The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-08-05
CHAPTER Mn.
The HARRISON Man
CONTINUED from Yesterday )


She talked for en- hour, having got
between me and the door. and she
scolded jam ard Bella thoroughly.
But they did not hear II. being nceu-
pied With each other. sitting side Ny
side meekiy on the divan wHh Jim
aolding Relias hand unacr cushion
She xatG ties would have To- 'c very
good - make w for all the deception,
but II was perfectly clear that II was
a relief to- her 10 HuG mat / ain
belong to hey permanently, and as J
have said before she Tas crazy about
Bella.
sat back IN clair and grew COM
forta hl Arnzcst- tll-tla.- 1s2nrahi1l-H Of
ner coice ct was name that brought
nae To myself y It'll a jerk.
Mr.. HARRISON Aunt Selma was
saying Then bring him down at
once, James l want no more de-
ception. There is no ase cleaning
house and leaving q dirty corner"
1T will not be necessary for me 70
stay and see il swept l said. mus
tering the rags she had left Of my
self respect and trying TO pass her
But she planted herself souarcty be
fore me.
You can not stir mp 3 dust like
this. young woman. and leave other
people TO sneeze in it" she said
grimiy. And ] stayed
/ sat. very small on q chair in a
corner / felt like Jebezel. or what
ever her name was, and now the Har-
bison man was coming, and he was
going to see me stripped of my pre-
tensions to domesticity and of a nus
band who neglected me. He WAS going
to see me branded living lie. and
he would hate me because | had put
him in a ridiculous position. lie was
lust the sort to resent being rtdicu-
ious
Jim brought him down in a dress
ing-gown and a state of bevildernent
II was plain that the memory of the
afternoon still ranked, for he was
very short with Jim and inclined te
resent the whole thing. The clock
In the hall chimed half after three
as they came down the stairs, and
heard Mr.. HARRISON stumble ovei
something in the darkness and say
that If 1t was a joke. he wasn't II
the hunnor for IT. To which Jim re
torted that 1t wasn't anything re
sembiing a joke, and for heavens
sake not 10 walk on his feet: hi
couldn't get around the furniture an!
faster.
AT the door Of the den MFR. Har
bison stopped htluhihR III the ign
Then. when he saw us he tried 4
back himself and his dishabille on
into the obscurity OF the library. Blu
Aunt Selma was too quick fer him
.'Come in" she called, Il want you
Young man. 1t seems that there ar
only two fools in the house, and yo'
are one"
He Strengthened at that and looked
bewiidered, but he tried to smile.
Il thought ! was the only one" HI
said. 'Ts IL possible that there is an
other,
II am the other" she announced
] think she expected him to say I'm
possible but. whatever he was, h
was never banal
is that SOL he asked politely
trying to be interested and to under
stand at the same time. He had no
seen me- He was gazing fxedly q
Bella, languishing on the divan an
watching him with lowered lids. an
ne had given Jim side glance of con
tempt. But now he saw me and h
colored under his tan. His nee
biushed furiously, being much white
than his face. He Kept his eyes o
mine, and knew that he was mutel
asking forgiveness But the Tough
Of what was coming paralyzed .ne. NJ
eyes were glued to his as they ha
been the first evening when he ha
called me Mrs. WILSON, and afte
an instant he looked away, and hi
face was set and hard.
''rt seems that we have all bee
playing a little comedy. Mr.. Har
bison Aunt Selma began. nasal
sarcastic. OR rather. YOU and / hav
been the audience. The rest hav
played"
I'll don't think ] understand.
he said slowly II have seen very lit
lie comedy"
ut was not we'll planned" Aun
Selma reterted tartly. THE idea wa
good. but the young person who wa
playing the part OF Mrs. wilson
overacted."
"Oh, come. Aunt Selma" Jim pro
tested, kit was coaxed and tajolet
into this thing Give me fits If yo1
Hike: deserve all get But let XII
alons-she did 1t for me-
Bella looked over at me and smiled
hastily
II would stop doing things for Jim
Kit" she said. TT is improbable.
But Mr.. HARRISON harked back Il
Aunt Selinas speech.
PLAYING the part Of Mrs. W1lson,'
u~-