The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1911-06-22
CHAPTER XIX.
The HARRISON Man.

She talked for an hour, having got
between me and the door, and she
scolded Jim and Bella thoroughly.
But they did not hear 1t, being oc.
cupied with each other, sitting side
by side meekly on the divan with Jim
holding Bella's hand under a cushion.
She said they would have to be very
good to make up for all the deception,
but It was perfectly clear that 1t was
a relief to her to find that | didn't
belong TO her permanently, and as l
have said before, she was crazy about
Bella.
| sat back in a chair and grew CON-
fortably drowsy in the monotony Of
her voice. 1t was a name hat brought
me to myself with a jerk.
Mr.. Harbison!" Aunt Selma was
saying. Then bring him down at
once, James. | want no more decep-
ton. There is no use cleaning a
house and leaving a dirty corner"
1T will not be necessary for me to
stay and see il 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 | stayed.
I sat, very small, on a chair in a
corner. | felt like Jezebel, or what
eve her name was, and o the Har-
bison man was coming, and he was
going to see ne stripped of my pre-
tensions to domesticity and of a hus-
band who neglected me. He vas 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.
1t 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
nv NuliO uO"h liz ~ 4
heard Mr.. HARRISON stumble over
something in the darkness and say
that If 1t was a joke, he wasn't in the
humor for il. To which Jim retorted
that 1t wasn't anything resembling a
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 you.
young man. Ii 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.
Il thought / was the only one" he
said. rs it possible that there is an
other?"
Il am the other" she announced.
think she expected him to say ''Impos-
sible," but, whatever he was. he was
never banal.
rs 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 fixedly at
Bella, languishing on the divan and
watching him with lowered lids. and
he had given Jim a side glance of con.
tempt. But now he saw me and he
colored under his tam. His neck blush
ed furiously. being much whittier than
his face. He kept his eyes on mine.
and | knew that he a 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.. Harbi-
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 II you
like; l deserve all / get. But let
Kit alone-she did 1t for me-"
Bella looked over at me and smiled
hastily.
II would stop doing things for Jim.
Kit" she said. 1T Is SO Improbable"
But Mr.. HARRISON harked back to
Aunt Selina's speech.
(TO BE CoNTINUED)