The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-07-18
CHAPTER XIX.
The HARRISON Man.

scolded Jim and Bella thoroughly
But they did not hear it, being &C
cupied with each other, sitting side
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 it was perfectly clear, that it waE
relief to her to find that | didn't
belong to her permanently, and as
have said before, she was crazy about
Bella.
sat back in 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 al
once, James. want no more decep
ton. There is no use cleaning q
house and leaving dirty corner"
1T will not be necessary for me to
stay and see 1t swept" said, muster
ing the rags she had left Of my self
respect, and trying to pass her. But
BIG pidhICu hSISCA 5AdoICy OCioI
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 a
corner. l 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 hus-
band who neglected me. He was 60
ing to see me branded a living lie,
and he would hate me because had
put him in a ridiculous position. He
was just the sort to resent being ri.
diculous.
Jim brought him down In dress
ing-gown and state of bewilderment.
1t was plain that the memory of the
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 ]
heard Mr.. HARRISON stumble over
something in the darkness and say
that If 1t was joke, he wasn't In the
humor for it. 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
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 1t 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.
~ thought was the only one" he
said rs it possible that there is an
other?"
Il am the other" she announced.
think she expected him to say "lmpos.
sible," but, whatever he was. he was
never banal.
rs that so?" 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 side glance OF con.
tempt. But now he saw me and he
eolored under his tan. His neck blush.
ed furiously, being much whittier than
his face. He kept his eyes on mine.
and | 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 ali been
playing little comedy. Mr.. Harbi-
son." Aunt Selma began. Easally sar'
castle "Or, rather, you and have
been the audience. The rest have
played
Il don't think l understand" he
said slowly. Il have seen very little
1T was not well planned" Aunt Sc
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 cajoied
into this thing. Give me fits II YOU
like; | deserve all ! get. But let
Kit alone-she did 1t for me-"
Bella looked over at me and smiled
hastily.
II would stop doing things for Jim.
Kit" she said. 1T is so Improbable.
But Mr.. HARRISON harked back to-
Aunt Selina's speech.
CTO BE CONTINUED