The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1911-06-08

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
playing little comedy. Mr. Harbi-
SON. Aunt Selma began, nasally sar-
castle. Or, rather. you and have
been the audience. The rest have
played"
Il don't think understand" he
said, slowly. T have seen very little
comedy
1T was not wen planned" Aunt Sc
lima retorted tartly. "The idea was
good, but the young person who was
playing the part Of Mrs. Wilson
oyeracted."
"oh, come, Aunt Selma" Jim pro
tested, Kit was coaxed and cajoled
into this thing. Give me fits II you
like; deserve all get. But let
Kit alone she did it for me. -
Bella looked over at me and smiled
hastily
Il would stop doing things for Jim,
Kit,' she said. 1T is so Improbable"
But Mr.. HARRISON harked back to
Aunt Selina's speech.
Playing the part Of Mrs. Wilsoni"
be repeated DO you meant"
Exactly Playing the part. She 10
not Mrs Wilson It seems that that
honor belonged at one time to Miss
Knowles. ] believe such things are
not unknown In New York, only why
In the name of sense does q man
want to divorce q woman and then
meet her at two o'clock In the morn
ing to kiss the place where his own
wedding ring used to rest?'
Jim fdgeted. Bella was having
spasms OF mirth to herself. but the
HARRISON man did not smile. He
stood for a moment looking at the
| fire: Then he thrust his hands deep
into the pockets of his dressing gown
and stalked over to me. He did not
care that the. others were watching
and listening.
rs 1t true?" he demanded, staring
down at me. You are not Mrs. Will
son? You are not married at all? All
that about being neglected-and
loathing him, and all that on the
roof there was no foundation Of
truth r.
/ could only shake my head with.
out looking UP. There was no defense
| to make Oh. deserved the scorn In
his voice
4 .'They-they persuaded you. | sup
pose. and it was to help somebody? It
was not practical joker"
No" rallied little spirit at
that 1t had been anything but q
| Joke.
He drew long breath
Il think understand" he said
slowly. but-you could have saved
me something | must have given you
all a great deal of amusement"
"Oh. no" protested. Il want
to tell YOU"
But he deliberately left me and
went over to the door There he
turned and looked down at Aunt Sc
lima He was little white, but there
was no passion in his face.
Thank you for telling me all this,
Miss Caruthers," he said easily. Now
that you and know, I'm afraid the
others will miss their little diversion.
Good night"
| Oh. It was all right for Jim to
laugh and say that he was only huffed
a little and would be over it by morn
ing / knew better. There was some
thing queer in his face as he went
out He did not even glance in my
direction He had said very little, but
he had put me as effectually In the
wrong AZ II he had not kissed me-
deliberately kissed me-that very eve
ming, on the roof.
| wretchedly thinking things over and
| trying to remember who Jezebel was,
and toward morning / distinctly heard
the knob of the door turn ! mis-
trusted my ears. however, and 20 !
got UP quietly and went over In the
darkness There was no sound out
side. but when put my hand on the
knob felt It move under my fingers.
The counter pressure evidently alarm
ed whoever It was. for the knob was
released and nothing more happened.
But by this time anything SO uncom.
4 plicated as the fumblIng or q knob Al
night had no power to disturb me.
went back to bed.
/ CHAPTER XXX.