The Paonia newspaper., 1911-05-19
At the End of the Story
By NELLIE cRAvEY GILMORE
(copyEight. 1917. By Associated Literary Pres.)

whimsical smile twisted his lips.
And If it did?" he questioned curl
ously
Phoebe Driscoll flushed painfully.
The strangers cynicism startled her
into sudden self-consciousness. The
hardness of his eyes, the lines of un-
concealed bitterness about the mouth
the mans whole air of reckless des-
peration gave her an unpleasant shock
But the excitement and confusion Incl
dent to the fire swept aside all minor
considerations. The building was
likely to totter and crumble any sec
ond. and the shouts of the iremen min
Cling with women's terrified utter
ances and the deeper and more calm
voices of the men, lent weird horror
to the tragic scene.
Vandiver made no second attempt to
plunge into the burning house. AS
matter OF fact, word had just been
passed that Barton's child was safe.
and there was no need of it But he
stood quite still where he was. at a
safe distance from the confagration.
ard to his surprise experienced a GER
tain. subtle emotion at the conscious
ness Of the small brown hand still rest
ing on his coat sleeve.
All at once Phoebe came to herself.
With little gesture of embarrassment
she withdrew her fingers from their
resting place and turned away. She
was bare-headed and the high wind
had tossed her loosely-done hair into a
cataract of gold over her shoulders.
~
Gus. bore a distinctly frightened look
as she hurried through the crowds to
her own gate As she laid her hand
on the latch. II came in sudden con-
tact with another hand bigger and
stronger and warmer than her own
May / open It for you? Since you
were so good as to save my worthless
life awhile ago you might at least per
NIT me TO perform the trifing serv-
ice"
Phoebe gulped. "You-you are very
kind" she faltsred. thank you"
He turned on down the street, and with
a careless glance toward the rapidly
diminishing crowds and the smoking
ruins Of the house. suddenly drew his
black brows together in deep thought
He wondered what the girls name was,
where she had come from, and
what she might be like under more
conventional conditions. why she had
betrayed so much concern over his
recent danger.
And when at midnight. he fitted the
key in the latch OF his door. he had
fully made up his mind to have the
answer
Two days later. apparently by acci.
dent. but entirely by design or strategy
Robert Vandiver secured formal in
PRODUCTION to Miss Phoebe Driscon.
outwardly restrained. in some faint.
Intangible way. she seemed to re-
spond instantly 10 the eager. underly-
ing element of personal interest Van
diver was at no pains to hide. And
at the earliest opportunity, he man
aged TO draw her away from the rest
Of the party SO that he might talk
to her alone.
Would you mind telling me. Miss
Driscoll." he began. curiously. why IT
was you wanted TO keep me out of
that burning house the other
night7'
Accoc dieN Il scarf closer
about her shoulders. knotted Il. smiled
and looked up.
You are a human being" she said.
Vandiver experienced a sensation of
inward collapse. But he caught him
self together Sharply. After all. what
had he expected her to say?
You didn't care about witnessing a
cremation. eh?" be laughed ayk.
wardly.
Certainly not
Il was feeling pretty down and out
that night To tell you the truth. /
didn't care a hang whether ever
came out alive or not"
The girl shuddered isn't IL inst m
bit wicked to talk that way? You
were-in trouble?"
The worst sort I'm what vou,d
call failure. I've squandered every
decent opportunity of my life. I've
been everywhere. had everything
known all sorts of people. I've been
in love- The last words came with a
little half-sneer. He led the girl tn
a seat under one of the willows and
drew her down beside him. MAY I
tell you the story sometime?" he ask.
ed her eagerly.
ANY time" she replied.
II don't want to make a nuisance of
myself. But II you knew how I've
longed to have somebody to talk tol