Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1910-06-02
CHAPTER XII.
The Gold Baq.

! have always smiled at those cases
of spontaneous combustion which, like
! fusing the component parts of a seid-
litz powder, unite two people in bub-
bling ephermeral ecstasy. But sure
surely there is possible, with but a
single meeting, an attraction so great,
a community of mind and interest so
strong, that between that first meet
ing and the next the bond may grow
into something stronger. This is es-
peclally true, | fancy, of people with
temperament, the modern substitute
for imagination. It is nice ques-
ton whether lovers begin to love
when they are together, or when they
are apart.
Not that l followed any such line
of reasoning at the time. would not
even admit my folly to myself But
during the restless hours of that first
night after the accident, when my
back ached with lying on it, and any
other position was torture, found my
thoughts constantly going back to Ali
son West. dropped into a doze, to
dream of touching her fingers again
to comfort her, and awoke to find l
had patted teaspoonful of medicine
out of Mrs. Klopton's indignant hand.
What was 1t Mcknight had said about
making an egregious ass Of myself?
And that brought me back to Richey,
and l fancy l groaned. There is no
use expatiating on the friendship be-
tween two men who have gone to-
gether through college, have quar-
relied and made it up, fused together
over politics and debated creeds for
years; men don't need to be told, and
women cannot understand Neverthe-
less, groaned If it had been any
one but Rich!
Some things were mine, however,
and l would hold them: The halcyon
breakfast, the queer hat the pebble in
her small shoe, the gold bag with the
broken chain-the bag! Why, it was
in my pocket at that moment.
l got up painfully and found my
coat. Yes, there was the purse, bull
ging with an opuient suggestion of
wealth inside. I went back to bed
again, somewhat dizzy, between effort
and the touch Of the trinket, so lately
hers. held 1t up by its broken chain
and gloated over it. BY careful atten-
ton to orders, ought to be out in a
day or so. Them could return 1t to
her. | really ought to do that it was
valuable, and wouldn't care to trust
it to the mail. l could run down to
Richmond, and see her once-there
was no disloyalty to Rich in that
l had no intention OF opening the
little bag. put it under my pillow
which was my reason for refusing to
have the linen slips changed, to Mrs.
Klopton's dismay. And sometimes dur.
ing the morning, while lay under .
virgin field of white, ornamented with
strange flowers, my cigarettes hidden
beyond discovery, and Science and
Health on table by my elbow, as If
by the merest accident, / slip my hand
under my pillow and touch it rev.
erently.
Mcknight came in about II. l heard
his car at the curb, followed almost
Immediately by his slam at the front
door, and his usual clamor on the
stairs. He had a bottle under his
arm, rightly surmising that l had been
forbidden stimulant, and q large box
of cigarettes in his pocket, suspecting
my deprivation.
WELL" he said cheerfully. How
did you sleep after keeping me up half
the night?"
slipped my hand around; the purse
was we'll covered.
Have it now, or wait till get the
cork out?" he ratified on.
II don't want anything" protested.
Il wish you wouldn't be so darned
cheerful, Richey" He stopped whit
Ting to stare at me.
Il am saddest when l sing!'" he
quoted unctuously. IT'S pure reac-
ton, Lollie. Yesterday the sky was
low; | was digging for my best friend.
To-day-he lies before me, his peevish
self. Yesterday thought the notes
were burned; to-day look forward
to good cross-country chase, and
with luck we will draw" His voice
changed suddenly. "Yesterday-she
was in Seal Harbor. To-day-she is
here"
Here in Washington? l asked, as
naturally as | could.
Eyes. Going to stay a week or two"
"Oh, had little hen and she had
wooden leg
And nearly every morning she used
to lay an egg"
will you stop that racket, Rich!
It's the real thing this time, l sup
poser"
She's the best little chicken that
we have on the farm
And another little drink won't do us
any harm"
he finished, twisting out the cork
screw. Then he came over and sat
down on the bed
Well" he said judicially, 'since
you drag it from me, think perhaps
1t is. You-you're such a confirmed