The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1911-06-08
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creak, and louder and
"Get up. Get up on your knees
this Instant" Bella was saving frant-
ically Some one might come in
Don't send me away" Jim said In
"a smothered voice. Every one In the
house is asleep. and II love you,
dear"
Aunt Selma swallowed hard in the
darkness.
You have no right to make love
20 me" Bella ''It's--it's highly i'm
proper, under the circumstances"
And then Jim. You swallow
camel and stick at a gnat Why did
you meet me here, If you didn't ex-
pect me rs make love to you? I've
stood for lot. Bella but this foolish
ness viii have to end Either you
love me-or you do6t I'm desper-
ate" He dfeN a long forlorn breath.
Poor old JIM" This was Bella. A
pause Then-"Let my hand alonet'
Also Bella
IT is my hand,"-Jim's most IA
tuous tone There is where you
wore my ring There's the mark
still" Sounds of Jim Kissing Bella's
ring finger What did you do with
It? Throw It away More sounds.
Aunt Selma crossed the library
swiftly, and again ! followed, Bella
was sitting In low chair by the fire,
looking at the logs in the most ex-
quisite negligee Of pink chiffon and
ribbon. Jim was on his knees star
ing at her adoringly. and holding both
her hands
tsPli tell you secret" Bella was
saying, looking AS COY as she knew
how which was considerable. +
still wear 1t, on chain around my
neck
On chain around her neck! Bella.
who Is decolette whenever it is al
lowable, and more than is proper
That was the limit Of Aunt S Inns
endurance Sur holding me she
stepmd through the doorway and INTO
( the freight. fearful figure
Jim%saW her first He went quite
/ white ard struggled to get up, smiling
a sickly smile Bella, after her first
surprise, was supeEblg Indifferent She
/ glazed at us raised her eyebrows.
and then locked at the clock
More victims OF insomnia" she
said Of i you come in 2 Jim, pull
up d CHAIR BY ne fire for your aunt.
Aunt selma opened her mouth
twice, like a fish, before she could
speak Then
James. ! demand that that woman
leaye the houset" she said hoarsely
| Bella Leaned back and yawned
James. shall go?" she asked
amiably
.Nonsense. jim said pulling him
sell together as best he could Look
here. Aunt Selma you know she can't
&c oat. and, ahats more, don't
vau Der 70 go
Ydu That2 Aunt Selma screech
&C, taking a. step forward You have
tbs audacity 70 say such thing TO
ne.
Bena leaned over and gave the
6re l6g. . punch
u aas Just saving that he shouldn't
1ay such thir g 10 me. either" she
remarked pleasantly I'm afraid
yoan take cold Miss Caruthers
Wouldn't you ike hot sherry, fip?'
aunt Selma gasped Then she sa,
down heavily On one OF the carved
teakwood chairs
He said he loved you; heard
tiul. she said weakly "He--he was
gosag 10 put his arm around you
Habit" Jim PM in, trying to smile
You see Aunt Selma, it's-weil, it's
habit got into some time ago, and
my arm does 1t without my think
Ing about II
saabit!" Aunt Selma repeat d.
I her voice thick with passion. Then
she turned to me Go to your room
at once" she said in her most awful
4 tone Go to your room and leave
this this shocking affair to me-"
! But II she had reached her limit, SO
/ had l. II Jim chose to ruin himself,
! 1t was not my fault. ANY. one with
common sense would have known at
/ least to close the door before he
! went down on his knees, no matter to
i whom So when Aunt Selma turned
or me and pointed in the direction of
the staircase, did not move.
am perfectly wide awake" ! said
coldly y shall go to bed when
am entirely ready, and not before.
And as for Jims conduct, do not
know much about the conventions In
such cases, but If he wishes to en-
brace Miss Knowles, and she wants
him TO, the situation is interesting,
but hardly novel"
Aunt Selma rose slowly and drew
the folds of her dressing gown around
her, away from the contamination of
my touch
DO you know what you are say
ing?" she demanded hoarsely.
Il do" ! was quite white and stiff
from my knees up, but below | was
wayery. glanced at Jim for moral
support, but he was looking idola
trously at Bella As for her, quite
! suddenly she had dropped her mask
OF Indifference. Her face was strain
ed and anxious. and there were deer
circles had not seen before. under
her eyes. And 1t was Bella who final
ally threw herself into the breach
) the family breach
1T is all my fault, Miss Caruthers.
j, she said. stepping between Aunt Sc
!. lima and myself. Il have been blint
( and wicked woman, and have almos
; wrecked two lives"
r Two! What of mine?
= You see" she struggled on. agains