The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1906-10-04


the door opening into the anteroom
of Trenner's office. Several persons
passed her, and one or two looked
back half.curiously into the woman's
white face and tell.tale eyes. 1t was
the supreme hour OF her life. she felt
II was to be the elimination of months
of an almost too daring experiment;
but If through the risk, her art should
triumph. she might count as nothing
the breath of gossip that was already
beginning to stir insldiously.
The Office boy was not on duty.
She knocked timidly on Trenner's pri-
vate Office door There was no re-
Spouse, and she raped again. Still
no answer, and the blood tided to her
face Here was an unlookedfor diff
Guilty. She dropped into chair and
glanced about the room little be.
wlldered. What If she should be de-
feated after all her pains!
There were number of amateurish
sketches done In oil with which Tren
ner had chosen to ornament his walls
and Mrs Hardlman amused herself
by walking about from one to the
other, trying to decipher the subjects
In the corner of each were the initials
+. II. T. His wife, in all probability
She remembered having heard that
Trenner had married some years ago.
but that for an as yet undiscovered
reason, he was not living with the
woman at present. Half the people
said 1t was because she was crazy;
the other half said they were not sur
prised that she was unable to live
with husband like him. Mrs. Hardi-
man confessed herself supremacy in
different upon the question.
|. Presently shadow cut across the
| light in front of her and she turned
with little startled gesture that was
unavoidable.
Trenner came into the room with
his customary air of deliberation and
stood drawing off his gloves placidly
"Will you be busy for the next half
hour?" Mrs. Hardiman asked, as he
questioned her with his uplfted brows
81 am never busy-with the prospect
of your company before me-" he an
swered, laying his hat on table and
moving toward the door of his office.
Mrs. Hardiman dismissed his trite-
ness with little gesture of Impotence
ana followed.
Il want to ask you a question" she
began without preface, the belliger-
ence of her altitude at once unmis-
taxable.
She hesitated a moment, scrutiniz-
ing him through half-shut lashes, her
| lips compressed.
Trenner endured her eyes for
awhile, but presently began to be UNI
comfortable and prompted her.
"Well?" he said.
Have you been misinformed in re-
gard to me?" she asked, in a cold
voice
Il have never been informed of you
at all" was the stiff reply
Then | was personally responsible
for your act of yesterday"
I'VE are all personally responsible
for what happens to us. are we not?"
The woman was silent for mo-
ment. Her wits, usually keen and
quick, threatened to desert her in the
hour that she wanted them most
After pause, she spoke again;
Il am afraid. though, that you have
made a mistake. "A miscalcula.
ton"
Il think not. A man seldom does
under certain conditions"
Mrs. Hardiman felt the blood flame
to her face in scorching wave.
Men are profound cyclists" she cut
in sharply, and | demand an apology
for your conduct toward me-"
Trener smiled. uncrossed his knees
and sat up quite straight in his chair.
MY dear lady" he said. with great
Difference. ''if | have offended you.
most humbly beg your pardon"
IF. You are sure OF it, are you
not?" She bent toward him excitedly.
'I-well. perhaps l ought to be. but
I'm not" he returned. candidly. his
demeannr netting the woman almost
beyond endurance.
You took advantage OF me-of-
of the situation" she cried.
How is that?" he questioned. with
faint show of interest.
THE office boy was-there-in the
next room, / was obliged to keep
silent, Inst there should be a mlscon.
structioTs" she cried.
81 was not aware that | did any.
thing to occasion your indignation"
he persisted imperturbably
THAT is not true" she jerked ont.
struggling hard to keep her mastery.
Trenner shrugged AMI laughed soft.
ly.
Again J beg your pardon" he re.
peated, with MOCK humility.
Mrs. Hardiman bit her lips, her fin.
gers clenching themselves in her lap.
You are perfectly aware of the fact
that you-that what you tried TO do
was against my will?" she went on.
breathing tensely,
Il don't think it was" he responded.
toying with his watch fob.