Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-07-12
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CHAPTER Y.
On the Stairs.
Copyright 1908


companionable odor of tobacco.
moved a very little, and then l saw
that it was a man-the height and
erectness told me which man. And
just at that instant he saw me.
Good Lord" he CALCULATED, and
throwing his cigar away he came
across quickly. Why, Mrs. Wilson,
what in the world are you doing here
/ thought-they said"
That l was sulking again?" l fin
ished disagreeably. Perhaps l am
In fact. I'm quite sure of it."
You are not" he said severely
You have been asleep in a February
night, in the open air, with less cloth
ing on than l wear in the tropics"
l had got up by this time, refusing
his help, and because my feet were
numb, sat down on the parapet for
a moment. Oh knew what looked
like-one of those Valley Of the Nile
After Flood" pictures.
There is one thing about you that
is comforting" l shifted. You said
precisely the same thing to me at three
O'Clock this morning. You never star
tie me by saying anything uneXpect-
ed"
He took a step toward me, and
even in the dusk 1 could see that he
was looking down at me oddly. All
my bravado faded away and there was
a queerish ringing in my ears.
II would like to-" he said tensely.
Il would like, this minute-Im fool,
Mrs. Wilson," he finished miserably. y
ought to be drawn and quartered, but
when see you like this IL get crazy.
If you say the word, Tll-Fll go down
and" He clenched his fist.
1t was reprehensible, Of course; he
saw that in an instant, for he shut his
teeth over something that sounded
very fierce, and strode away from me,
TO stand looking out over the river,
with his hands thrust in his pockets.
Of course the thing should have done
was to ignore what he had said alto
gether, but he was so uncomfortable,
so chastened, that, feline. feminine,
whatever the instinct is, could not let
him go. / had been so wretched my
self.
What is it you would like to say?"
called over to him. He did not speak.
Would you tell me that l am silly
child for pouting?" No reply: he
struck a match. "Or would you preach
a nice little sermon about people
about women-loving their husbands?'
He grunted savagely under his
breath.
BE quite honest" l pursued relent-
lessly. Say that we are lot of barba-
rians, say that because my-because
Jimmy treats me outrageously-oh he
does; any one can see that-and be-
cause 1 loathe him-and any one can
tell that-why don't you say you. are
shocked to the depths?" l was little
shocked myself by that time, but l
couldn't slop, having started.
He came over to me, white faced and
towering, and he had the audacity to
grip my arm and stand me on my feet,
like a bad child-which l was, l dare
say.
DON'T" he said in a husky. very
panied voice. You are only talking;
YOU don't mean it. 1t isn't you. You
know you care, or else why are you
crying up here? And don't do it again.
don't do it again-or l will"
You will-what?"
Make a fool of myself, as l have
oyri,,,l,r And then
he staiked away and left me there
alone, completely bewildered, to find
my way down in the dark
groped along. holding to the rail
for the staircase to the roof was very
steep, and l went slowly. Halfway
down the stairs there was tiny land
ing, and stopped. could have sworn
| heard Mr. Harbison's footstep far
below, growing fainter. l even smiled
a little, there in the dark, although
had been rather profoundly shaken
The next instant l knew l had been
wrong: some one was on the landing
with me. l could hear short, sharp
breathing, and then
l am not sure that l struggled; in
fact, l don't believe did was too
limp with amaZement. The creature
to have lain in wait for me like that!
And he was brutally strong; he caught
me to him fiercely. and held me there
close, and he kissed me-not once or
twice, but half a dozen times, long
kisses that filled me with hot shame fo1
him, for myself, that l had-liked
him. The roughness of his coat bruis-
ed my cheek: loathed him. And ther
some one came whistling along the
hall below, and he pushed me from
him and stood listening, breathing II
long, gasping breaths.
I ran: when my shaky knees would
hold me, l ran. l wanted to hide my
face, my disgust, my disilluslon;
wanted TO put my head in mothers
lap and cry: l wanted to die, or be Ill
so l need never see him again. Per
versely enough, / did none OF those
things. With my face still flaming
with burning eyes and hands ina
shook, | made belated evening tone
and went slowly, haughtily, down the
stairs. My hands were like lce' bu
was consumed with rage. on,
would show him-that this was New
York, not Iquique: that the roof was
not his Andean tableland.
Every one deliberately ignored my
absence from dinner. The Dalla:
Browns, Max and Lollie We're a
bridge; Jim was alone in the den
walking the floor and biting at an un'
lighted cigar; Betty had returned u
Aunt Selma and was hysterlcal' they
said. and Flanagan was in deep de-
lection because l had missed my an
ner.
Betty is making no end of row.
Max said, looking up from his game
because the old lady upstairs insist:
on chloroform liniment. Betty say:
the smell makes her ill"
uAn1 eba can iuhalp Russian cigar