Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1911-01-25

throwing his cigar away he came
across quickly. why, Mrs. Wilson,
what in the world are you doing here /?
| tbought-they said"
THAT l was sulking again?" I 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 February
night in the open air, with less cloth
ing on than l wear in the tropics
had got up by this time, refusing
his help, and because my feet were
numb, sat down on the parapet for
moment. Oh, knew what 1 looked
like-one Of those valley of the-Nile-
After-a-Flood" pictures.
There is one thing about you that
Is comforting" shifted. "You said
precisely the same thing to me at
three o'clock this morning. You never
startle me by saying anything unex-
pected."
He took step toward me, and even
in the dusk I could see that he was
looking down at me oddly. All my
bravado faded away and there was q
Queer1sh ringing in my ears.
II would like toll" he said tensely.
Il would like, this minute-Tm fool.
Mrs. Wilson," he finished miserably.
Il ought to be drawn and CHARTERED,
but when I see you like this IL get
crazy. If you say the word, Tll-I'll
go down and" He clenched his fist.
It was reprehensible, Of course; he
saw that in an instant, for he shut his
teeth over something that sounded
very fierce, and strobe away from me,
to stand looking out over the river,
with his hands thrust in his pockets.
Of course the thing I should have
done was to ignore what he had said
altogether, but he was SO uncomfort-
able, SO chastened, that, feline, femi-
nine, whatever the instinct is, could
not let him go. I had been so
wretched myself.
What is it you would like to say?"
l called over to him. He did not
speak. would you tell me that am
a silly child for pouting?" No reply;
he struck match. cor would you
preach nice little sermon about
people-abOut women-loving their
husbands?"
He grunted savagely under his
breath.
BE quite honest" pursued relent-
lessly. Say that we are a lot Of
barbarians, say that because my-be-
cause Jimmy treats me outrageously-
oh, he does; any one can see that
and because I loathe him-and any
one can tell that-why don't you say
you are shocked to the depths?"
was little shocked myself by that
time, but I couldn't stop, 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,
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 1 will
you will-What"
Make fool of myself, as I have
now" he finished grimly. And then
he stalked away and left me there
alone, completely bewildered, to find
my way down in the dark
l CROPPED along, holding to the rail,
for the staircase to the roof was very
steep, and l went slowly. Halfway
down the stairs there was a tiny land
ing, and l stopped. l could have
sworn l heard Mr.. Harbison's foot
steps far below, growing fainter. I
even smiled little, there in the dark,
although l had been rather profoundly
shaken. The next instant / knew /
had been wrong; some one was on the
landing with me. I could hear short,
sharp breathing, and then
I am not sure that / struggled; in
fact, don't believe I 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 for him. for myself, that l had
liked him. The roughness of his
coat bruised my cheek: I loathed him.
And then some one came Whistling
along the hall below and he DushQ ed