The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1912-09-17

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How am | to take that?" said the
man.
las you see it," she replied. Il
mean to live by expression. | used
to think that you did so. You have
changed"
For your sake!" he expostulated,
suddenly angry. IF have whipped
myself into some semblance Of a hui
man being, II has been-I was going
to say. for you; but 1t is more than
that. 1t has been for the works W
sake. And now you are ready to repu.
date me because Of that very accom-
plishment. You are unfair,
able"
"Oh, don't be so logical. or | shall
go mad!" she cried. 81 hate your rea-
s~onableness!"
Very well. then" said he. trying to
smile, "I1l be unreasonable"
And don't be facetious! Oh, go
away, | can't endure you!"
Look here, Iris" he said %hoarsely,
I'm not joking. God forbid! This
is getting too serious. Am really to
go?"
"or let your spirit out OF Its cage"
she said.
For the third time Hill committed
his greatest mistake.
you are a foolish child!" he said
angrily. Very we'll, then. I'll 60. But
| warn you, II you send me of. I'll not
come back"
For a moment he waited, hoping
that she would speak, but she said
nothing. merely standing there and
trembling a little, though white and
and silent. Suddenly Hill turned on
his heel.
"Confound all women!" he NUT
tered, and without a single backward
glance flung himself out of the room
in a fury.
For a moment OF two longer she
stood m%otionless, and then throwing
her arms out wildly. she cried his
name aloud.
"oh, Sam!" she called, come back
please come back"
Running out into the upper hall, she
arrived at the stair-head just in time
to hear the front door close after him,
and was instantly obliged TO flee the
mildly inQuiring gaze Of a footman.
who came In to remove the tea tray.
When he was gone, however. she cast
herself face downward among the gray
cushions of the sofa and cried bitterly,
a cold horror clutching at her heart
as she slowly came TO see the reality
OF what she had done.
For Hill had spoken the truth when
he implied that she was merely a child
bored with luxurious surroundings and
striving after she knew not what. Her
father adored her. and gave her abb
solute liberty. The people whom she
knew by inheritance meant little to
her; she found them retrospective,
sel~f-absorbed, and amateurs at the arts
they affected. many OF them simply
hangers-on OF her beauty-loying father,
who with the years had become less
the man of affairs and more the man
OF letters and patron Of the arts. AS
she grew up her discomfort increased.
until finally. within the last two years,
she had stumbled upon a group of
people with whom brains meant arts.
tocracy. Here she had net Hill, and
after about a year he had persuaded
- - hoonN,A anna nod m him Che
had consented on condition that il
remain a secret for the time being.
There had been no reason for conceal
, ment but the girls innate love of 70
nance and mystiicatlon. And so nc
one had been told OF the engagement.
=, although 1t was a well-known and
widely discussed subject among their
/. friends.
And it was all over! Well, possibly
II was for the best.
/, She buried her face deeper In the
esthetic gray cushions. Her soul must
; have expression! 1t must!
Desperately unhappy, but not with
out a certain enjoyment of her owl
misery. she arose with the determine
! ton to find her father, and extract
, what comfort she could from him
+, without telling him her trouble. Per
, haps he was In his library now. Sh,
would 20 and see. Slowly she de
scended the wide stairs. At the stree
entrance stood her father, evidently
on the point of leaving the house.
Vanderpool was a handsome man
-, and had retained an intangible atmos
: phere of youth, despite the RESPONSE
, bllities of his wealth, and despite thu
: obvious fact that he had lived in
!, tensely in the emotional side of hi
nature.
, Hello, little Iris!" he said. "Yo'
seem a bit pale, my dear! Were you
looking for me?"
. Eyes, fatherl" replied Iris, but l.
. you are going out, see, So"
: I've an appointment that is rathe
pressing" said he, a little anxiou
I, pucker gathering between his eyes
: but If your business can't wait, min
will have to-"
. "Oh! mine is nothing, nothing sal
Iris, with what seemed to her divin
' submission to fate,
Then wen have a fine talk a
breakfast" returned her father. TT
dining Out. Goodnight, my dear!"
The door closed behind him, and lri
y turned into the library.
II The room spoke strongly of her IL
n Their. 1t was large and fine and II
mantle, like him; 1t was dignihed, to-
~ containing several almost priceless