Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-07-11
;roundlng the two. With one he con,

Yet there was reluctance in his
steps as he approached the door of
10" laggardness he could not ex-
plain, but which vanished swiftly
enough at Hopes greeting, and the
sudden smile with which she recog-
nized him.
i was sure you would come" she
declared frankly. and took an early
lunch SO as to be certain and be here.
1t has seemed long time since"
And you might have even thought I
had forgotten" he answered. releasing
ner hand reluctantly, If you could
nave looked into the dining-room
since instead Of staring out Of these
windows"
Why? How forgotten" her eyes
opening wide in surprise.
i had the pleasure OF taking supper
with Miss Maclaire."
OH" the exclamation decidedly ex-
presstve.
Yes. 1 come at once to you with
the confession. However, our meet
ing was purely accidental, and SO
nope Tor pardon"
Pardon from me? Why. what diff
ference can it possibly make to me?"
Would you have me consort with
tho enemy?" he asked, scarcely daring
to press his deeper meaning.
"oh. no, Of course not. What did
you talk about? Do you mind telling ?"
Not In the least; our conversation
was entirely impersonal She was
telling me about Hawley; what won
derfully good man he Is. l have be-
gun to suspect the fellow has fas-
onated the poor girl-he Is a good
looking devil, possessed of tongue
dripping with honey"
Surely you do not mean she has
fallen in love with him." and Hope
shuddered at the thought why
why that would be impossible for
for good woman"
ways the same" he defended gravely.
Miss Maclaire's environment has
been vastly different from yours.
Hope. She Is variety hall singer;
probably, from her own account, .
waif since childhood; and Hawley has
como to her in the character Of q
friend appealing both to her interest
and sympathy. do not know she Is
In love with him, merely suspect she
may be; certainly she Is ready to do
battle on his behalf at the slightest
opportunity. She believes in him, de-
tends him. and resents the slightest
insinuation directed against him. He
even escorts her back and forth from
her work"
You know this!"
Il certainly do" and he laughed at
the recollection. "Fairbain met US
coming out OF the ining-room-you
know what delightful. blunt, blunder.
ing fellow he is! Well, Miss Christie
must have made an impression even
on his bachelor heart. for he actually
requested the privilege of escorting
her to the Trocadero, and back to the
hotel after the performance tonight
limited at lunch, the gay old dog
and pranced about like a stage-door
Johnnie. 1t was treat to watch her
face when he blurted 1t all out, snap
ping his sentences as If he swung a
whip-lash She excused herself on
the score OF a previous engagement. +"
But that was not necessarily with
Hawley."
Il asked her directly. after the doc
tor had disappeared"
you must have become very tamil-
lar" questioning once again In her
voice.
80 Miss Maclaire evidently thought,
Judging from her manner. However
she answered frankly enough. and
even defantly added the Information
that the gentleman had something to
impart to her of the utmost import
ance, sarcastically asking me if l
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 1T, although finally agree.
ing that, If he really believed the re
port that the man sought was else
where. 1t would be characteristic OF
him to accept the first means of get
ting there. If he only knew was
| here" she exclaimed YEARLY, III