he man
aged somehow to maintain that hang
dog air-like a thief who has gone
through the house and, on his way
out, has paused at the pantry, with the
sack of plumber beside him, 10 gorge
himself.
looked at Anita several times, each
time with a carefully-framed remark
ready, each time | found her gaze on
me-and | could say nothing. could
only look away in sort of panic. Her
eyes were strangely variable. | have
seen them of gray, so pale that it
was almost silver-like the steely light
of the snOw-line at the edge of the
horizon; again, and they were so that
evening, they shone with the deepest,
softest blue, and made one think as
one looked at her, of a fresh violet
frozen in block of clear ice.
sat behind her in the box at the
theater During the first and second
intermissions several men dropped in
to speak to her mother and her-fel.
lows who didn't ever come down town,
but could tell they knew who | was
by the way they ignored me. 1t exas-
perated me to pitch of fury, that
coldly insolent air of theirs-a jerky
nod at me without so much as a
glance, and no notice of me when they
were leaving my box beyond a faint,
superciliouS smile as they passed with
eyes straight ahead knew what it
meant, what they were thinking-that
the "Bucket-shop King as the news
papers had dubbed me, was trying to
use old Ellersly's necessities as a
Jimmy" and break into society"
When the curtain went down for the
last intermission, two young men ap-
peared; did not get up as / had be-
fore, but stuck to my seat had
reached that point at which courtesy
has become cowardice.
They craned and strained at her
round me and over me, presently gave
up and retired, Disgusting their anger
as contempt for the bad manners OF a
bounder. But that disturbed me not a
ripple, the more as was delighting in
a consoling discovery. Listening and
watching as she talked with these
young men, whom she evidently knew
well, | noted that she was distant and
only politely friendly in manner habit
ually, that while the ice might thicken
for me, it was there always. | knew
enough about women to know that, if
the woman who can thaw only for one
man is the most difficult, she is also
the most constant. Once she thaws
toward me-" l said to myself.
When the young men had gone,
leaned forward until my head was
close to hers, to her hair-fne, soft,
abundant, electric hair. Like the in.
fatuated fool that was, tore out all
the pigeon-holes of my brain in search
of something to say to her, something
that would start her to thinking well
of me. She must have felt my breath
upon her neck, for she moved away
slightly, and it seemed to me shiver
visibly passed over that wonderful
white skin of hers.
| drew back and involuntarily said,
Beg pardon" ! glanced at her mother
and 1t was my turn to shudder. can't
hope to give an accurate impression
Of that stony, mercenary, mean face.
There are looks that paint upon the
human countenance the whole of a
life, as flash Of lightning paints upon
the blackness of the night miles on
miles Of landscape. The look Of Mrs,
Ellersly's-stern disapproval at her
daughter, stern command that she be
more civil, that she unbend-showed
me the old womans soul.
IF you wish it," I said, on impulse
to Miss Ellersly In low voice, 81
shall never try to see you again"
/ could feel rather than see the
blood suddenly beating in her skin
and there was in her voice a nervous
ness very like fright as she answered:
I'm sure mamma and | shall be glad
to see you whenever you come"
Your" l persisted.
YES" she said, after a brief hest
tation.
| "Glad?" persisted.
| She smiled-the faintest change II
the perfect curve Of her lips. "Yor
are very persistent, aren't your"
Very" | answered. THAT is why
have always got whatever l wanted.
| II admire It," said she.
mo, you don't" | replied. "YoJ
think it is vulgar, and you think I an
vulgar because | have that quality
that and some others"
i She did not contradict me.
We'll. l am vulgar-from you
standpoint" l went on. Il have pur
poses and passions. And | pursu,
them. For instance, you"
'T?" she said TRANQUILITY.
"You" raneafad aJ mazda mn -,