Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-10-06

should play for him Norman said
"Yes, yes! and when she asked II
he had had enough music he cried
hastily mo, nor until her nerves
were all a-jangle.
At last he arose TO go, and there
was very tender look in his down
bent eyes as he fingered his hat.
'"There was something | wanted to
say to you. Bess. | wonder II | bet
ter say It now? guess you know
what 1t Is" He looked steadily at her.
Elizabeth did not hesitate, She was
angry with him for his rustic ways
and provoked at herself because she
was too narrow minded to overlook
them
81 don't believe you better say It,"
she said deliberately, her eyes on the
small shoe that tapped the carpet.
His face whitened underneath the
bronze, and there was n stricken look
in his eyes. II hardly dared to hope
much since | heard you were coming
home, but before you went away
He choked a little and asked her a
question. "Will you tell me why,
Bess?"
She looked up at him with strange
hardness In her heart. do you really
want me to tell your she asked
ayes, yes!" he said eagerly
'That's 1t. Norman Ryder" she flash.
ed ITS your Bufrum county twang
and your everlasting 'yes-yes' and no
no. and you know better too!'
He stared at her, bewildered for
a moment. and as the import of her
words struck home he Redeemed deeply
and nil the tenderness fed from his
eyes. 80 that's the reason?" he said
gratingly. well, Bess, there's no
chance for me. then, because II you
don't love me enough to overlook u
mere habit of speech you don't love
me ms much MS want you to. sup
pose | don't shine very brightly COM
pared with the city fellows you've met,
but I've loved you better than anybody
else in the world ever could" He
crammed on his hat and without an.
other word left the house
Elizabeth stood alone in the parlor,
her eyes liked In frightened stare on
the closed door, her heart pounding In
unison with Norman's departing steps
on the crisp snow.
1t was bright moonlight, and scores
OF young people were coasting down
the steep hill that ran past the Grnys'
home, Elizabeth heard their shouts OF
laughter and the frequent warning cry
OF "ltOad!'
The gate crashed into place behind
Norman's impatient swing There was
the roar of coming bobsed, muf-
fed thud and then shouts OF distress
Elizabeth reached the front gate ut
the same time her father and mother
hurried to the same place. drawn by
the sounds OF an accident
Somebody had been run down by the
bobsled who lay. dark
motlonless figure against the Wilderness
Of the snow Around his head the
snow was stained crimson that wild
ened and widencd horribly.
1t was Norman Ryder, and when
Elizabeth reached his side little
group OF men we're lifting him from
the snow.
Bring him into my house." com
manded Mr.. Gray, leading the way,
and so they carried him across the
doorstep which he had left I'm anger n
few moments before and bore him up
stairs 10 the front chamber.
doctor was summoned, and while
Mru Gpau rod I'm nd nd "a IA. |
or necessarles her husband built a |
roaring fire In the fireplace, and Eliza
beth sat cold and numb beside that |
still form on the bed Her hands rig |
idly held In place the bag Of lee her
mother laid on his forehead above the |
bandage that covered the deep cut. |
Her eyes were fixed on tho white set |
features and closed lids and the finely
chiseled lips which might part no
more to utter the homely dialect OF
the country which she had dcsplsed
and ridiculed
She could not weep. She could only |
SIT there. miserable, heartbr0ken lit
tie figure. hating herself for her cen.
serious words.
aside. For an hour ho worked over
the young man, while Elizabeth sat In
her own room breathless and despair
ing Then at last she heard him go
ing away, and instantly she was at
the door OF Norman's room. Her
mother smillngly beckoDed her within
and left them alone together.
Norman. looking very pale, bis head
swathed In bandnges, did not see her
come in. For moment she stood
there looking down Mt him with her
heart In her eyes
Suddenly he looked up at her. smil.
ing whimsically In the old way, as he
had been used 10 do before she told
him the unpleasant truths. He had
looked that way when he was a boy
growing up and she was little girl
trottlng 10 school beside him.
doctor says I'll be all right In a
day or 30" he smiled. But I'll have
TO keep still. You don't mind my bo
ing here IN your house. do you. Bess7"
mo, nor she cried. dropping uncon.
sciously into the vernacular OF Buffum
county She slipped 10 her knees 10
side the bed and leaned her sunny
head ngninst his shoulder.
Norman qulvered and then laid one
hand on her head "Oh, Bess! You
don't mean ~ DO you love meT' he
ayes. yes!' sobbed Elizabeth And
10 them both 1t was the sweetest word
In tho tvorId