The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1909-01-14

For moment the words meant moth
Ing: then blank surprise silenced him
followed by curiosity.
is there something you wished ;
tell mer' be asked
! "N-no"
His perplexity and surprise grew
wait second. Boots" be said. An,
Mr., Lansing. being fairly intellIgen
young man. went out and down tn
stairway.
Now" he said too kindly. too sooth
ingly. what is II. Eileenr
Nothing thought-but dom
care. Please 20. Captain Selwyn."
mo, shall not until you tell mi
what troubles you"
Il can't
Try. Eileen"
why. 1t Is nothing. truly It Il moth
Ing Only was-it is 20 early-only I
quarter past g."
He stood there looking down at her
striving to understand.
That is ALL" she said, flushing {
tribe. Il can't read. and ! can't sew
and there's nobody here. don't near
to bother YOU
Child" be exclaimed. do you wan,
me to stayf"
Yes" she said. 'Will your
He walked swiftly to the landing
outside and looked down.
Roots" be called In q low voice
"Tm not going home yet Don't wait
for me at the Lenox."
"All right" returned Mr.. Lansing
cheerfully. A moment later the front
door closed below. Then Selwyn came
back into the library.
For an hour he sat there telling her
the gayest stories and talking the most
delightful nonsense. alternating with
interesting incisions into serious sub
jects which II enchanted her to dis
sect under his confident guidance.
Alert. intelligent. all aquiver between
laughter and absorption. she had sat
up among her silken pillows. resting
her weight on one rounded arm, her
splendid young eyes Hxed on him to
detect and follow and interpret every
change In bis expression personal to
the subject and to her share In It.
His old self again! What could be
more welcome, Not one shadow In his
pleasant eyes, not a trace Of pallor. of
care. Of that gray aloofness. How jol.
ly, how young. he was after all
They discussed or laughed at or men.
tioned and dismissed with q gesture a
thousand matters of common interest
In that swift hour--incredibly swift
unless the hall clocks deadened
shimes were mocking time itself with
mischievous effrontery.
She heard them. the enchantment
still In her eyes. He nodded, listening.
meeting her gaze with his smile undis-
turbed. When the last chime had
sounded she lay back among her cush-
Ions
Thank you for staying" she said
quite happily do you think me In.
teresting to real men. like you and
BootsT she asked.
"Yes." be said deliberately, II do. I
don't know how interesting, because
never quite realized how-how you
had matured. That was my stupid
ity."
Captain Selwyn," in confused tri-
umph. you never gave me chance
mean, you always were nice in-iD
the same way you are to Drina.
liked it--don't, please, misunderstand-
only knew there was something else
to me-something more nearly your
own age 1t was jolly to know you
were really fond Of me. but youthful
sisters grow faster than you imagine.
And now, when you come, shall ven
ture to believe II Is not wholly to do
me kindness-but--a llttle--to do
yourself one too. Is that not the basis
Of friendship
Yes"
Community and equality Of Inter.
ests, isn't ltr'
"Yes."
"And-in which the-the charity Of
superior experience and the inattention
OF intellectual preoccupation and the
amused concession to ignorance must
steadily. II gradually. dissppeari ls
that It toor
Astonishment and chagrin at bis mis-
conception Of her gave place to out
right laughter at his own expense.
Where on earth did you'll mean
that I am quite overwhelmed under
your cutting Indictment OF me. Old
buffers OF my age
Don't say that" she said. That
Is pleading guilty to the indictment
and reverting to the old footing.
shall not permit you to 20 back"
Il don't want TO, Eileen"
II am wondering" she said airily,
about that Eileen. I'm not sure but
that easy and fluent Eileen ID part Of
the indictment What do you call
Gladys orchil. for exampleT
What do ! care what ! call any
bodyY" be retorted. laughing
Their light hearted laughter mingled
delightfully."- fresh. free, uncontrolled.
peal after peal She sat huddled up
like a schoolgirl. lovely head thrown
back. her white hands clasping her
knees: be, both feet squarely on the
door. leaned forward. his laughter
scbolng hers
What nonsensel What blessed non.
tense you and are talkingT she said.
but II has made me quite happy. Now
vou may 90 10 your club"
II don't want to-"
.Oh. but you must"-she was now 4
iismissing hlm--because although ]
I'm con nvalesceni. | am q little tired. 4
Ind Sinas maid Ia waiting TO tuck me
n
so you send me awsyr'
Send you"- She hesitsted. de-
ightrully confused In the reversal OF
'oles- not quite convinced OF this new
,ower which Of Itself bad seemed 10
invest ber with authority over man.
Yea she said. \ must send you
way And ber heart beat little
sster In her uncertainty a. to bis
obedience. then ieaped In triumph as
ie rose with q reluctance perfectly