Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-07-10

"Yes. Is it not an outrage to drag
In that sort of thing? 1t angers me
intensely, Mr.. Plank. Why do they
do it? Is there single one among
them qualified to criticise Mr.. Siward!
And, besides, it is not true any more,
is it, what was once said of him with
with some truth? Is 1T?
The dull red blood mantled Planks
heavy visage The silence grew grim
as he did his slow. laborious thinking
the while his eyes, expressionless and
almost opaque in the dim light, never
left hers until under the unchanging.
merciless inspection the mask dropped
for an instant from her anxious face,
and he saw what he saw. -
He was no fool. What he had come
to believe she at last had only con.
firmed And now the question became
simple, Was she worth enlightenipg.:
And by what title did she demand his
confidence!
"You ask me if Is true any more.
You mean about his habits. If answer
you, 1t Is because | cannot be indif-
ferent to what concerns him. But be-
fore I answer / ask you this, Would
your interest in his fortunes matter to
him."
She waited, head bent, then:
81 don't know. Mr.. Plank" very low.
"Did your interest in his fortunes
ever concern himF'
Eyes. once"
He looked at her sternly, his jaw
squaring until his heavy under lip pro-
jected. within my definition of friend
ship is he your friend?"
"You mean he'-
"No; / mean you. / can answer for
him. How is 1t with you? Do you
return what he glves-if there is really
friendship between you, or do you take
what he offers, offering nothing in re-
turn?'
She had turned rather white under
the direct impact of the questions.
The jarring repetition of his voice it.
self was like the dull echo of distant
blows. Yet It never occurred to her to
resent it nor his attitude nor his self
assumed privilege. She did not care
She no longer cared what he said to
her or thought about her, nor did she
care that her mask had fallen at last.
1t was not what he was saying, but
what her own heart repeated so heav-
fly that drove the color from her face.
Not he, but she herself had become the
pltiless attorney for the prosecution;
not his voice, but the clamoring con-
science within her demanded by what
right she used the name of friendship
to characterize the late relations be-
tween her and the man to whom she
had denied herself.
Then a bitter impatience swept her
and a dawning fear, too, for she had
set her foot OH the fallen mask, and
the impulse rendered her reckless.
"Why don't you speak" she said.
"Yes, have right to know. | care
for him as much as you do. Why don't
you answer me? tell you care for
him.!
DO you? he said in a dull voice.
"Then help me out, If you can, for
don't know what to do, and If did l
haven't the authority of friendship
as my warrant He is in New York.
He did go to the country, and mt his
home the servants suppose he IS still
away, but he isn't. He is here alone
and sick-sick Of his old sickness. I
saw him, and''-Plank rested his head
on his hand, dropping his eyes-"and
he didn't know me. IL do not think
he will remember that he met me or
that I spoke And / could do nothing,
absolutely nothing. And don't know
where he Is. He will go home after
awhile. call every day to see-see
what can be done, but if he were |
there l would not know what to do.
When he does go home won't know
what to say, what to try to do. And |
that is an answer to your question,
Miss Lands. l give it because you
say you care for him as do. Will you
advise me what to do, you, Who are
more entitled than | am to know the
truth, because he has given you the
friendship which he has as yet not ac-
corded to me?"
But Sylvia, dry eyed, dry Tipped,
could find no voice to answer, and aft
err little while they rose and moved
the fragrant gloom toward the
sparkling lights beyond.
Her voice came back as they en-
tered the brilliant rooms. 81 should
like to find Grace Ferrall," she said
very distinctly. please keep the 9TH
ers off, Mr.. Plank"
Fleetwood had missed his dance with
her, but she scarcely heard his eager
Quarter, cOldly inquir-
ing, confronted them, was passed al
most without recognition and left be-
hind motionless, looking after them out
of his narrowing, black fringed eyes
Of a woman.
Then Ferrall came, and, hearing his
voice, she raised her colorless face.
Twill you take me home with you,
Kemp, when you take Grace" she
asked.
"Of course. don't know where
Grace is. Are you in a hurry to go?
It's only o'clock"
They were at the entrance to the sup
per room. Plank drew up chair for
her, and she sank down, dropping her
elbows on the small table and resting
her face between her fingers.
"Pegged out, Sylvia ?" exclaimed Fer
rail- incredulously. You? What's the
set coming tor and he mo-
toned a servant to fill her glass But