Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-07-31
as he at homer"


els he al homer room she heard,
the fingers of the prying rain busy ut
her windows. the ticking of the small
French clock. very dull, very far away
-or was it her heaT.s
"Who is III" .
Her voice left her for an Instant.
Her dry lips made no answer,
"Who Is itT' he repeated In MS
steady. pleasant voice.
ut is L."
There was absolute silence. 30 long
that it frightened her, but before she
could speak again his voice was sound
ing in her ears, patient, unconvlnced:
Il don't recognize your voice. VINO
am speaking tor
Sylvia"
There was no response, and she spoke
again.
81 only wanted to say good morning.
II is afternoon now. Is it too late to
say good morning?"
"No. I'm badly ratified. Is 1t you,
Sylvan
"Indeed it is. am in my OVID room.
IL thought
eyes; am listening"
81 don't know what did think. Is
it necessary for me to telephone you
minute account of the mental proc
esses which ended by my calling you
up out of the vastly deep|
The old ring in her voice, limiting or
the laughing undertone, the same trail
ing sweetness of infectiOn-cOuld he
doubt his senses any longer?
81 know you now" he said.
81 should think you might. I should
very much like to know how you are
If you don't mind saying"
"Thank you. seem to be all right.
Are you all right, Sylvia?"
"Shamefully and outrageously well.
What season too! Everybody else Is
in rags-makeup rags! Isn't that dis
agreeable remark? But I'll come to
the paint brush, too. of course. We
all do. Doesn't anybody ever see you
any more?"
She heard him laugh to himself un-
pleasantly-then, A'Does anybody want
TOT"
Everybody, of course! You know It.
You always were spoiled to DEATH"
"Yes-to DEATH"
stephen"
"Yes?"
"Are you becoming cynicalT
81? Why should ~
.sYou are. Stop it! Mercy on us!
If that is what is going on in a certain
house on lower Fifth avenue, facing
the corner of certain streets, It's time
somebody dropped in to-
"To-what"
ITO the rescue! I've mind to do 1t
myself. They say you are not well,
either"
"Who says that?"
ooh, the usual little pathological
cockatrice-or, rather, cantatrice. Don
ask me, because l won't tell you.
always tell you too much anyway.
Don't I?'
"Do your
"Of course I do. Everybody spoils
you, and so do IT,
"Yes-I am rather In that way ]
suppose"
"What way"
"Oh-spoiled."
"Stephen!"
EYES,?
And in a lower voice, "Please don't
say such things-will your
mo"
ESPECIALLY to me-"
ESPECIALLY to you. No. ] won't
Sylvia"
And, after hesitation. she continu
ed sweetly:(
81 wonder what you were doiiis5' ~
alone in that old house of yours. "i!nt
called you upf"
81? Let me see. Oh, Was Sf''' y:
tending some packing"
"Are you going off somewhele
~ think So"
"Where|
81 don't know. Sylvia"
81 decline to be snubbed. I'm F3a
less, and wish to be informed pic!
tell me-"
"I'd rather not tell you"
"very well. Goodby! But do1'tri
off just yet, Stephen. Do you tn
that some time you would care to Ge'-
any people, mean when you begin I,
60 out againT
"Who, for example,"
"Why, anybody"
"No; don't think should care to
I'm rather too busy to go about, ever
If l were inclined to-"
"Are you really busy, Stephenf
"Yes-waiting. That is the very
hardest sort of occupation, and I'm
obliged to be on hand every minute"
"But you said that you were going
out Of town."
"Did I? Well, l did not say 1t exact
ly, but l am going 70 leave town."
For very long" she asked.
"Perhaps. I-can't tell yet"
stephen, before you go, If you arr
going for a very, very long while-per
haps you will-you might care to ga.
goodby."
'Do you care to have meY'
Eyes, I do"
There was a silence, and when hi
voice sounded again 1t had altered.
81 do not think you would care t
see me, Sylvia. I-they say | am
have changed-since my-since Sigh
illness. am not over it yet, not cure'
mot very well yet, and a little tired
you sea little shaken. ! am leaving
New York toto try once more to b.
cured. l expect to be well-one way O