The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-13
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y Household
ISABEL,S PREMEDITATION

thing she was sure---an Invitation to
drive, given twenty-four hours In adj
vance. would have been spurned by
her, coming from any one else but
Alex.
That was a triumph for him. but
IL WAS an ephemeral triumph. When
II Was over, Isabel was appalled, at
herself Ii she had not known the
exact turn in the road where he tn
tended 10 speak. II she had not an
ticipated by three OF four minutes
the words she wished above every
thing In The weird to- heaF, she might
have yielded.
| She would never be able to forget
how the suddenness of disappeiut-
msnt for an instant snapped the CON
troll IF Alexis face; how he nanfulIy
got himself In hand and smiled down
a. her.
We've can at least he az We
were--little eirI--friends stu?
The Ensteadiness Of his voice al
wuost conquered Isabel She could
have hidden her face on hts shoulder.
Eat in another instant II wac too
late. his growing calm repulsed her;
he didn't care so much after all
Friends sull2 Isabel consented. But
II was not the same az before. 1t
never could be. In the darkness Of
the remaining two days OF his visit,
Isabel was beginning to realize how
much he had been TO her? Why had
she thrown away such loVe--foT 4
whim But Isabel had her pride 10
saecof. She passed those remaining
two days in her brightest. gayest and
emptiest mood, She even Violated
her nature and planned an excursion
ay a Z a
sake Of surrounding herself with "a
diverting crowd of young people.
At last the evening arrived when
Alex was TO take his train for the
West Isabel. still brave, volunteered
To zee him OF
1t was dusk when the brakeman
shouted All aboard! =" and Isabel
leaving Alex smiling rather foreedly
! from the rear platform, hurried
through the long train shed toward
+ the waiting room. Il was an abrupt
action on her part, but she could not
walt to see the train pull out. She
had managed To smile back ut him
| bat now her face was ai "A -QuIver
and the station lights began to dance
before her eyes, 1t had been the
most meaningless farewell they has
ever said-and it was the last.
( The loComtiNe was already puffins
! and changing IFS way out of the trair
she'd. He was gone Isabel, for tn,
first time. realized what she had lost
I To get away from there some place
where she could not attract the atteu
ton of curious strangers to her grief
to find n secluded corner whore sn,
might have her cry out. was Isabel
purpose now.
And az she hurried along she no
tieed "a step behind her, distinctive Il
ali the crowded confusion. Powerles
to resist. an imperative impulse, sn
turned about, 10 face--AlcN Holt
lie stopped abruptly as she paused
and then sprang toward her. Cap
turing both her hands he gazed dow
into her tremuioHs, tear-Wet eyes
and read her very soul. He did no
speak. AS he put his hand on he
arm to lead her away he only laughe'
softly, chuckle OF half creduIor
gladuess
Neither spoke,
Alex hailed a carriage. put her 1
and took a seat BY her side
why didn't Won go. Alex - sh
asked, looking mp To the face of tn
Young man. bent close to hers
Didn't have amy ticket" he eN
= planned with humorous brestty
Didn't have your ticketi-the
you-you were not intending 10 e.
You planned ii ali--oh. -alext"
? For answer he put his arm abou
E her.