The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-21
CHAPTER K.
On the Stairs.


/ was reused by some one walking
across the roof. the cracking Of tin I'M
der feet and a comfortable and com
panionable odor of tobacco. I moved a
very little, and then I saw that 1t was a
mantle height and erectness told me
which man. And just at that instant he
saw me-
Good Lordi" he calculated. and throw
ing his cigar away he came across quick
". why. Mrs. Wilson. what IN the
world are you doing here? I thought
they said"
That | was sulking again. I finished
disagreeably. Perhaps 1 am. In fact.
I'm quite sure of It,"
You are not" he said severely. you
have been asleep in a February night in
the open air with less clothing on than I
wear in the tropics"
had got up by this time. refusing his
help. and because my feet were numb /
sat down on the parapet for a moment.
Oh, 1 knew what I looked llke-one OF
those Valley-of-the-Nile-A fter-a-F lood"
pictures.
There is one thing about you that is
comforting" I shifted. You said pre-
e!sely the same thing to me at O'Clock
this morning You never ssartIe me by
saying anything unexpected"
He took q step toward me. and even In
the dusk 1 could see that he was looking
down at me oddly. All my bravado
faded away and there was a queerish
ringing In my ears.
II would like tor he said tensely. Il
would Ike, this minute-I'm a fool, Mrs.
Wilson," he finished miserabIy. II ought
10 be drawn and quartered, but when I
see you like this II get crazy. If YOU
say the word, Ill-Tn so down and"
He elenched his fist
IL was rfprehensihle, of course; he saw
that in an instant, for he shut his teeth
over something that sounded very fierce
and strobe away from me, 10 stand look
ing out over the river, with his hands
thrust in his pockets. OF course. the
thing 1 should have done was TO ignore
what he had said altogether. but he was
so uncomfortable, so chastened. that,
feline, feminine. whatever the instinct is.
1 could not let him so. I had been so
wretched myself.
What Is IL you would like 10 say" ]
called over 10 him. He did not speak.
Would you tell me that I am silly child
for pouting?" No reply; he struck a
match. "Or would you preach a nice
little sermon about people-about women
loving their husbands
He grunted savageiy under his breath.
BE quite honest I pursued relentless
". Say that we are a lot of barbarians:
say that because my-because Jimmy
treats me outrageOusiy-oh. he does: any
one can see that-and because l loathe
him-and any one can tell that-why
don't you say you are shocked 10 the
depths I was a little shocked myseI.
by that time, but I couldn't stop, having
started.
He came over TO me. whlte-faced and
towering. and he had the audacity to
grip my arm and stand me on my feet,
like bad child-which l vas. I dare say.
DON'T" he said in a husky. very
panied voice. You are only talking:
you don't mean IL. II isn't you. You
know you care, or else why are you cry
ing up here? And don't do It again.
don't do it again-or I will"
You will-what?'
Make a fool Of myself. as / have
now" he finished grimly. And then he
stalked away and left me there alone
completely bewildered, 10 find my wal
down in the dark
I CROPPED along, holding TO the rail. FOR
the staircase TO the roof was very steep
and | went slowly. Halfway down thu
stairs there was a tiny landing. and
| stopped / could have sworn I heard Mr.
Harbisons footsteps far below, growing
| fainter. I even smiled a little, there IN
/ the dark. although I had been rather
/ profoundly shaken. The next instant
( knew I had been wrong; some one wa.
/ on the landing with me. I could hear
short, sharp breathing, and then
/ I am not sure that I struggled; in fact
l don't believe I did was too HnE
/ with amazement. The creature. TO have
/ lain In wait for me like that? And hi
/ was brutally strong; he caught me Il
/ him fieTCely and held me there, close
/ and he kissed me-nOt once or twice. but
! half dozen times. long kisses that filled
me with hot shame for him, for myself
that I had-liked him. The rOughness OF
| his coat bruised my cheek. I loatheC
him. And then some one came whistline
along the hall below, and he pushed ms
from him and stood listening. breathine
/ in long, gasping breaths.
ran; when my shaI<y knees would
/ hold me I ran. / wanted TO hide my hot
| face, my disgust, my disillusion: I want.
1 ed to put my head In mothers lap an6
cry; 1 wanted to die, or be Ill. so l need