Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1910-06-08

her. l felt if she would help me to
keep straight, that now, with her IA
Their and my sister both dead, we
might be happy together.
81 understand now what puzzled me
then 1t seemed that my sister went
into the next car and tried to make
my wife promise not to interfere. But
Ida-Mrs. Sullivan-was firm, of
course. She said her father had pa
pers, certificates and so on, that
would. stop the marriage at once.
"She said, also, that her father was
in our car, and that there would be
the mischief to pay in the morning.
1t was probably when my sister tried
to get the papers that he awakened
and she had to do what she did"
1t was over. Save for technically
or two, l was a free man. Alison
rose quietly and prepared to go; the
men stood to let her pass, save Sulli-
van, who sat crouched in his chair,
his face buried in his hands.
Mcknight saw her, with Mrs. Dali
las, to their carriage and came back
again. The gathering in the office
was breaking up: Johnson had slipped
away as unostentatiously as he came.
Sullivan, looking worn and old, was
standing by the window, staring at
the broken necklace in his hand.
When he saw me watching him, he
put it back on the desk and picked
up his hat.
eff l cannot do anything more
I he hesitated.
81 think you have done about
enough" l replied, grimly, and he
went out
believe that Richey and Hotchkiss
led me somewhere to dinner and that,
for fear 1 would be lonely without
him, they sent for Johnson. And l
recall a spirited discussion in which
Hotchkiss told the detective that he
could manage certain cases, but that
he lacked induction. Richey and !
were mainly silent. My thoughts
would slip ahead to that hour, later in
the evening, when l should see Alison
again.
/ dressed in savage haste. finally
and was so particular about my tie
that Mrs. Klopton gave up in despair
ct wish, until your arm is better,
that you would buy the kind that
hooks on" she protested, almost tear
fully. "I'm sure they look very nice,
Mr.. Lawrence. My late husband al
ways
That's a lovers knot you've tied
this time snarled, and, jerking open
the bow knot she had so painfully ex-
ecuted, looked out Of the window for
Johnson-until / recalled that he no
longer belonged in my perspective ]
ended by driving frantically to the
club and getting George to do it.
l was late, of course. The drawing
room and library at the Dallas coun-
try home was very empty. could hear
| billiard balls rolling somewhere and
/ turned the other way. / found Ali
son at last on the balcony, sitting
much as she had that night on the
| beach-her chin in her hands, her
eyes fixed unseeingly on the trees and
| lights of the square across. She was
even whistling a little, softly. But
this time the plaintiveness was gone
1t was a tender little tune. She did
not move, as l stood beside her, look.
ing down. And now, when the mo.
ment had come, all the thousand and
one things | had been waiting to say
forsook me, precipitately beat a re-
treat and left me unsupported. The
arc-moon sent little fugitive lights
over her hair, her eyes, her gown.
"Don't-do that" l said unsteadily
"You-you know what l want to dc
when you whistle!"
She glanced UP at me and she did
not stop. She did not STOP She
went on whistling softly, bit tremu
lousy. And straightway l forgot the
street, the chance of passers-by, the
voices in the house behind us. "The
world doesn't hold anyone but you,
l said, reverently. ut is our world,
sweetheart. l love you"
And / kissed her.
A boy was whistling on the pave
| ment below. l let her go reluctantly