The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-04-21
CHAPTER xl. (contlnued.)

Il saw you kiss her in the dininf
room, remember that!" Aunt Selma
went on, giving the screw another
turn.
1t was Bella's turn to be excited
She gave me an awful stare, then she
fixed her eyes on Jim.
Besides" Aunt Selma went on
you told me today that you loved
her. Don't deny it, James,"
Bella couldn't keep quiet another in
stant. She came over and stood at
the foot of the bed.
please don't excite yourself, dear
Miss Caruthers," she said, in a voice
like ice. Every one knows that he
loves her; he simply overnows with
It. lit is quite a by-word among
their friends. They have been sitting
together in a corner all evening"
Yes, that was what she said; when
had not spoken to Jimmy the whole
time in the den. Bella was catfish,
and she was Jealous, too. / turned on
my heel and went to the door; then l
turned to her, with my hand on the
knob.
you have been misinformed"
said coldly. you can not possibly
know, having spent three hours in
corner yourself-with Mr.. Harbison."
| abhor jealousy in a woman.
At midnight the house was fairly
quiet, except for Jim, who kept walk
ing around the halls because he
couldn't sleep. 1 got up at last and
ordered him to bed, and he had the
audacity to have grievance with me.
Look at my situation now" he
said, sitting pensively on a steam re-
diator. Aunt Selma is crazy. I only
kissed your hand, anyhow, and I don't
know why you sat in the den all even
ing; you might have known that Bella
would notice it. Why couldn't you
leave me alone to my misery?"
Very well" said, much offended
After this l shall sit with Flanagan
In the kitchen. He is the only gentle
man in the house."
l left him babbling apologies and |
went to bed, but ] had an uncomfort- |
able feeling that Bella had been a wit |
ness to our conversation, for the door |
into Aunt selina's room closed softly
as passed.
knew beforehand that l was not
going to sleep. The instant l turned
out the light the nightmare events of
the evening ranged themselves in a
or a series of tableaux, one
after the other: Flanagan on the
roof with the bracelet on his palm,
looking accusingly at me; Mr.. Harbi-
son and the scene on the roof, with
my flippancy; and the result Of that
man on the stairs, the
arms that held me, the terrible kisses
hat had scorched my lips-it was aw-
,ul! And then the absurd situation
across Aunt Selina's bed, and Bella's
ace! oh, it was all so ridiculous-my 4
having thought that the HARRISON man
vas a gentleman, and finding him a
.ad, and worse. 1t was eXcruciatingly
unny, l quite got a headache from
aughing; indeed l laughed until l s
ound | was crying, and then | knew /
vas going to have an attack of
trangulated emotion, called hysteria. q
10 | got up and turned on all the '
ights, and bathed my face with CO. h
Ogne, and felt better. "
But did not go to sleep. When f
he hall clock chimed two l discover L
d was hungry. l had had nothing
ince luncheon, and even the thirst il
the South American goulash n
-as gone. There was probably some Fl
hing to eat in the pantry, and If there o
as not, / was quite equal to going y
} the basement.
| ate bread and butter and drank VI
Iilk, and was fast becoming a ra- O
onal person again; had pulled out is
ne of the drawers part way, and Il
ith tray across the corner / had fe
nprovised a comfortable seat And K
len / noticed that the drawer was
ii of soiled napkins, and 1 remember OF
the bracelet. hardly know why / m
scided to go through the drawer
,ain after Flanagan had already done
but did finished my milk and
en-, getting down on my knees, l Al
oceeded Systematically to empty the
aver. / took out perhaps a dozen
plrins and as many doilies without
ding anything. Then l took out a
rye tray cloth, and there was some at
Ing on It that made me look farther. w
10 corner Of 1t had been scorched, ty
. clear and well-defned imprint OF a a