The Washington herald., 1912-03-24
THE WASHINGTON HERALD.

for coming and telling me ABOUT II
There's a lot Of fools would have gone
and telephoned the arsenal, and then
Id been on the carpet for not covering
my post properly"
/ was glad indeed of the opportunity
to get away. 1t was nearing 10 o'clock.
My trousers and shoes we're in such
condition that | wanted to get TO my
apartments for a change before seeing
Louise. fastened to the park entrance
and hailed a taxi By the time | lett
my rooms and reached the Parrish
home II was ten minutes after 10
As my taxi turned into the street l
saw another one stop before the Far
IRISH door, At first / thought It must
be the doctor or one OF his assistants,
but as the front door closed behind the
tall figure of man who had been ad-
mitted to the house / realized that II
was some one had seen before. There
was something reminiscent in the broad
shoulders, in the walk. 1t was some
one knew, or ought to have recog.
nized. yet who il was or where ! had
seen him | could not at the moment
recall.
l was not three minutes behind him
in reaching the door. Though the
other visitor had been admitted at once,
there was no immediate response to
my ring. waited while and rang
again. II seemed minutes before any
one answered, then one of the maids
opened the door trile and peered out.
Mr.. Kent, to see Miss Louise"
said
To my great amazement she did not
open the door to me, but still holding
it just barely enough to enable her to
talk to me, said: I'm sorry, but / have
orders to admit no one TO the house"
Dumfounded at such a reception, 1
still thought she was only carrying out
a general order, the wisdom for which
could readily see.
"Of course, | understand that you
have your orders, but please tell Miss
Louise that Mr.. Kent as here"
I'm tell her, IL you wish,' she said
doubtfully, carefully closing the door
before she went on the mission.
The shutting of the door in my face
Ii seemed as il | were being shut out
of the life of the woman | loved. Yet
on second thought | smiled at my per-
turbation. The maid was only carry
ing out a necessary order As soon as
come running to the door herself. In
a minute she would be folded in my
arms and all misunderstanding would
be cleared away. Undoubtedly she
would have a good explanation for her
telephone message Of the night before.
told myself that it was only lack Of
sleep and the incident in the park that
had upset my nerves. My misgivings
were utterly foolish.
AT length the door opened slowly. I
had expected to see Louise herself be-
hind il, but il was the same maid. This
time she held the door hardly as wide
as before.
I'm sorry, sir" she said, "but Miss
Louise says she cannot see you now"
WHAT | gasped.
She repeated her message while l
stood there dazed. There must be some
mistake Louise must have misunder-
stood the name.
did you tell her it was Mr.. Kenti"
"Yes, sir. | told her"
What did she say?"
"She said she could not see you or
any one else now"
was puzzled beyond expression.
Why should Louise refuse to see me
l was conscious of having done nothing
to offend her. II only | could see her
for just a minute to find out what was
the matterl felt that | must reach
her. For an instant l was tempted to
brush past the maid and force my way
in. Surely Louise of her own accord
would not treat me thus. She must be
beside herself with grief. Perhaps she
was under the same maign influence
that so distressed her sister. Yet even
in the depths of despair we observe the
conventionalities.
"Will you ask Miss Louise when she
can see me" found myself saying in
calm tones to the maid
Again she closed the door in my face.
Again l waited.
Miss Louise says that she will see
you il you will return in an hour" was
the message that was brought to me.
left the Parrish home and stumbled
blindly up the street. The plight in
which l found myself seemed inexplic-
able, .maddening. l was sure Louise
loved me. Had she not turned to me