The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1912-06-28

the club"
Remind me tomorrow TO send out
a man from town." he said. Il know
the very fellow"
record this scrap OF conversation,
Just as have tried to put down any
thing and everything that had a bear.
ing on what followed. because the
gardener Halsey sent the next day
played an important part In the events
OF the next few weeks-events that
eliminated az you know, by stirring
the country profoundly. At that time,
however. | was busy trying TO keep
ny skirts dry, and paid !:;;!e or no
attention 10 what seemed then a most
trivial remark.
At the lodge everything was quiet.
There was a light in the sitting room
downstairs. and a faint CLEAN, as II
from a shaded lamp, in one OF the I'D
per rooms. Halsey stopped and ex-
amined the lodge with calculating
eyes.
Il don't know, Aunt Ray" he said
obviously; this is hardly a woman's
afiair. II there's a scrap Of any kind,
Won hike for the timber" which was
Halsey's solicitous care for me, put
into vernacular.
IN stay right here" | said, and
crossing the small veranda, now
shaded and fragrant with honey.
suckle, hammered the knocker on
the door.
Thomas opened the door himself
Thomas. fully dressed and in his Gus.
tomary health. had the blanket over
my arm.
4 brought the blanket, Thomas" I
said; II am sorry you are so ill.,"
The old man stood staring at me
and then at the blanket. His con-
fusion under other circumstances
would have been ludicrous.
What! Not ill-" Halsey said from
the step. Thomas. I'm afraid you've
been malingering.'
Thomas seemed to have been debat-
ing something with himself. Now he
stepped out on the porch and closed
the door gently behind him.
Il reckon you bettah come in Mis-
Innes." be said. speaking cautiously.
Its got so / dunno what TO do. and
It's boun' to come out some time er
ruther."
lie threw the door open then. and
! stepped inside. Halsey close behind.
In the sitting room the old negro
turned with quiet dignity to Halsey.
you bettah sit down. sah." he
said. It's a place for a woman, sab"
Things were not turning out the
way Halsey expected. He sat down
on the comfortable, with his hands
thrust in his pockets. and watched
me as followed Thomas up the mar
row stairs At the top a woman was
standing and a second glance showed
me IL was Rosie. She shrank back a
little. but ! said nothing. And then
Thomas motioned to a partly open
door. and | went in.
The lodge boosted OF three bed
rooms upstairs, all comfortably fur
nished. In this one. the largest and
ARREST, a night lamp was burning. and
by it's light ! could make out a plain
white metal bed. A girl was asleep
there-or in a half stupor. for she
muttered something now and then.
Rosie had taken her courage in her
hands. and coming In had turned up
the light II was only then that ]
knew. Feverhushed. Ill as she was.
recognized Louise Armstrong,
viii you tell me what you mean.
Thomas Johnson. by not telling me
this before7" demanded Indignantly.
Thomas quailed.
mis- Louise wouldn't let me-" he
said earnestly. II wanted TO. She
ought to a had a doctor the night she
came, but she wouldn' hear TO IL. Is
she very bad. Mis- lnnes?
bad enough" said coldly. Send
Mr. lines up
Halsey came up the stairs slowly.
looking rather interested and inclined
to be amused. For a moment he could
not see anything distinctly In the
darkened room: he stopped. glanced
at Rosie and at me, and then his eyes
fell on the restless head on the pfl-
low ! think he felt who II was before
he really saw her; he crossed the
room In Q couple Of strides and bent
over the bed.
"LIouisei" he said softly; but she
did not reply, and her eyes showed no
recognition. Halsey was young. and
illness was new to him. He straight
ensd himself slowly. still watching
her. and caught my arm.
"she's dying. Aunt RAY" he said
huskily. Dying! Why. she doesn't
know mel"
"Fudge!" I snapped. being apt to
grow irritable when my sympathies
are aroused. She's doing nothing OF
the sort-and don't pinch my arm. IL
you want something to do. go and
choke Thomas"
III