The Washington herald., 1909-05-16

wruas it until he WINGED. You'll make
IL a 60. yoa will
Il have Two conditions, however" An
drew added, his soft eyes lighting. I
wear my own evening clOthe you under
stand. AS 1t happens. they're the best
/ things ! have. And she Is never 70 know
that I'm not what seem 10 be. You give
me your wOrd?"
Don't you worry about that That
premise is yours Why. It's fully under
stood that for the sake OF the rest Of the
( Canadian engagement Leighton is never
10 suspect The papers are with me to a
man-Tve settled en- The little game
win only last about twenty minutes al
/ the station She won't get here till near
dinnertime. and in weather like this we'll
1 have the place TO ourselves. So that's al
right
! Henderson thought It wise 70 depart on
the last self-assured words Of the COM
pact. but before the street door closed on
him he put his head in again.
Just one thing. You do need real
nobhy coat and cap or she'll tumble sure.
Now. they're a little big for you; but viii
I you take mine2 You don't mind wearing
mine. Andrew"
What, This new. lustrous wonder, the
/ shot coat OF the town. He smiled in
I diligently. All right I'll borrow your
magnifcence, Henderson. II I run of
with the goods. just remember you tried
k ne beyond my strength.
I Left alone. he went dreamily into the
s!tting-Toom and came again into the hall
4 De pressed his fingers 10 his eyes. drew
/ them down his face and took a big
breath. He was Ike a somnambullst
awaking in ar unfamiliar place For
more than an hour he sat before the
stove. his arms folded. gazing al It. al
I though there was nothing 10 see but the
diminishing glow. he went 70 the organ
I and began 10 play. softly al first and
( brokenly. snatches mixed with TeveTieS.
during which his fingers Law useless on
the keys His mood changed and ne
I played vclumed harmonies that made the
walls OF the small room trenble as II the
soul Of the house were moved. These
trickled into the lover song in 'Rigo-
! letto. and he sang il a number Of times
/ In worn .enOT. smiling n the paUses.
At Il o'clock the Young engineer who
shared the four-rooned house with him
came homes He found bis supper OF
chops. turnips. and coffee as inviting and
/ rot as usual. but Andrew was not hover
I ing near the table with his pipe and mug
Of ale. ready for a gossip before bed time.
! He was in the kitchen. irons blazing on
the stove, while. with excited, even &c
static fourishes. he pressed his evening
clothes and white tie
BY The next day the cold had become
almost unbsarabIe, and Henderson was
scarcely surprised % receive a telegram
from Nussbaun saying Leighton was
keeping TO her bargain. bat wished the
reception by the orphans given uD. thought
Il unTise. in fact that they should come
out at all She also wished a hundred
dollars distributed among them.
She has q good heart. after all. that
woman. Henderson reflected as he post
ed a check 70 the orphan asylum twenty
miles away. Children seem 70 be her
weak point"
As tie afternoon wore or Il began 20
feel as II the coolest day on record was
+ 10 be eclipsed- Traffic struck metallic
I thunder from the frozen town. every pane
OF glass was opaque and giittering with
{ frost. houses creaked ike brittle things
about 10 shatter, tear on the cheek be-
came a diamond. the breath congealed
into a veil OF glass on unprotected lips:
a. noon and during the Homecoming
evening hours there was movement n
the streets. but az other times. except for
an occasional figure running as II for life.
/ they were empty white stretches given
over to cutting winds
/ The eight distinguished citizens" were
a. the station. however. in good time. and
i watched Leighton's private car being
3 is.de-tracked into the most sheltered spot
/ But their presence, after all, was need
I less, FOR wcrd came that she thanked
them heartily. but was too tired to ap-
( pear before the performance. Henderson
caught sight OF the blank stare and pal
l Tor OF Andrews face when they heard
/ this message as they clustered around the
/ big stove rising Ike a pillar Of fame in
( the center OF the wa!tlng-roOm. Though
/ unpolished. he was s. man OF great natu-
raj intelligence. OF an alert. really feui-
nine Intuition.
We'll, didn't spend fifty dollars on
! these gaTdenias and violets 10 let them
rot We ought 10 throw & little side after
/ all our trouble" he fumed. lifting the big
pasteboard boxes and showing them into
Andrews arms. Here, Brett. YOU take
rest OF the bunch Of great capitalists out
: here in tweCty-fOur below zero. co on.
son
Andrew went down the platform. bewil-
dered. but meeting Leighton's young Eng
l:sh secretary. came out Of the maze and
made dif7dent request 70 be allowed 10
speak 4 few words 20 her in behalf Of HIS
feilow-townsnen.
~ IL - -
she says she didn't close her eyes last
night But" with an indulgent. confden-
tlal smile. she says that OF every night.
Wait here. please. What name?"
Mr. Andrew Brett. the-the chairman
Of the committee wishing 10 greet her. -
ne said the excited beating Of MS heart
weakening MS voice.
The secretary gave an apprsising glance
al Henderson's mink ulster and cap, and
carrying the boxes Of flowers, retreated
within the car. After what seemed a
long time he returned.
She VIII see you for a moment -
Andrew followed him into a place OF
evsk and warmth. The perfume Of hello
trope met him as II froEn a garden.
She stiIl uses that scent, he thought,
memories difficult 70 resist rushing over
him. He steeIed himself. II his hear,
continued TO act in this mountebank man.
ne1 how could he find voice TO speak 70
her as a distinguished citizen should2
The place was unlighted, and through
the windows, hung with rose silk and ar
rowed high with frost, the station lights
were haZy specks The noise outside was
| fused into a muTmur as II from a sea.
He saw tail figure II rosy cloud rise
slowly, felt a thin. very hot hand for a
second in his own, and The laHguishing
eontralto that he remembered said SONS
words OF greeting
He tried to answer, but the voice kept
singing IN his brain, and the scented.
warm air after the benumbing cold seem
ed 70 chain his senses. She waited. He
was silent Sae thought him a prorincial