The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-03-17

as if she intended the interview to
be short one.
81 put the handkerchief there. I
| came to tell you that-that I do not
wish you to bring the books"
But I've brought them,' said Rom
aid, with mild expostulation. Here
they are. But never mind them just
now-though 1 hope you'll read them
and like them. Has anything hap
pened since 1 was here? You look
500 grave"
my father has gone to the Island
to her ...the Island always meant
Sicily; 'he will be away some days.
a week perhaps She stopped
suddenly, for Ronald's face was a
tell-tale one, and there was no mis-
taking its expression-that of anxiety.
| She bit her lips and looked away from
| him. 'He has got some work there,
I think
"You think?" he said Doesn't he
| tell you what he is doing?'
NO" she replied. why should
he"
"Oh, I don't know It's usual for
| a father to tell his daughter what he
is doing" Ronald remarked, "espec-
/, tally when she is placed as you are"
"He never does,'' she said. 81 do
not know why he left and went TO
England, to the mill; I do not know
why he came back"
Ronald stared at her; then sudden
ly, with a touch of earnestness, as if
he had the right to protect her, he
asked:
"He is-kind to you?"
"Oh, yes!'' she said; "as kind as
most fathers-I suppose. But we do
not talk much; he is very silent, and
likes to live away from other people;
so that there is little to talk about,
excepting the fishing and Nita's poul-
try
didn't in the least understand; but he
began to feel that there was some
kind Of mystery connected with this
strange parent who immured his
from the rest of the world. "And he
is going to be away for q week, or
more perhaps. and leave you alone
with bit of sIavey?"
''Why not?" she said, as she had
said the other night. .I am quite
safe. But have said what I came
to tell you. You must not leave the
books; you must not come agaia,
please"
Ronald regarded her blankly.
LET us sit down and argue it," he
said. Here's comfortable place"
She hesitated; but there was a
new note in his voice, one that she
had not heard before, a, note of mas
terful tenderness, of protection, and
she seated herself with a little shrug
Of protest.
much easier to talk sitting down
than standing" he said. as he drop
ped, almost at full length, beside her.
Nov, listen to me, Miss Raven-oh,
suppose I ought to call you signor-
ina? But you speak English so well,
and look so like any other English
girl, that forgot you're Italian"
1t does not matter" she said in
differently.
He had taken the books from their
wrapper, and held them towards her.
There they are" he said, 81 pick
ed out the ones thought you'd like
There are some novels, and some
poetry, and a book of travels"
She tried to look away from them;
but presently her eyes were drawn to
them as if irresistibly, and she read
the titles softly, and with sigh OF
longing in her low voice.
you don't mean to say that you
will be SO unkind as to make me drag
them back again!"
Eyes," she said; you would have
to come for them, and I do not wish
you to do so.'
Ronald took his courage in both
hands
'Is that because you don't like me,
don't want to see me?"
She looked at him sideways, with
troubled expression in her eyes; and
they fell under his grave but ardent
gaze, as if she were uneasy and doubt
full of her own mind.
NO." she said at last ST do not dis
like you, but
Hold on!" he broke in; don't
spoil it. I'm glad you don't dislike
me. If you don't particularly dis
like me, why can't 1 bring you the
books and see YOU n.ow!"-as
her lips opened and she looked away
from him gravey. "Your father
doesn't like visitors, doesn't like you
to know people. But-oh, I'm not
going to say anything against him,
don't be afraid-but why should he
object. Pm''-he laughed, and
Ronald's laugh was pleasant one to
hear-'I'm a gentleman, Miss Cara"
The Miss Cara did not escape
her, and touch of colour came to
her face, softer expression in the
grey eyes; but she did not offer any
objection to the unconscious famil-
To-