Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-08-19
CHAPTER vI-Ccoa,inueal

i followed Is directions 70 Lle k-'-~-
enclosed with glass. and found Miss Grs-
ham string there with an elderly woman
who proved 10 Be her aunt. Miss Corey.
She presented ne, and the elder lady,
after making s few comments On the
awful night withdrew Sill standing, l
pur ny hand inro ny inner pocket and
drew form The bo1 with The iOcket-
When I went hack 20 the Ship this
afternoon I found you had dropped the
lOcke5 from your chain. Permit ne TO ~
turn IL
-Oh - she said How good OF you 20
bring II ! discovered Il wss gone and
was afraid I might 10, h. sbls 10 find IL
after The storm Thank you 20 much.
Mr.. Selden-~
l felt sinsulsrly cod and naughty. and
seemed 10 dsIect c certain reserve also
in her manner. The air ot the Penguin
Club Was not conducive 10 infOrulAlity.
l had intended 70 -al her attention 10
The fact that the locka- was open when
came upon il. hut could not bring NY
self 70 do 50 in the face OF the chill that
seemed 10 have settled down upon US.
Won't you sir down and talk 10 me-"
she said. hut | shook nv head
Il must be getting back. Tire storm is
getting worse every minute. The wood
road will soon De a swollen river"
There came a grOwl OF thunder and &
fash Of livid lightning Miss Graham
scarcely moved a muscle. Il love
storms" she said. but l don't blame you
for wanting 10 get home a. sOon as you
can You must be soaked even in those
clothes"
looked at my rough attire. and then
at the dainty white evening gown she
wore. and laughed q Iirzle sharply al the
contrast
It's lucky I don't often come TO the
club" said They would probably
warn me from the premises as a scare
crow OF i'll omen"
Rodney Islip came on 10 the porch. in
evening dress. as though 10 emphasize my
own incongruities.
viii you dance. Barbara" ne said.
They're playing one Of your favOrite
valtzes." Then ne discovered me. Hell
10. old chap" said he. How the deuce
came you here? You don't mean TO tell
me you rode through the thick OF this
stormT"
Petty resentment got the better of me- !;
/ barely noticed him. and bowed TO the
girl.
Don't let NE keep you. Miss Graham
Ny mission is over. Good night"
She held out her hand barely touch
ed il. l was at the door when Rodney
spoke. Il say, old man, have you seen
the evening papers? Terrible times in
France, more trouble on the market let
me get you the news" He was so full Of
the stock exchange himself that ne
thought we must all be interested.
NO. thank you" l answered. blunt
ly. and went out. scorning myself for my
rudeness TO this chap whose only fault
lay in the fact that Miss Graham cared
50 much about him I was to be still
more scornful OF this rudeness TO him in
the days TO come.
/ stood in the shadow while thev
passed me, then l stole back to the
glass-covered porch ami looked in for q
moment at the dancing. l watched Islip
lead Miss Graham on to the floor and
float away with her, and I caught sight
OF the lOcket hanging On its chain about
her throat. She looked very fair in her
white gown, with her neck bare. and Islip
looked very happy as he danced with her.
l looked again al my own rough. un-
eouth garm-. This was no place for me
Suddenly I hated the Penguin Club and
all il contained, all its civilization. all its
clothes and dances. would b. OF TO nv
little hut in the dunes. with no one hut
Charles by, and he ny very humble ser
want
Nero was ready. and I swung mvsalf
up and plunged OF again into the night
Flashes OF lightning showed me the dentb
OF the water in .he woods. I plourbad
my way homeward, caring nothing what
happened riding as though legion Of
devils pursued
paid no attention TO Charles fire and
the not grOg that ne mad ready. I sung
on my sOdden clothes and went TO nod
hnding my one satisfaction in the crash.
ing guns Of the thunder that seemed n
lombard Alastair from the sky. 1, vas
certainly me night for any rnvs-srion.
deed remember thinking as fell sslsan