River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-01-04


Il asked her directly, after the doc
tor had disappeared"
You must have become very famil-
lar" questioning once again in her
voice.
so Miss Maclaire evidently thought,
judging from her manner. However
she answered frankly enough, and
even defiantly added the information
that the gentleman had something to
impart to her of the utmost import
ance, sarcastically asking me If
didn't wish | could be there and over
hear But sit down. Hope, until tell
you all that has occurred"
He went over the various events in
detail, watching eagerly the express
sion upon her face as she listened in
tently, only occasionally interrupting
with some pertinent inquiry. The light
fell so that she sat partially in the
shadow, where her eyes could not be
read, yet he experienced no difficulty
in comprehending the various moods
with which she met his narrative, the
color changing in her cheeks, her sup
pie form bending toward him, or lean
ing backward in the chair, her fingers
clasping or unclasping in nervous at
tention He began with Neb's report.
repeating, word by word. as nearly as
he could recollect what had passed
between Hawley and her father. He
paused to inquire if she had ever
heard the name Bartlett, but her re-
! ply was merely a negative shake of
the head When he described their
missing the train. she was. apparently,
not convinced as to the Generals de-
parture upon it, although finally agree
ing that, if he really believed the re-
port that the man sought was else
where, it would be characteristic of
him to accept the first means of get
| ting there IF he only knew | was
here" she exclaimed YEARLY. 1t
might be so different. but. oh. we are
all OF us just cropping in the dark.
Then Keith turned to his chance meet
| ing with Miss Maclaire, and repeated
carefully their conversation, dwelling
| particularly upon the few admissions
which had slipped through her lips
These did not seem important to eth
and talked them over. Then. having
exhausted the topic. silence fell be-
tween them, Keith asking the privi-
| lege of lighting cigar. Hope, after
watching him apply the match, think
| ing what a fine face he had as the
ruddy flame brought 1t forth with the
clearness of a cameo, leaned back.
drawing aside the semblance to a lace
curtain, and staring forth. without see
ing. into the street.
Somehow, it was hard for her to full
ly realize the situation. and how close
! ly it affected her. The swiftly passing
events, the complication arising SO
suddenly, apparently out of nothing,
| left her feeling as though she must
surely awake from dream. She could
not comprehend what it was all
about; the names Bartlett and Phyl-
lis had no clear meaning, they repre-
scented nothing but shadows; and this
other woman-this music hall singer
what could there be in common be-
tween them? Yet there must be
mething-something of vital import
ance to her father-something which
| had already cost her brothers life.
That was the one thing which made it
seem an actuality-which brought it
home to her as rugged fact. But for
that-and Keith-Keith sitting there
before her--she would have doubted 1t
all. And yet even Keith had come
into her life so suddenly, so unexpect-
edly, as to leave her dazed and I'M
l~l n ~ ~
and touched him. as though to make
sure of his actual presence
| What Is it, Hope"