Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-12

gradually, as full conscious
ness came to him, assumed the form OF
a desire to continue his interrupted
tnlk of the night before with Eunice.
AS he lay on his back, his hands clasp
ed under his head, the impression he
had received of the charm Of the girls
personality came back to him wildly.
He coinplacently decided that he
would take the first opportunity that
day to see and talk with her once
more.
But the day passed. and the opportu-
nifty did not present itself.
In the evening he betook himself to
the terrace by the gate and sat waiting
for her to colne out to him. Not until
his vigil had reached the hour of II
unrewilrded did he give it up.
She's afraid of Abe" he decided rs.
with a keenness of disappointment that
surprised himself, he went into the
silent house and sought his bed.
The two following days left him still
foiled of his purpose. 1t looked as
though the girl herself tried to avoid
him. The fact only aggravated his
desire to renew his investigation Of
her. TO defer 1t SO long was like being
obliged to wait a whole month for the
next number Of an interesting serial.
There were many things they had
not talked out chat night she had come
to him. 1t remained yet to decide what
employment she should take up in
town.
Kinross had usually found that his
interest in a woman was In an inverse
ratio to his Intimacy with her. The
charm of mystery or elusiyeness
quickly vanished OF a closer view. But
here sas a'case In which what at first
had seemed a perfectly obvious char
acter grew more mysterious and there
fore more interesting each time she
opened her lips.
AS a diversion from his irritation at
his continued failure to see her alone
he n day asked Mr.. M~orningtar's
permission to sleep that night in the
haunted part OF the house.
He was surprised at the effect his
simple request produced. The farm
er's wife turned white to the lips. and
trembled SO that she had to pause In
her clearing of the dinner table and
sink into a chair.
you couldn't hire me with dimons
to 60 near there" she gasped. And
I wouldn't be dom right to leave you
tie SC venturesome if o don't know
better yourself"
He had fingered after the rest had
left the dinner table to put his request,
and he was alone with her. With his
usual contempt for feminine logic, he
would not waste time in reasoning
with her on the point at issue, but at
once put to her the one argument
which he knew could scarcely fail to
convince her. 'Pll pay q dollar extra
board this week for the privilege" he
said. Delicacy in dealing with Mrs.
Morningstar would have been casting
pearls.
"'What fur do you want to do some
pin that d~angerous?" she curiously in
quired, weakening In her resistance, as
he was sure she would.
"I never met a ghost. I'd find it in
teresting to make the acquaintance Of
one"
He suddenly started as he became
aware of Georgiana's presence in the
kitchen. She had come in at the door
behind him and had walked into the
room before he saw her. He cast q
hasty glance upon her to find evidence
~ I,~n 1nx;,,~ oyDrI,Ooy M hio vor,o rr
delivered in his natural tone and Ian
guage and not in that of his assumed
character.
But Georgiana was not observant.
She gave no sign Of having heard him
as, tanning her heated face, she Ian
guidly rested on the big wooden set
tee. Daisy followed and sat down
beside her.
We've decided it's too hot just now,
at noon, to walk over to the woods.
We're going to bed until it's cooler"
G%eorgiana announced. "Why, what's
the matter, Mrs. MorningstarT she
asked, for the landlady still looked
pale in spite of the profered extra dol
lar.
"Are you and, Pete having a row.?
asked Daisy. with relish, flinging a
greasy cushion of the settee to a chair
across the room.
"Och, me and Doc we're havin' a. de-
bate! He wants fur to sleep in the
haunted room oncet. l amt in fur it
much. Butt she said doubtfully, II
guess / must give in, too, SEEM he's
promised a extry dollar on his board
fur the chanct.""
The girls stared, puzzled, and Kin
ross had a look of being cornered. But
even in his annoyance at such a give
away" the added liveliness of Geor-
giana's face in It's rare self forgetful-
ness under her %momentary surprise
was not lost upon him.
Board? Does he pay board?' ask
ed Daisy, half reaching for her note
book. ga farmland isn't boarded"
Mrs. Morningstar was confused,
'Och, Doc" she stammered, "how's a
body to answer 'em? Well, to be
sure" she added, becoming resource
full. "a farmhand's board is counted
as part pay"
How fine of you, Peter" said Geor-
giana enthusiastically, ITO rise above
this sordid, superstitious fear! Your
spirit Of inquiry, too, is fine. am
glad you IRE undertaking to do this,
Peter. I believe we can rise to a plane
where fear Is entirely eliminated"