Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1911-03-01
CHAPTER XVIII.
It's All My Fault.

ously angry, and only succeeded in
feeling queer and tingly. One thing
was absolutely certain: Not the same
man, but two different men had kissed
me on the stairs to the roof. 1t sounds
rather horrid and discriminating, but
there was all the difference in the
world.
But then-who had? And for whom
had Mr.. HARRISON been waiting on the
roof? did you know that nearly
choked you to death a few minutes
ago?" Then he rather expected to
finish somebody in that way! Who?
Jim, probably. Tt was strange, too
but suddenly I realized that no mat
ter how many suspicious things ]
mustered up against him--and there
were plenty-down in my heart ]
didn't believe him guilty of anything
except this last and unforgivable of
Tense. Whoever was trying to leave
the house had taken the necklace.
that seemed clear, unless Max was
still foolishly trying to break quar-
antine and create oEe of the sensa
lions he so dearly loves. This was a
new idea, and some things upheld it,
when I was kissed on the stairs, and
there was still eft that ridiculous
incident Of the comfort.
Bella came 3ip after I had gone tc
bed, and turned on the light to brush
her hair.
eff 1 don't leave this mausoleum
soon. III be carried out" she de-
clared. You in bed, Lollie Mercer
and Dal flirting, Anne hysterical, and
Jim making his will in the den! You
VIII have to take Aunt Selma tonight
Kit; I'm all in"
eff you'll put her to bed, I'll keeE
her there" l conceded, after some
parley.
you're dear" Bella came bach
from the door Look here, Kit, you
know Jim pretty we'll. Don't you
think he looks i'll? Thinner"
"He's a wreck" said soberly
you have a lot to answer for, Bella
Bella went over to the cheval glass
and looked in it. IT avoid him all
can," she said, posing. Hes awfullJ
funny; he's so afraid I'll think he's
serious about you. He can't realize
that for me he simply doesn't exist
Well, I took Aunt Selma, and about
two o'clock, while I was in my first
sleep, / woke to find her standing be
side me, tugging at my arm.
There's somebody in the house,
she whispered. "Thieves!"
eff they're in they'll not get out to
night" I said.
IT tell you, I saw a man skulkins
on the stairs" she insisted
got up ungraciously enough, and
put on my dressing gown. Aunt Sc
lima, who had her hair in crimps, tied
a veil over her head, and together VIZ
went to the head of the stairs. Aunt
Selma leaned far over and peere(
down
''He's in the library" she whisper
ed. IT can see a light
The lust of battle was in Aunt Sc
lina's eye. She girded her robe abou
her and began to descend the Stair
cautiously. We went through the hal
and stopped at the library door.
was empty, but from the den beyond
came a hum of voices and the cheer
full glow Of freight / realized the
situation then, but it was too late.
"Then why cid you kiss her in the
dining room?" Bella was saying in
her clear, high tones. "You did, didn't
your"
st was only her hand" Jim, des-
perately explaining. Tive got to pay
her some attention, under the circum-
stances. And 1 give you my word,
was thinking Of you when l did it"
The wretch!
Aunt Selma drew her breath in sud-
denly
II am thinking of marrying Reggie
Wolfe" This was Bella, OF course.
"He wants me to- He's a dear boy"
eff you do, l will kill him.
st am SO very lonely" Bella sighed.
We could hear the creak of Jim's
shirt bosom that showed that he had
sighed also. Aunt Selma had gripped
me by the arm, and I could hear her
breathing hard beside me.
tits only jim" I whispered. Il
don't want to hear any more"
But she clutched me firmly, and the
next thing we heard was another
creak, and louder and
Get up! Get up off your knees
this Instant" Bella was saying frant-
ically. Some one might come in"
Don't send me away" Jim said in
a smOthered voice. Every one in the
house is asleep, and II love you,
dear"
Aunt Selma swallowed hard in the
darkness.
you have no right to make love
to me-" Bella. Visits highly i'm
proper, under the circumstances"
And then jim: you swallow a
camel and stick at a gnat Why did
you meet me here, If you didn't ex-
pect me to make love to you? I've
stood for lot, Bella, but this foolish
ness will have to end Either you
love me-or you don't. I'm desper-
L,