Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-08-05
Copyright 1909
CHAPTER XIX.
The HARRISON Man.

She talked for an hour having got
between me and the door, and she
scolded Jim and Bella thoroughly. But
they did not hear it, being occupied
with each other, sitting side by side
meekly on the divan with Jim holding
Bella's hand under a cushion. She said
they would have to he very good 10
make up for all the deception, but il
was perfectly clear that ii was a relief
to her to find that l didn't belong to
her permanently. and as | have said
before, she was crazy about Bella.
| sat back in a chair and grew COM
fortably drowsy in the monotony of her
voice. 1t was a name that brought me
to myself with a jerk.
Mr.. Harbson!" Aunt Selma was
saying. Then bring him down at once,
James. want no more deception.
There is no use cleaning a house and
leaving a dirty corner"
1T will not be necessary for me to
stay and see it swept" | said, muster
ing the rags she had left of my self
respect, and trying to pass her. But
she planted herself squarely before me.
You can not stir up a dust like this,
young woman, and leave other people
to sneeze in it," she said grimly. And
| stayed.
| sat. very small, on a chair in cor
ner. / felt like JeZebel, or whatever
her name was, and now the HARRISON
man was coming. and he was going TO
see me stripped of my pretensions to
domesticity and of a husband who neg
lected me. He was going to see me
branded living lie, and he would hate
me because l had put him in a ridicu-
lous position. He was just the sort to
resent being ridiculous.
Jim brought him down in dressing
gown and a state of bewIlderment. 1t
was plain that the memory of the af-
ternoOn still ranked, for he was very
shot with Jim and inclined to resent
the whole thing. The clock in the hall
chimed half after three as they came
down the stairs, and heard Mr. Har-
bison stumble over something in the
darkness and say that if it was joke.
he wasn't in the humor for it. To
which Jim retorted that it wasn't any
thing resembling joke, and for Heav-
ems sake not to walk on his feet: he
couldn't get around the furniture any
faster.
At the door of the den Mr.. HARRISON
stopped blinking in the light. Then,
when he saw us, he tried to back him.
self and his dishabille out into the OBJ
was too quick for him.
Come in," she called, Il want YOU,
young man. 1t seems that there are
only two fools in the house, and you
are one"
He Strengthened at that and looked
bewildered, but he tried to smile.
Il thought was the only one," he
said. 1T is possible that there is an
other?"
II am the other" she announced. l
think she expected him to say "impos-
sible" but, whatever he was, he was
never banal.
rs that so?" he asked politely, trying
to he interested and to understand at
the same time. He had not seen me.
He was gazing hXedly at Bella, Ian
gushing on the divan and watching
him with lowered lids, and he had Civ
en- Jim a side glance Of contempt. But
now he saw me and he colored under
his tan. His neck blushed furiously.
being much whittier than his face. He
kept his eyes on mine. and | knew that
he was mutely asking forgiveness. But
the thought of what was coming par
alyZed me- My eyes were glued to ms
as they had been that first evening
when he had called me Mrs. Wilson"
and after an instant he looked away,
and his face was set and hard.
1T seems that we have all been play
ing a little comedy. Mr.. HARRISON,
Aunt Selma began. nasally sarcastic.
"Or rather. YOU and l have been the
audience. The rest have played"
II don't think l understand" he
said slowly. Il have seen very little
comedy"
1T was not well planned" Aunt
Selma ret0rted tartly. THE idea was
good. but the young person VIII" was
playing the part of Mrs Wilson-ov"r-
acted"
"Oh. come. Aunt Selma" Jim pro-
tested. Kit was cnaXcd and caj"l"d in
10 this thing. Give me fits if YOU like:
I deserve all | get. But let Kit alone
she did it for me-
Bella looked over at me and smiled
nastily.
Il would stop doing things for Jlm'
Kit" she said. 1t is $" unpr"titahl".
But Mr.. HARRISON hark"d Lack I"
Aunt Selina's speech.