The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-02-14
CHAPTER VI.
Strained Relations.


Strained Relations.
There's better love, / know!
This foolish love was only days first
offer.
choose my next love, to defy the
scoffer."
-Pippa Passes.
April was laughing through her
tears as Jem sat sulkily at break.
fast by himself next morning. A
night of fitful, scurrying rain and
warm, boisterous west wind had turn
ed to glttering dawn, with a
wet radiance upon every leaf-bud
and grass-blade and a sky of that
particular deep, crude, spring blue
which wakes a kind of riot in the
heart, as though it were a fore
taste of something infinitely deep
er, richer and more mysterious.
AS the young man munched away
at his west country breakfast of
grilled ham, with mashed potatoes
baked in pie-dish, he saw the
figure of Vernon Wilmot emerge
from the trees OF the avenue, and
come up the gravel path, between
the dewy lawns. She moved with her
usual sprngy, splendid step, the gait
OF free, open-air creature in per-
feet health and the sound vigor OF
youth. The wind ruffled her hair
about her uncovered head and in
her hand she held a few violets.
Jem's black brows came together
and his jaw set as his eyes fell
upon her. She came straight on,
pushed wider the open French win
dow of the room in which he sat,
and entered. with a whiff of the fra
GRANGE of the morning.
She greeted him frankly, and nat
urally, as though he had not uttered
hose insulting words of last night;
and coming to the other side of the
table at which he sat, took her seat
facing him, and looked him straight
in the eyes, coolly and fearessly.
"Mr. Bardsley," said she quietly,
Il feel it essential that you and
should understand each other"
He grew DULY red, and pushed
back his chair from the table, NUT
tering something about women want.
ing TO make a scene.
"On the contrary, a scene-such
as took place last nights what
want TO avoid said Vernon pa
tiently. After the detestable way
in which you spoke to me, think
you owe it to me to listen, for two
or three minutes, to what have
to say"
He looked desperately uncomfort-
able. Well he said, I'm sorry
was so rough
Thank you. 1t is not roughness
that | mind" said Vernon. 1T is
that you are jealous of ME, and
vexed that | have come here. You
think that | shall come between you
and Aunt Emma. No, let me speak
he had made some sound of demur.
You shall answer when | have done.
1t is not only that | am here, it
is unfortunately true that, quite with
out any own wish or will, / know |
something to your discredit. For
these two reasons you dislike me. !
think you are unreasonable. First, |
let me tell you that | have not only |
as good, but q better right than
you to be here. | am Aunt Emma's |
only blood relation. Your rudeness
will not drive me away. Let me as
sure you of that. | do not want, from
Aunt Emma, either money or land.
This place was her husbands, and
should, | consider, be yours. | have
plenty of money, and about twelve
times as much land as Carronlea
contains. Now for the other mat
ter. l was involuntarily a witness
Of what | wish with all my heart
had never seen. | only wish 10
forget il. l should forget it if, you
you would let me alone Just by
accident. / happen TO know the
Kind OF man you are. and so We
,an't be friends. but | see no reas-