Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-11-22
CHAPTER XXI.-Continued.

Don't go to your mothers she
cried. following him up the hall. FOR
tonight, Dominick, please. And don't
tell her. beg, pray Of you. don't
tell her till tomorrow"
Her manner was so pleading, so
ilnploringly insistent, that he turned
and looked somberly at her. She was
evidently deeply in earnest, her face
lined with anxiety.
This is the last thing I'll ever ask
of you | know I've got no right to
ask anything, but you're generous,
you've been kind to me in the past.
and it'll not cost you much to be KIND
Just once again. Go to a hotel, or the
club. or anywhere you like, but not
to your mothers and don't tell her till
tomorrow afternoon"
He stared at her without speaking.
wishing she would be silent and leave
him.
"I'll not trouble you after to-mor-
row. I'll 60 I'll get out. You'll never
be bothered by me any more"
"All right" he said. ''I'll go to the
club. Let me alone, that's all. and
let me go"
"And-and." she persisted, you
won't tell her till tomorrow. tomorrow
afternoon"
He had entered the parlor in which
the Chinaman had lit the lamps. and
opening the desk began hunting for
his papers. To Ter last words he return
ed no answer, and she crept in after
him and stood In the doorway, leaning
against the woodwork of the door
frame.
You won't tell her till tomorrow
tomorrow. say. after three?"
He found the letters and drew them
out of their pigeonhole.
rAll right" he almost shouted. 81
won't tell her. But, for Gods sake
leave me alone and let me go. II you
keep on following me round this way
/ won't answer for what I'll do"
You promise then" she said, ig
noring his heat. You promise you'll
not tell her till after three?"
He turned from the desk, gave her
a look of restrained passion. and said
81 promise" then passed by her as
she stood in the doorway and walked
to the stair-head. Here his valise
stood, and snatching it up he rar
down the stairs and out OF the house
Rernice. hearing the door shut, re
turned TO her room and went on with
the work of sorting her wardrobe anC
packing her trunks. She did it de
liberately and carefully. looking ovel
each garment, and folding the choicel
articles between sheets of tissue pa
per. At midnight she had not We
finished. and under the blaze OF tn,
gases, looking very tired, she went OF
smoothing skirts and pinching up tn,
lace on bodices as she laid them ten
Derby on the trays that stood on the
bed, the table. and the sofa. TIL,
night was far spent before everythin,
was arranged to her satisfaction ant
she went to bed.
She was up betimes in the morn
ing. Eight o'clock had not strucl
when she was making last tour O
the parlor, picking up small articles
of silver and glass that she crowded
. down into cracks In the tightly-packet
trunks. At breakfast the Chinaman
an oblique observant eye on her
asked her what he should prepare TO
lunch Conscious that II she TOLD
him she would not be back he nigh
become alarmed at the general de
sertion and demand his wages. sh'
ordered an even more elaborate mem
than usual, telling him she woul'
bring home a friend.
She breakfasted in her wrapper an,
after the meal finished her toilet wit
the EXTREMIST solicitude. Never hal
she taken more pains with herself
Though anxiety and strain hat
thinned and sharpened her. the feve
of excitement which burnt in her ten
porarily repaired these ravages. He
eyes were brilliant without artificia
aid; her cheeks a hot dry crimson
that needed no rouge. The innat
practicality q asr character asserte