The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-08-08

cHApTER xx.-contInaed.

CHAPTER XX-contlnued.
The plano pounding continued and
waited for what seemed an inter
miuable time. II was growing dark
and a maid brought lamps. I took a
book from the table. 1t was The Life
of Benvenuto Cellini- and Marian Dew.
ereux was written on the fly leaf. by
unmistakably the same hand that had
Denned the apology for Oilvia's per.
formances. I saw In the clear. flowing
lines of the signature, in their lack OF
superiority, her Own ease. grace and
charm; and, in the deeper stroke with
which the =" was crossed. I felt a
challenge, a readiness "a abide by con-
sequences once her word was given.
Then my own inclination to think well
of her angered me. and I 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
hGar.
Il shah not detain you long. I came =
hesitated not knowing why had
cone.
She took a chair near the open door
ahd bent forward with an air OF atten-
GiCn that was disquieting. She wore
bl4ck-perhaps to AT her the better
mao the house Of a somber ~SIsterhood.
4 seemed suddenly to remember her
from a time long gone. and the effort
OF memory threw me OF guard. Stod-
dard had said there we're several
Olivia Armstrong;; there were GER
tainly many Marian Devereuxs. The
silence grew in~tolerable; she was wait
ing for me 10 speak. and I blurted:
i suppose you have come to take
charge OF the property"
do you?" she asked.
And o came back with the execu.
tor to facilitate matters. I'm glad to
see that you lose no time"
NOh!" she said lingeringly, as though
she were finding with difficulty the
note in which l wished to pitch the
conversation Her calmness was mad
dening.
Il suppose you thought 1t unwise TO
wait for the bluebird when you had be-
guiled me into breaking a promise.
ANA Wen AohAf4i QCAGhNtAs-
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,-mournfully. as ! had seen
them-where?-cnce before! My heart
leaped In that moment, with that
thought.
4 remember now the first time" I
said more angry than l 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 a moment. You were in
black that night: Il was the unhappi.
5 in your face. In your eyes, that
made me remember"
] was intent upon the recollection.
eager TO Ok and establish III
you are quite right. II was at
Sherry's. / was wearing black then;
many things made me unhappy that
night"
Her forehead contracted slightly and
she pressed her lips together.
4 suppose that even then the con
spiraey was thoroughly arranged" /
said taunungly, laughing a little per.
haps, In my brutal impulse 10 wound
her, 10 take vengeance upon her.
She rose n stood by her chair, one
hand resting upon A. ! faced her. her
eyes were like violet seas. She spoke
very quietly.
Mr. Glenarm, has II occurred 10 you
that when talked 10 you there IN the
park, when risked unpleasant gossip
In receiving YOU IN a house where you
had no possible right 10 be. that / was
counting upon something ,-foolishiy
and stupidly.-yet counting upon ~.
You probably thought / was a foGf, "
i retorted.
"No,"-she smiled slightly. Il
thought believe i have said this to
you beforel-that you were a gentle
man. | really did. Mr.. GIenarm. /
must say Il TO Justify myself. / relied
upon your chivalry.|I even thought,
when / played being o~llvia.-that you
had a of humor. But you are
mot the one and you haven't the other
4 even went so far. after you knew per
fectly wen who / was. to try 10 help
you-to encourage you 10 prove your
self the man your grandfather wished
you TO be, And now you come 10 me
IN a shocking bad humor,I really
think you would like to be insulting,
Mr.. Glenarm. II you could"
But Pickering.-you came back
him he Is here and he is going to
stayi And now that the property be- I
longs 10 you, there Is not the slightest
reason why We should make amy pre- {
Of anything but enmlty. When {
r0u and Arthur Pickering stand TO !
/ take the other side Of the bar &
I suppose chivalry would re
luire me 20 Yaeate. so that you may q
njoy az once the s3o.ls OF war" /