Charlevoix county herald., 1908-10-31

BY g
EMM

anu CoSOiiy obCPpOu WhSh thN
attendant swung open the doors.
They walked across the carpeted
| floors and between tables where 9TH
ers were dining, and everywhere as
| they went she was recalled to the
| sterner things of life by conversa-
| ton which had no other topic than
war. Here and there she recognized
men occupying more or less respon-
| sible positions in the government, and
| few whose uniforms proclaimed
! them to be officers of the army and
| navy. These latter seemed discussing
| the situation from a more confidential
viewpoint, and held their heads close
| together now and then as If fearful
that others might overhear their
whispered comments.
Cali criticising the government"
Guy muttered, indicating one group
with a slight nod of his head. They
can't understand it any more than we
can"
She looked at him sharply as IL
about to speak, and then after an in
stant's hesitation closed her half
parted lips and advanced to the seat
she desired. A white-clad waiter
served them and deferentially brought
a newspaper still wet from the press
Thought you'd like to see the latest
extra, sir" he explained as he left
them; and Hitler, with look Of
WEAKNESS, glanced at the headlines
and laid it aside.
Same old thing" he commented
in reply to her look of inquiry. "The
Gazette has just learned that not even
coalng orders have been issued, and
this from no less a person than the
secretary of the navy, who has been
goaded into free speech by the con-
slant pricks of criticism. I wonder il
these people are insane?"
Guy" she retorted, II don't think
it altogether fair to speak of the men
at the head of the government as in
sane until they have been proved in
error. Let's talk of something else"
And he, worried and tired of the
topic. was glad to lead into more per-
sonal subjects. He thought of the
old inventor whom he had not seen
for months.
How is your father now?" he
asked rs he improving in health,
and where is he?"
For the first time she showed some
embarrassment. He watched her, and
as she hesitated before answering be-
gan to wonder If there was not some
thing concerning Roberts which she
was endeavoring to conceal from him.
ooh, he is we'll, but very overworked
and tired she replied finally.
But you haven't answered all my
question" he insisted. you haven't
told me where he is"
She remained silent, toying with
one of the rings upon her hand and
looking out through the vines to
where the lights of the city cleaned
below and stretched out into the
blackness beyond.
Norm" he said. leaning toward
her, ''is there anything wrong with
him? All your letters come from
Miami. There's a sanatorium there.
1t can't be that your father is"
"No-no-no; it isn't that" she re-
piled, but with look of such appre-
hension that he almost doubted her
for the first time in all their friend
ship. Father Is all right, only he has
worked very hard and Oh, please
don't insist on my telling you any
more! Believe me, should be frank
with you, of all persons in the world,
if could; but can't be--quite."
Impulsively he stretched his hands
across the table and seized hers. The
hum of conversation had died out in
the room back of them, most of the
diners having departed. 1t had grown
so quiet that they could hear the
strains Of a band from one of the
parks, playing as gayly as if war was
an unknown contingency.
Norm" he said pleadingly. take
me into your full confidence! Tell
me what it is that troubles you!
Something does, I'm sure. / have read
it in your letters, and in your eyes
when you come to me. Let me share
il with you! You know l love you,
and a part of love is to share each
others troubles"
He tried to hold her hands; but she
withdrew them tremblingly. She
turned her face away toward the
lights of the night, without looking
at him. For what seemed long time
he waited. "Oh, l wish you had not
said that to me-just yet" she an.
swered at length. you make 1t very
hard for both of us now. l want to be
honest with you, want to give you my
confidence and my-but 1 can't. |
can't tell you anything. You must
wait"