The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1910-12-08
CHAPTER xxVI.-Continued.

CHAP ER XXVi.-Continued.
He drew a chair near the lamp and
lighted a cigarette, and for a time we
were silent. / was in the shadow, and
sat back and watched him. 1t was
not surprising, l thought, that she
cared for him; women had always
loved him, perhaps because he al,
ways loved them. There was no dis.
loyalty in the thought; it was the
lads nature to give and crave affec-
ton. Only-I was different. l had
never really cared about a girl be-
fore, and my life had been singularly
loyeless. | had fought a lonely bat
tie always. Once before, in college,
we had both laid ourselves and our
callow devotions at the feet of the
same girl. Her name was Dorothy
l had forgotten the rest-but | re-
membered the sequel. In a spirit of
Quixotic youth | had ~relinquished my
claim in favor of Richey and had
gone cheerfully on my way, elevated
by my heroic sacrifice to a somber,
white-hot martyrdom. AS is often the
case, Meningitis first words showed
our parallel lines of thought.
Il say, Lollie," he asked, do you re-
member Dorothy Browne? Browne,
That was it,"
Dorothy B%rowne?" I repeated. "Oh
why yes, I recall her now. Why?"
Nothing" he said. 81 was think
ing about her. That's all. You re-
member you were crazy about her,
and dropped back because she pre-
ferred me?"
81 got out" l said with dignity, "be-
cause you declared you would shoot
yourself if she didn't go with you to
something or other!"
"Oh, why yes, l recall now!' he
mimicked. He tossed his cigarette
in the general direction of the hearth
and got up. We were both a little
conscious, and he stood with his back
TO me, lingering a Japanese vase on
the mantel.
Il was thinking" he began, turning
the vase around, that, If you feel
pretty well again, and-and ready to
take hold, that | should like to go
away for a week or so. Things are
fairly well cleaned up at the Office"
do you mean-you are going to
Richmond?" | asked, after a scarcely
p~erceptible pause. He turned and
faced me, with his hands thrust in
his pockets.
mo. That's off, Lollie. The
Seiberts are going for a weeks cruise
along the coast. 1.-THE hot weather
has played bob with me and the cruise
means seven days breeze and bridge"
| lighted a cigarette and offered
him the box. but he refused. He was
looking haggard and suddenly tired.
/ could not think of anything to say.
and neither could he, evidently. The
matter between us lay too deep for
speech.
"How's Candida?" he asked.
Martin says a month, and she will
be all right" I returned, In the same
tone. He picked up his hat. but he
had something more to say. He
blurted it out. finally, half way to the
door.
"The Seiberts are not going for a
couple of days." he said. land II you
want a day or so off to go down to
Richmond yourself"
Perhaps I SHALL" I returned. as in
differently as | could. mot going yet,
are you?"
"Yes. 1t is late" He drew in his
breath as II he had something more
to say, but the impulse passed. swell
good night" he said from the door
way.
Good night, old man."
The next moment the outer door
slammed and | heard the engine Of
the Cannonball throbbing in the
street. Then the quiet settled dowr
around me again, and there In the
iamplight dreamed dreams. I wa.
going to Q her.
Suddenly the idea Of being shu
away, even temporarily, from so grea
and wonderful a world became intol
cradle. The possibility Of arrest be
fore | could get to Richmond wa
hideous, the night without end.
/ made my escape the next morn
ing through the stable back OF tn
house. and then. by devious dark AM
winding ways, to the Office. There
after a conference with B'obs. who's
features fairly jerked with excite