Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1911-06-21
CHAPTER XIX.
The HARRISON Man.


between me and the door. and she
scolded Jim and Bella thoroughly.
But they did not hear Il. beng o..
cupied with each other. sitting sids
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 II was perfectly clear that IL was
a relief to her to find that l didn't
! belong TO her permanently, and as I
have said before, she was crazy about
Bella
/ sat back In a chair and grew COM
fortably drowsy in the monotony of
her voice. 1t was a name that brought
me to myself with a jerk.
Mr.. Harbison," Aunt Selma was
saying. Then bring him down at
once. James. l 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 II swept" said, muster
ing the rags she had left OF my self.
respect. and trying TO pass her. But
she planted herself sQuareiy 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.
I sat. very small. on a chair in n
corner I 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 a hus-
band who neglected me- He was 20
ing to see me branded a living lie.
and he would hate me because I had
put him in ridiculous position. lie
was just the sort to resent being ~
diculous.
Jim brought him down In a dress
ing-gown and a state of bewildermept.
IL was plain that the memory OF tie
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 I
heard Mr.. HARRISON stumble over
something In the darkness and say
that II II was joke. he wasn't in the
humor for II. To which Jim retorted
that II 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 10
back himself and his dishabille out
into the obscurity Of the library But
Aunt Selma was TO quick for him.
Come in" she called, 81 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 l was the only one" he
said. rs 1t possible that there is an
other?"
i am the other" she announced 4
think she expected him TO say 'Impos-
sible," but, whatever he was. he was
never banal.
rs that SOP" 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 tan. His neck biush-
ed furiously. being much whittier than
his face. He kept his eyes on mine.
and j 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. HarbS
son" Aunt Selma began, nasally sar.
castle. "Or. rather. you and have
been the audience. The rest have
played"
II don't think / understand" no
said slowly. II have seen very little
comedy"
1T was not well planned" Aunt So
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 eajoled
into this thing. Give me fits II you
like; deserve all get. But let
Kit alone-she did II for me"
Bella looked over at me and smiled
hastily
Il would stop doing things for Jim.
Kit" she said 1T is so improbable
But Mr. HARRISON harked back "a
Aunt Selina's speech
ITO BE CONTINUED