Mower County transcript., 1908-02-19

[!|AE{|a|hEs|$IiljH IN III
k05zS
go with Viola Here; She'll Show
Ye-"
ment for Stella, did not dream of the
cause of his flush of annoyance as he
left her-an annoyance that lasted
and made him q silent companion in
the quick walk.
Viola, glancing shyly At his angry.
eyes, registered against him a con-
clusion he might have needed to
reckon with had not the visien Of Stel-
In In the doorway banished gloom and
evoked . smile that the child was
quite old enough to read and glory in
Brsathlsss, Viola explained her COM
ing with such bald candor that Stella
went forth dumb with embarrassment
She had lived hard the past few
weeks; Alfred realised It ut once. But
now she was tongue-tfed. The con-
straint born Of separation was xpon
her. Intuition read 10 her . little of
The record OF Alfred's experiences; Of
his different and ensrosslng cares.
Also, the impact Of lives and ex-
psrisnces surrounding her had created
IN incemprshsnsible atmosphere
through which she saw Alfred -
through . veil, = different Alfred:
He felt her dimdence and construed
1t ~ kind Indifference She did not
love him; she wished him to recognize
the absurd situation Viola had thrust
upon them, yet she was too gentle to
hurt him with speech. .3 .-. -
And thus the feet minutes waned
while these two dumbly sought each
other, like lovers at a bal masque,
claspins hands yet sundered by
domino.
They came down the path to town
and mounted the high, uneven side
walk. Uncle Billy had just dashed
up to the express Office, the curvetting
six under the spur of his mysterious
skill still showing of proudly to the
admiring bystanders. Gideon was in
tho barroom doorway, his 8lowering
"a 81
Alfred discerned the hate in Gideon's
surly greeting, saw the loutish leers
and nudges Of the loungers, Stella's
burning cheeks; he even mistook the
satisfaction in Uncle Billy's hearty
urging.
Get outside of yo' dinneh at a two
forty gait, Vincent. The Overland
CANT wait, and Uncle Billy CANT miss
yo' company. Sabe?"
At the dining room door Stella
paused and held out her hand.
mo; it's not goodbye" Alfred said,
though he took her hand. Il shall stay
over, shall see you to-night-and-'
Hello, Vincent! You're the very
man l wanted to see. Had your din
ner?" Superintendent Crocker breezed
out OF the dining room, his eyes giving
sincere admiration to Stella, his voice
\ hearty welcome to Alfred.
mo, SIR" Alfred answered hesitat-
ingly. q"
Eat quick, then. Billy Dodge don't
wait for passengers, important or 9th
erwise. The greatest luck this. l ex-
pected q dull trip over-always ex-
cepting the driver" He waved q
smiling apology to Uncle Billy and
climbed to the seat beside him.
Alfred felt his body grow leaden;
and he startled Stella with his strained
voice.
Very we'll, Mr. Crocker; I'll be with
you in q minute"
He turned to Stella. There was
something in her unguarded face that
set his every nerve atingle; that
elated yet maddened him. Still, he
must hold himself in check, must not
lose second; most of all, he must
not let her know what he had learned
Yes, it must be goodbye, after ALL
you see," he said tensely. "I'll be back
soon; we'll have talk them
He made snatch at dinner 70,
looks sake, and mounted beside the
superintendent; while onlookers
passed bets as to whether Alfred was
j company employe or 'big bug with
a pocketbook Charley Crocker was
trying to hook"
And Stella behind the window cur
tain with blurring eyes watched the
stage whirl away into the dark pines
CHAPTER Viii.
- . The Cloven Foot.
! Stella shivered apprehensively when
Phineas walked into the dining room
I, = few days after Alfred's departure
9 and crowded past the diners to take
the only vacant seat at her table
u Travel had grown heavier. and Stella