The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-10-27

| wnen the responsibility Hdu uO-
scended upon her, she found that
these things had in no way persuaded
| her.
Then this was herself, a creature
too much concerned with the primal
harmonies of life to be impressed by
the modulations her decade set upon
them. This was that self which she
had obscurely cherished as no more
real than a fairy; but at Kerr's accla-
nation it had proclaimed itself more
real than flesh and blood, and Kerr
himself the most real thing in all her
| life.
Then what was Harry? The bland
implacable pronouncement of Shima
had summoned him up to stand beside
Kerr more clearly than heT own eyes
could have shown him
Kerr, with his brilliant initiative,
might carry him off, but Kerr was
still the quarry. For had not Harry,
from the very beginning, known
something about him? Hadn't he at
| first denied having seen him before,
and then admitted it? Hadn't he
dropped hints and innuendoes without
ever an explanation? She remember
ed the singular fact of the embassy
ball, twice mentioned, each time with
that singular name of Farrell Wand.
And to knoW-if that was what Harry
knew-that a man of such fame was
in a community where a ring of such
fame had disappeared-what further
proof was wanted?
Then why didn't Harry speak? And
what was going on on his side of the
affair? Harry's side would have been
her side a few days before. Now, un-
accountably, it was not. Nor was
Kerr's side hers either. She was
standing between the UNDERSTANDING
hesitating between her love of one
and her loyalty to the other and what
he represented. The power might be
hers to tip the scales Harry held,
either to Kerr's undoing, or to his
protection. At least she thought she
might protect him, if she could dis.
cover Harry's secret. Her special,
authorized relation to him-her right
to see him often, question him freely
even caiole-should make that easy
But she shrank from what seemed like
betrayal, even though she did not be
tray him to Kerr by name.
Then, on the other hand, she doubt
ed how much she could do with Har
ry. She wasn't sure how far she was
prepared to try him after that scene
of theirs. She had no desire to pique
him further by seeing too much oi
Kerr. On her own account she wanted
for the present to avoid Kerr. He
reused feeling in her that she fear
ed-a feeling intoxicating to the
senses, dazzling to the mind, unknit
ting to the will. How could she tell
if they were left alone, that she might
not take the jewel from her neck, al
his request, and hand it to him-anG
damn them both? If only she could
escape seeing him altogether until
she could find out what Harry was do
ing and what she must do!
Meanwhile, there was her promise
to Ella. She recalled it with Difficult
ty. 1t seemed a vague thing in the
light of her latest discovery, though
she could never meet Clara in disa
greement without qualm. But she
made the plunge that evening, before
: Clara left for the Buffers, while she
was at her dressing-table in the half
disarray which brings out all the soft
) ness and the disarming physical
charm Of women. From her low chail
Flora spoke laughingly of Elias per
turbation. Clara paused, with thu
powder puff in her hand, while she
listened to Flora's explanation of how
Ella feared that some one might, aft
er all these years, be going to MARI!
Judge Butler. Who this might be SHE
did not even hint at. She left it evel
so sketchy. But the little stare will
which Clara met it, the amusement
the surprise, and the shortest possible
little laugh, were guarantee that Clar;
had seen it all. She had filled ou
Flora's sketch to the full outline, ant
pronounced it, as Flora had, an ab
surdity. But though Clara hal
laughed, she had gone away with he
delicate brows a little drawn together
: as if she'd really found more than ;
laugh, something worth considering
in Elias state of mind.
She heard the wheels of Clara's de
! parting conveyance. Now was he
chance for an interview with Harry
She spent 20 minutes putting togethel
three sentences that would not arouse
his suspicious She made two copies
and sent them by separate messen
gers, one to his rooms, one to thu
club, with orders they be brough
them. Then-the business of wait
ing in the large house full of echoes
and the round ghostly globes of elec
trio lights, with that thing around
her neck for which-did they but
know of it-half the town would breal
in her windows and doors.
The wind travelled the streets with
out, and shook the window-casings
She covered over the library fire
listening. The leaping flames set he
shadow dancing like goblin. A bel
rang, and the shadow and the f1am'
gave a higher leap as if in welcome o
what had arrived. She went to tn,
! library door. In the glooms and light
/ outside Shima was standing, and twt
messengers. 1t was, odd that botl
! should arrive at once. She steppet
' back and stood waiting with quicke
pulse. Shima entered with two let
I ters upon his tray. She had me
D ment's anxiety lest both her notes hat
, been brought back to her, but no-th
/ envelope which lay on top showe
\ Harry's writing. She tore it opel
hnctiIu Harru urntn that he nOnlI