The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-06-16
CHAPTER XIX.
The Harblson Man.

between me and the door. and she
scolded Jim and Bella thoroughly.
But they did not hear It. being oc-
cupied with each other, sitting side
by side meelsly on the divan with Jim
holding Bellas hand under a cushion.
She said they would have to be very
good to make up for all the deception.
but It &as perfectly clear that II was
a relief to her to find that didn't
belong to her permanently, and as /
have said before. she was crazy about
Bella.
! sat back in a chair and grew com
fortably drowsy in the monotony OF
her voice. II was a name that brought
me TO myself with a jerk.
"Mr. Harbison!" Aunt Selma was
saying Then bring him down at
once. James. want no more decep-
! tion. There is no use cleaning o
house and leaving a dirty corner"
1T will not be necessary for me to
stay and see 1t swept" said, muster
ing the rags she had left of my self
respect, and trying TO pass her. But
she planted herself squarely before
me.
You can not stir up a dust like
this, young woman, and leave other
people to sneeze in IT," she said grim
ly. And l stayed.
sat, very small, on a chair in a
corner. l felt like Jezebel, or what
ever her name was, and now the Har-
bison man was coming. and he was
going to see me stripped of my pre-
tensions to domesticity and of hus-
band who neglected me. He was go
ing to see me branded a living lie,
and he would hate me because had
put him in a ridiculous position. He
was Just the sort to resent being RI
diculous.
Jim brought him down in a dress
ing-gown and a state of bewilderment.
It was plain that the memory Of the
afternoon still ranked, for he was
very short with Jim and inclined to
resent the whole thing. The clock in
the hall chimed half after three as
they came down the stairs, and l
heard Mr. HARRISON stumble over
something in the darkness and say
that If 1t was a joke, he wasn't In the
humor for it. To which Jim retorted
that it wasn't anything resembling
joke, and for heavens sake not to
walk on his feet: He couldn't get
around the furniture any faster.
At the door of the den Mr.. Harbi:
son stopped, blinking in the light
Then, wnen he saw US, he tried to
back himself and his dishabille out
into the obscurity of the library. But
Aunt Selma was to quick for him.
Come in" she called, Il want yous
young man. 1t seems that there are
only two fools in the house, and you
are one"
He Strengthened at that and looked
bewildered, but he tried to smile.
II thought l was the only one" he
said. rs it possible that there is an
other?"
'T am the other" she announced. l
think she expected him to say "Impos-
sible," but. whatever he was, he was
never banal.
'Is that so?" he asked politely, try
ing to be interested and to under
stand at the same time. He had not
seen me. He was gazing 1xedly a.
Bella, languishing on the divan and
watching him with lowered lids, and
he had given Jim side glance OF con.
tempt. But now he saw me and ne
colored under his tan. His neck blush
ed furiously, being much whittier than
his face. He kept his eyes on mine'
and knew that he was mutely ask
ing forgiveness. But the thought OF
what was coming paralyzed me. MY
eyes were glued to his as they had
been that first evening when he had
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 a little comedy, Mr.. Harbl-
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. Il have seen very little
comedy"
1T was not well planned" Aunt Sc
lima retorted tartly. "The idea was
good, but the young person who was
playing the part of Mrs. Wilson
overacted."
"Oh, come, Aunt Selma" Jim pro-
tested, kit was coaxed and cajoled
into this thing Give me fits if you
like; deserve all l get. But let
Kit alone-she did it for me-"
Bella looked over at me and smiled
nastily.
Il would stop doing things for Jim,
Kit" she said. 1T is so Improbable"
But Mr. HARRISON harked back to
Aunt Selina's speech.
CTo BE CoNTINUED)