The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-04
tcenttnued from Yesterday

jim saw hex first lie went quite
Write and st%gx ed to get up. amil-
ing a sickiy smile Bella, after her
fret surprise. was superbly Indifferent
She glanced a; us raised her eye
hrows. and then looked al the clock.
More victims OF insomnia" she
said. Won't you come in Jim, pull
NJ a chair by the fire for your aunt"
Aunt Selma opened her mouth
epeak Then-s-
James, | demand that that woman
leave the house" she said hoarseiy
Bella leaned back and yawned
James. shall ! goT" she asked
smtaeiy
Nonsense Jim said. pulling him
seff together az oesy ne c5utd. look
here, Aunt Selma. you know she can't
sc ont and what's more. don't
want her to SO"
'You--what ." Aunt Selma screech-
ed, taking a step forward. You have
the audacity to say such thing to
kaetr
Bella leaned over and gave the fire
log r punch.
Il was Just saying that he shouldn't
say such things to me. either" she
remarked pleasantly I'm afraid
you'll take cold, Miss Carathers.
Wouldn't you like a hot sherry flip p
Aunt Selma gasped Then she sat
down heavily on one of the carved
lakewood chairs.
He said he loved you; heard
him" she said weakly. "He--he was
going to put his arm around you"
Habit" Jim put in. trying TO
smile. You see, Aunt Selma. its
we'll, its a habit I got into some time
ago. and nay arm does II without
my thinking about it
Habit" Aunt Seine repeated. her
voice thick with passion, Then she
turned to me. Go to your room at
once" she said in her most awful
tone. Go to your room and leave
fhis--this shocking affair TO me"
But If she had reached her limit.
20 had l. If Jim chose to ruin him
self. it was not my fault Any one
with common sense would have known
at least to close the door before he
went down on his knees, no matter TO
whom. So when Aunt Selma turned
on me and pointed in the direction OF
the staircase. / did not move.
II am perfectly wide awake, I said
coldly. Il shall go TO bed when
arm entirely ready. and not before.
And as for Jin1's conduct, I do not
know much about the conventions In
brace Miss Knowles. and she wants
him TO- the situation Is interesting.
but hardly novel"
Aunt Selma rose slowly and drew
the folds Of her dressing gown around
her, away from the contamination of
my touch.
''Do Won know what you are say
Ing ?" she demanded hoarseIy.
II do. | was quite white and stiff
from my knees up, hut below I was
wavery ! glanced at Jim for moral
support, but he was looking idola-
trously at Bella. As for her. quite
suddenly che had dropped her mask
- safifferent, her face was strain
or and anxious and tn are were deep
circles ! had not seen before. under
In ers And il was Bella who finally
threw herself into th. brsach--thv
fatally breach
III rs all my fault. Miss cartithtrs,
she laid stepping hetMeen Aunt sseiipn
az i myself. Il have b .en bind and
wicked woman and = have almost
wsecke d two lives"
Two What OF mine?
You see" she struggled on, against
the CLINT In Aunt Selina's eyes. 81
] did not realize how much | cared
until II was too late. ! did so many
things that were cruel and wrong
oh. Jim. Jim -
She turned and buried her head on
his shoulder and cried; real tears
could hardly believe that it was Bella.