The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-12-08
CHAPTER xxIIi.

Touche.
Left alone, Flora glanced rapidly
around her. Now for a sally, now for
a dash straight for Kerr. The short
est way was what she wanted. Open
ing doors lately had led to too many
surprises. She pushed aside the long
curtains and stepped out through the
French window upon the veranda.
Rapidly her eyes swept the garden.
Far down between the gray, slim
branches of willows at last she made
out the flutter of skirt. She sighed
relief to think Mrs. Herrick still at
her post, and began to hurry down
the broad unshaded drive. Her steps
sounded loud on the gravel, and pres
emily to her excited ears they sound
| ed double. Then she realized the
truth. Some one else was walking
behind her. She thought by not look
ing over her shoulder she could avoid
/ stopping; but in a moment Harry
voice hailed her. 1t was still far
enough behind for her to hope she
could ignore it. She swept on as If
she had not heard. Once around the
turn of the drive, she would be in
sight of succor. She could trust to
Mrs. Herrick to manage Harry. She
made a little rush around the loop
I and looked down the long vista of the
| willows.
A hundred yards distant she saw
the two standing. Kerr presented his
back, and with his head little canted
forward seemed to listen, absorbed in
his companion. But that companion
was a smaller figure than Mrs. Her.
rick's, and her veil made an aura of
filmy white around her face. The
sight of her was enough to stop Flora
short, and in that instant Harry, max
ing a cut across the fiower-beds
caught up with her. He stopped as
abruptly as she, and gaZed with a
dismay that surpassed her own. For
an instant she thought he was about
to make a dash down the walk for
them. Then he caught Floras hand
and pulled her back. There was no
help for it, she thought. Her other
hand crept downward stealthily and
gathered up her swinging pouch of
gold Trembling, she let him drag her
back, but when they faced each other
behind the plumes and swords of a
great pampas clump she was shocked
at the emotion in his face; and as if
what he had just seen had given the
last touch, his voice had risen a key,
and between every half-doZen words it
broke for breath.
Look here, Flora" he began; 81
know you've been trying to give me
the slip ever since night before last.
l frightened you then. I didn't mean
to, but you had no business to keep
the ring after what I told you. No.
I'm not going to touch you," as she
shrank back against the pampas
swords, "but want you to give 1t to
me. yourself, right here and now"
She looked up into his face burning
fiery in the sun beating down on his
bare head. mo, no, Harry; I shan't
give it to you. Last time l said |
/ NOulu SlhE IL ~ yOu lOl a SOOu lCd-
son, but now I wouldn't give it to you
for anything"
! "You don't know what you're do
ing" he cried.
81 do; l know as well as you that
/ this is a part of the Crew Idol I've
known it all along, and when the time
comes I'm going to give it myself to
Mr. Purdie but not until that time"
Harry passed his hand over his face
with an inarticulate sound Then,
You will ruin us!" he choked.
81 shall tell the truth, whatever
comes" she exuIted. To tell the truth
and keep on telling it-that, in her
passion of relief at speaking out at
last, was all she wanted! But Harry
fell back. He changed countenance.
He recovered himself.
Look here, Flora; if you do I'm 60
I ing to leave you. I'm going to leave
! you to what you've chosen"
She met it steadily. I'm glad you
say so. I've been thinking for days
that it would be better So"
Have you?" he said in low voice,
looking at her earnestly. "Of course.
I know the reason of that. l meant
it to be different but now there's no
help. /"
With a motion too quick for her to
escape he stopped and kissed her
lightly. To that moment she had
pitied him, but his touch she loathed.
She thrust him away with both hands.
He turned. Without speaking with.
out looking at her again. he walked
away She watched him with des-
perate feeling of being abandoned, of
losing something powerful and valu.
able. The faint, thin screech of a 10.
comotive from station far down the
line made him pause, and turn, and
gaze under his hand in the strong
sun. So for a moment she saw him,
a lowering, peering figure moving
away from her over the lawn between
broad fowerbeds. Then he disap
peared among the shrubbery.
This enc ounter, that had stopped
her in full open field, had not been
the fatal thing she had feared. II
had been a peril met that neryed her
to higher courage. Now she could
walk gallantly to the most uncertain
moment of her life. Between the glim
mering willows down the long avenue
she passed, her flowing draperies
borne backwards as by triumphant
airs. The wind of her approach
seemed to reach the two still far in
front of her
They turned and watched her draw
ing nearer, and before she had quite
'~Sched them Kerr stretched out nis
hand as If to help her over last
rough place. and drew her toward him
and held her beside him with his I'M