El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-06-06
The Herald's
Daily Short Stsry
THE Man On the Phone ?


she told him, the timidity still evident
in her voice, and you did. didn't
your
IF did, he said, "it was nothing:
it was merely because I was tired l
had rather a trying time in the office
this afternoon. But I'll be all right
soon"
81 Go hope So" she murmured, with
very evident earnestness, for-oh,
come in here, Nicol There's something
I want TO say-something must say!
Almost dazedly he followed her into
the diningroom. which was quite near
at hand Once inside the room he
closed the door carefully behind him.
and waited, watching her.
With a sort Of little cry. she turned
70 him and put her arms about his
neck, and bent her head so that her
face rested on his shoulder.
Nicol stood very stiff and still, star
ing over her head with wide eyes.
'NicolI" she cried. "Nicol, dear. I'm
little beast!'
ooh, not at ALL"
''I say" he said, ct think you'd bet
ter sit down, hadn't you? You've some
thing you want to tell me. and I'd
prefer to see your face while you
speak There, that's right Now,
form pretty well prepared for any
thing
The slightest shadow of disappoint-
ment crept across her brow.
"OhY' she exclaimed softly. "Oh. very
we'll"
For a moment OF two neither Of
them spoke after that. but at last the
shadow passed from the girls face and
she smiled at him. though there was
just the faintest suspicion of unusual
redness about the eyelids. Then
All day" she said, speaking slowly.
I've been calling myself names and
hating myself for the horrid things l
said to you this morning. It was all
SO mad and silly. Maybe we Nwere
both to blame a bit, but after all. men
are grumpy creatures. aren't they?
And If a woman loses her head and
says things that she knows are cruel
and wrong, and that she doesn't really
mean even a little bit-well she should
be woman enough to own her fault
and to come to her husband and ask
him to-forgive her." the last words
came very softly indeed, and the fair
head was bowed meekly-
But NicoPs voice was gruff.
ITS good of YOU he started, ito
say that-and I'm glad that you did.
have been doing a bit of thinking to-
day. and despising myself because !
was such fool this morning; for it is
a fools game. you know, for a man
and wife to quarrel--unless, OF
course
He stopped. cropping for words. She
glanced UP at him a little shyly.
'Yes?" she quavered.
Unless" he went on, 1.-The quarrel
is going to end thfngs-unless it is
really better that the husband and the
wife should leave each other and each
go his and her own way
At the thought, tears came to Rho
da's eyes, and in a shaky voice she
gasped:
"Ohr
But Nicol felt that he must hurry to
an explanation
And so you've been worrying all
day?'' he asked. Have you been very
lonely. then2 Have you had no Wis
itors to keep you lively. and too busy
to have time for indulging remorsef
Have none OF your friends been hereT
She shook her head.
No. she said mo there's been no.
body except-oh, but he would hardly
count"
s'He? So there has been some one
But she smiled at him.
Yes" she admitted: but he was
hardly a visitor. He was just one of
the men from Davis's, the upholsterers,
and he was here-putting in that win
dowseat in your study
He gasned; he glared at her.
''What?" he managed, IN a throaty
whisper a man from the upholster-
er's? Oh, coed heayens!
'fOf course she cried, merrily now,
IAN ordinary joiner might not have
done it properly. And 1 wanted 1T TO
be really nice, form going to pay
for it myself, you see. It's just to be
a present from me. And oh, / forgot,
Nicol-someone rang you up. but
wouldn't give any name. I was in my
room at the time, and the man an
swered the phone. and then called for
me; when I came down there was some
one asking for you. But he wouldn't
give any. message. He said you knew
him quite well; but I thought he
sounded sort OF mad"
81 expect he was" said Nicol. Il
wonder who on earth the idiot could
have been But, oh, we won't worry
about him! We won't worry about
anybody at all. You're just the sweet
est little woman alive. and you're going
to show me the study. But first" He
smiled on her, and held out his arms.