Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-08-17
Copyright 1906 by Bobbs-Merrin Co.
CHAPTER xx.-continued.

waited for what seemed an inter-
minable time. 1t was growing dark
and a maid brought lamps / took
book from the table 1t was 1.-The Life
of Benvenuto Cellfni" and Marian Dew
ereux was written on the fly leaf, by
Enthusiastically the same hand that had
penned the apology for Olivia's per-
formances. l saw IN the clear, flowing
lines of the signature, in their lack OF
superfiuity, her own ease, grace and
charm; and, in the deeper stroke with
which the "x'' was crossed, l felt
challenge, readiness to abide by con-
sequences once her word was given.
Then my own inclination to think well
of her angered me, and 1 dropped the
book impatiently as she crossed the
threshold.
4 am sorry to have kept you wait
ing. Mr.. Glenarm. But this is my busy
hour"
-1 shall not detain you long 1 came"
II hesitated, not knowing why 1 had
come.
She took a chair near the open door
and bent forward with an air of atten-
ton that was disquieting. She wore
black-perhaps to fit her the better
into the house of a somber SIsterhood.
from a time long gone, and the effort
of memory threw me off guard. Stod-
dard had said there were several
Olivia Armstrong;; there were GER
tainly many Marian Devereuxs. The
silence grew intolerable; she was wait
ing for me to speak, and 1 blurted:
Il suppose you have come to take
charge of the property"
DO your" she asked.
'And you came back with the execu-
tor to facilitate matters. I'm glad to
see that you lose no time"
OH" she said lingeringly, as though
she were finding with difficulty the
note in which 1 wished to pitch the
conversation. Her calmness was mad
dening.
81 suppose you thought it unwise to
wait for the bluebird when you had be-
guiled me into breaking a promise,
when l was trapped, defeated
Her elbow on the arm of the chair,
her hand resting against her cheek,
the light ripping goldenly in her hair,
her eyes bent upon me inquiringly,
mournfully,-m as 1 had seen
them-where? -once beforei My heart
leaped in that moment, with that
thought.
Il remember now the first time"
said. more angry than 1 had ever been
before in my life.
That is quite remarkable" she said,
and nodded her head ironically.
1T was at Sherry's; you were
with Pickering-you dropped your fan
and he picked it up, and you turned
toward me for moment. You were in
black that night; it was the unhappi-
in,
made me remember"
l was intent upon the recollection,
eager to fix and establish it.
You are quite right 1t was at
Sherry's. 1 was wearing black then;
many things made me unhappy that
night"
Her forehead contracted slightly and
she pressed her lips together.
Il suppose that even then the con-
spiracy was thoroughly arranged"
said tauntingly. laughing a little per-
haps, in my brutal impulse to wound
her. to take vengeance upon her.
She rose and stood by her chair, one
hand resting upon it. I faced her; her
eyes were like violet seas. She spoke
very quietly.
Mr. Glenarm. has it occurred to you
that when 1 talked to you there in the
park. when 1 risked unpleasant gossip
in receiving you in house where you
had no possible right to be, that 1 was
counting upon something,-foolishly
and stupidly.-yet counting upon it?''
You probably thought 1 was a fool"
1 retorted.
"No."-she smiled slightly. Il
J thought believe I have said this to
you before!-that you were a gentle
man. 1 really did. Mr.. Glenarm. I
must say it to justify myself. I relied
upon your ehivalry,-I even thought,
when 1 played being Olivfa,-that you
had sense of humor. But you are
not the one.and you haven't the other
even went SO far. after you knew per-
fectly well who 1 was, to try to help
you-to encourage you to prove your
Sself the man your grandfather wished
you to be And now you come to me
in shocking bad humor,I really
think you would like to. be insulting,
Mr.. Glenarm. if you could"
But Pickering,-you came back
with him; he is here and he is going to
stay. And now that the property be-
longs to you, there is rot the slightest
reason why We shou' make any pre-
tense of anything bu- enmity When
you and Arthur Pickering stand to-
gether I take the otter side of the bar
ricade. 1 suppose chivalry would re-
quire me to vacate, so that you may
enjoy at once the spoils of war" 1
stormed with growing heat
Il fancy it would not be very diff
cult to eliminate you as factor in the
situation" she remarked icily.