The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-18
CHAPTER X.

I was reused by some one walking
across the roof. the cracking Of tin
under feet. and comfortable and
cumpanionable odor Of tobacco. l
moved very little, and then saw
that Il Was mantle height and
erectntss told me which man. And
just at that instant HI saw me,
Good Lord he calculated. aud
throwing his cigar away he came
across quickly WHY Mrs. Wilson.
what If, tf---4 world sre st,I duIHF 4erp
/ thought they said -'
THAT Was salkius again / finished
Gtsa greeably. perhaps | am. In fact.
Irn quite sure OF it,
You are not" he said severely.
"You have been asleep IN "a February
night, in the open air with less cloth
ing on than wear in the tropics
had got mp by this time, refusins
his help. aud because nay feet were
numb sat down ON the parapet for
moment oh. ! knew what / looked
like-one OF those Valley of the Nile
After a. Flood pictures.
There is one thing about you that
is comforting I shifted. you said
precisely the same thing To me Ell three
. clock this morning You never star
( tie me by saying anything unexpected
lie took step toward me, and even
in the dusk | could see that he was
/ looking down AT me oddly. All my
bravado faded away and there was a
queerish ringing In my ears
~ would like To, he said tensety.
Il would like, this mlnute-Im fool
! Mrs, Wilson." he finished miserabiy.
81 ought to be drawn and quartered,
+ but when | see you like this IL get
crazy. II you say the world. lI-Ill
go down and" He clenched his fist
/ II was reprehensble, Of course, ne
saw that in an instant, for he Shut his
teeth over something that sounded
very fierce. and STROBE away from me,
to stand looking out over the river.
with his hands thrust in his pockets.
( OF course the thing ] should have done
was To ignore what he had said al
together but he was so uncomfortable,
so chastened, that, feline, feminine
whatever the instinct is, | could not
let him go--I had been -Aretched
myself,
/ What is it YOU would like to say"
! / called over To him. He did not
speak Would you tell me that ! am
a silly child for pouting?" No reply,
he struck match "0r would you
preach nice little sermon about peo-
ple--about women loving their nus
bands?"
He grunted savagely under his
breath.
BE quite honest" I pursued relent-
/ lessiy. Say that we are a lot of bar
harians say that because my because
Jimmy treats me outrageosly--o he
does; any one can see that--and be
cause ] loathe him--and any one can
tell that--whY don't YOU say you are
shocked to the depths" l was q little
shocked myself ny that time but /
couidn't stop. having started
He came over to me, white faced
and towering and ne had the audacity
To grip my arm and stand me on my
feet, like a bad chiid-which / was.
! dare say.
Don't" he said in a husky very
4 panied voice you are only talking:
YOU don't mean II. II isn't YOU. You
know you care. or else why are YOU
crying up here And don't do ii
again. don't do 1t again-~or I will"
You wiil-what -"
MAKE q fool or myself. as / have
now" he finished grimlY And then he
stalked away and left me there alone.
com pietely bewildered. to find my way
down in the dark
CROPPED along. holding to the rail,
! for the staircase to the roof was very
steep. and | went slowly. Halfway
down the stairs there was tiny land l.
ing, and ] stopped I could have sworn
! ! heard Mr.. Harhisons footsteps far
below. growing fainter. even smiled
a little, here in the dark although !
+ had been rather profoundly shaken
(Tu he continued.