The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-03-27

Ter LlOn-IldL unQcIStOO0 ana
suffered for. You must rest" said l;
you must sit quiet and be waited
on until you are strong again"
Yes. will rest" she answered, "as
soon as my boy is settled
That very day I wrote Carlotta tell
ing her about my mothers health and
asking her to change the date of our
wedding to the first week in August,
then just under a month away Shs
telegraphed me to come and talk it
over.
ton to meet me. We had not driven
far before l felt and saw that she
was intensely irritated against me- AS
unburdened my mind of my anxi-
cites about mother she listened cold
ly And 1 had to wait a long time
before / got her answer in a strained
voice and with averted eyes: "Of
course, I'm sorry your mother isn't
we'll, but 1 can't get ready that
soon"
It was not her words that exasper-
ated me; the lightning of speech from
me suorm-cIouds OF anger to clear the
DIR. II was HeT cApTeSSlOu
Never have I known anyone who
could concentrate into brows and eyes
and chin and lips more OF that sui
len and aggressive obstinacy which is
the climax of provocativeness. Pa
thence, in thought at least, with re-
fusal has not been one of my virtues.
This refusal of hers, this denial Of
happiness to one who had deserved SO
much and had received SO little, set
temper to working in me like quick
poison. But l was silent, not so
much from prudence as from inabil-
ity to find adequate words.
II can't do it, repeated Carlotta,
"anc l won't" She made it clear
that she meant the "won't"-that she
was bent upon a quarrel.
But in my struggle to train those
stanchest of servants and maddest of
masters. the passions, 1 had got at
least far enough away to choose both
the time and the ground of a quar-
rel. So 1 said: Very well, Car
lotta. Then, that is settled" And
with an air suff1 ciently deceptive to
pass muster before angry eyes, / pro-
ceeded to talk of Indifferent mat
ters.
AS 1 sat beside her, my temper
glowering in the straining leash, l
revolted her conduct and tried to puz-
Zle out its meaning. 1t is clear,
thought l, that she does not care for
nue. as people about to marry usually
profess to care. Then, does she wish
to break the engagement?
That tanned my anger instantly.
Yes, 1 thought on. she wishes to be
free-to free me. And, as my COM
bine is formed and my career we'll ad-
vanced in the way to being estab-
lished, what reason is there for try
ing to prevent her from freeing her
self? None-for l can easily explain
the situation to mother. YES" l con-
cluded, you can avoid a quarrel, can
remain friends with Carlotta. can give
and get freedom What had changed
her? I did not know; 1 did not waste
time in pulling; 1 did not tempt fate
by asking: You are poor. she is
rich," l reminded myself. That
makes it impossible for you to hesi-
tate. You must give her no excuse
for thinking you lack pride"
Then I reasoned and planned, my
temper back in it's old kennel and
peaceful as a sheep. That evening I
avoided being alone with her; just
as 1 was debating how to announce
that l must be leaving by the first
train in the morning telegram came
from Roebuck calling me to Chicago
at once When we were all going to
bed, / said to Mrs. Ramsay: Il shall
see you and Ed in the morning, but"
to Carlotta-"you don't get up so
early. I'll say good-by now'-this in
the friendliest possible way
1 was conscious of Mrs. Ramsay's
look of wonder and anxiety: of Eds
wild stare from Carlotta to me and
back again at her. She bit her lip
and her voice was unsteady as she
said; "Oh, no. Harvey. I'll be up"
There was a certain meekness in her
tone which would probably have de-
lighted me had l been what is usu-
ally called "masterful'
When 1 came down at seven O'Clock
after an unquiet night, Carlotta was
lying in wait for me, took me into the
parlor and shut the door. What do
you mean?" she demanded, facing me
with something of her wonted impe-
riousness.
Mean" said /, for once feeling no
resentment at her manner
BY leaving-this way" she ex
planned, with impatience
You heard Mr.. Roebucks teIe-
gram" said i.
You are angry with me-" she per-
sisted.
No, Carlotta," said l. Il was, but
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