The Southern herald., 1910-11-18
CHAPTER XIII.
Thrust and Parry.

Thrust and Parry.
My dear Flora: l am going out early
and shall not be back 10 dinner.
CLARA.
Flora let the little note fall as II
she disliked the touch OF it. She was
relieved to think she would not have
10 see Clara that day. 1t was her de-
sire never to see Clara again. II only
they could part here and now! How
she wanted to shake the whole thing
on her shoulders! How foolish not to
have gone to Harry when she had
hrst made up her mind to! For why,
after all, make him any explanations? =?
Suppose she should just take the ring
10 him and say: 1T gives me the shiv-
ers, Harry Let's take 1t back and get
something else" If he didn't suspect
The sapphire already, he would never
suspect 1t from that.
But did she really want Harry to
rid her Of the ring? She would get
hold OF him first and then she would
Gee what she would do.
She stepped into the hall with all
the confidence of one who has fully
made up her mind to carry matters
with a high hand; but at the tele-
phone she hesitated. Calling him up
ut such an hour of the morning de.
manding his attendance on such q
fanciful errand-wouldn't he think II
odd? No, he would think It the most
natural thing in the world for her tC
be so fiighty. Reassured, she gave the
club number and stood waiting, listen
ing to the half-syllables of switched
of voices and the crossing click
click, that was bringing her fate near
er to her. She heard some one com
ing up the stairs and down the hal
toward her. Marrika stood stolid a
her elbow.
"Mr. Cressy," she pronounced.
"Yes, yes" said Flora, with tn,
club clamorlng in her left ear.
He is downstairs" said Marrika.
Flora nearly let the receiver fall
Harry here? What a piece of luck
But here on his own account, at sucl
an hour-how extraordinary!
Hello, hello" persisted the club
s'What's wanted?"
why, L" Flora stammered. TT
a mistake; never mind. | don't wan
him now" She hoped that Harry hat
not heard her as he came in, since /
was his informal fashion to await he
In the large entrance hall. She didn'
want to spoil the chance he had civ
IN her of seeming Off-hand about tn
ring. But the hall was empty, and a
che descended the stairs she amuse
herself with the fancy that Shima ha
had vision, and that she would stil
have to ring up the club and explai
70 the attendant that, after all, sh
wanted Mr.. Cressy.
Then from the drawing-room thresl
Did she caught sight of Harry stant
ing in the big bay window of the draw
Bng-room, In the same spot wher
Kerr had awaited her the afternoo
before Harry was tall and large an
freshly colored, and yet he did not Fl
the room to her as the other man ha
done. He met her, kissed her, an
she turned her head so that his liz
met her cheek close beside her ca
She did not positively object to hi
kissing her on the lips, but her I.
stinct was strong to offer him he
cheek. He had sometimes laughed {
this, but now he resented it. He Il
sisted on his privilege, and she wa
passive to him, conscious of less loy
IN this than assertion of possession.
"You are not going to Burlingam
gre your" she asked him with her fir
breath.
He looked down at her with
flushed and sulky air. what diffe
once would that make to you? ar
as It happens, but suppose you thin
that's no reason for disturbing yc
30 early" He was angry, but at wha
she wondered, with creeping uneas
nees
what is the matter?" she urge
care things going crookedly at Blu
1lngame7"
Things are going as crooked I
you please, but not at Burlingame. S
0ver there he said, nodding towal
the window-bench; Il want to talk
you."
Harry had the afr Of one about
acold, and certainly Flora thought
anybody was carrying matters WI
= high Aan1. 4 wasn't herself; but 81