Charlevoix county herald., 1907-02-09

slashinss IN the coat over her
bosom; and on her head was a hat
to match. | looked at her feet-the
slippers had been replaced by boots.
And they're just right for her" said
Alva, who was following my glance,
though ISa not so tall as She"
But what amazed me most and de-
lighted me, was that she seemed to
be almost in good spirits. 1t was
evident she had formed with Joe's
daughter one of those sudden friend
ships SO great and so vivid that they
rarely lived long after the passing of
the heat of the emergency that bred
them. Mrs. Ball saw it also, and was
straightway giddied into a sort of
ecstasy. You can imagine the Wis
ions it conjured I've no doubt she
talked house on the east side of the
park to Joe that very night, before
she let him sleep. However, Anita's
face was serious enough when we
took our places before the minister,
with his little, black bound book open.
And as he read in a voice that was
genuinely impressive those words
that no voice could make unimpres-
sive, | saw her paleness blanch in
TO pallor, saw the dusk creep round
her eyes until they were like stars
waning somberly before the gray face
of dawn. When they closed and her
head began to sway. | steadied her
with my arm. And so we stood, |
with my arm round her, she leaning
lightly against my shoulder Her an
swers were mere movements of the
lips.
At the end. when kissed her cheek,
she said: rs it over?"
Yes" McCabe answered-she was
looking at him. And | wish you all
happiness, Mrs. Blackjack"
At that name, her new name, she
stared at him with great wondering
eyes; then her form relaxed. | car
ried her to a chair. Joe came with
glass of champagne; she drank
some of it, and it brought life back
! to her face, and some color. With
a naturalness that deceived even me
for the moment, she smiled up at
Joe as she handed him the glass. rs
| IL D.iu luCh, BIC dohSu, III luC W DO
the first to drink my own health
And she stood, looking TRANQUILITY at
every One-eXcept me.
l took McCabe into the hall and
paid him Off
When we came back, said: Now
we must be going"
"Oh, but surely you'll stay for sup
peri" cried Joe's wife.
NO." replied |, in tone that made
it impossible to insist. I'VE appre
ciate your kindness, but we've i'm
posed on it enough" And | shook
hands with her and with Allie and the.
minister. and, linking Joes arm in
mine, made for the door. | gave the
necessary directions to my chauffeur
while we were waiting for Anita to
come down the steps. Joes daugh-
ter was close beside her, and they
kissed each other good-by, Alva on the
verge Of tears, Anita not suggest
ing any emotion of any sort. ITO.
morrow-sure," Anita said to her
And she answered. Yves, indeed-as
soon as you telephone me-" And so
we were off shower of rice rat
Ting on the roof of the brougham-
the slatternly man-servant had thrown
ii from the midst of the group of
servants.
Neither of us spoke. | watched
her face without seeming to do so,
and by the light of occasional street
lamps saw her studying me furtively.
At last she said: II wish to go to
my uncle's now
I'VE are going home" said /.
But the house will be shut up"
said She and every one will be in
bed. It's nearly midnight Besides,
they might not" She came to
full stop.
I've are going home repeated.
ITO the Willoughby."
She gave me look that was meant
to scorch-and it did. But | showed
at the surface no sign of how | was
wincing and shrinking.
She drew farther into her corner,
and out of its darkness came, in low
voice: How | hate you!" like the
whisper of bullet.
kept silent until | had control at
myself. Then, as if talking of a mat
ter that had been finally and annie
ably settled, | began: THE apart
ment isn't exactly ready for us, but
Joe's just about now telephoning my
man that we are coming, and tcle-
phoning your people to send your
maid down there
Il wish to go to my uncle's," she
repeated.
My wife will go with me-" said
quietly and gently. Il am considerable
of her, not of her unwise impulses"
A long pause, then from her, in icy
calmness: Il am in your power