The Yale expositor., 1913-03-27
Copyright Uscby The BoDDs.MERplLL Co.

out danger Perley'S two pOWerfu
horses were harnessed In tandem, and
Perley himself, mere pillar Of wrap
pings, drove them, squatted on SOAP
box in front Of the two passengers
There were cries of farewell from the
porch and tappings on the windows as
the sleigh started and sped away to
the diminishing jingle Of bells. A sad
ness fell on those who watched it.
Tie little idyl Of isolation was over
On the following day Bill Cannon
and his daughter were to leave. A
telegram had been sent to Rocky Bar
excellence to be the equipage of q
! Bonanza Princess. Rose had spent
! the morning packing the valises, and
/ late in the afternoon began a down
stairs search for possessions left in
the parlor.
The dusk was gathering as she en-
! tered the room, the corners Of which
we're already full OF darkness, the fire
| playing on them with a warm, vary
! ing light. Waves OF radiance quivered
| and ran up the ceiling, here and there
| touching the glaze on a picture glass
or china ornament. The crude ugli-
ness OF the place was hidden in this
unsteady, Transforming combination
Of shadow and glow. 1t seemed a
rich. romantic spot, flushed with fire
that pulsed on an outer edge of mys-
ferrous cbsCurity, a center of familiar.
intimate life, round which GOODNESS
! and the dark pressed.
She thought the room was unoccu-
pied and advanced toward the table,
then started before the uprising of
Dominick's tall figure from a chair in
Swallowed corner. 1t was the first
time they had seen each other alone
since their conversation Of the day
before. Rose was startled and agitat-
ed and her brusk backward move
ment showed it. Her voice, however,
was natural. almost easy to casual
ness as she said:
Il thought there was no one here
you've hidden yourself in such dark
corner. | came TO gather up my books
and things"
He advanced into the light. looking
somberly ut her.
ITS true that you're going to-mor-
row." he said almost gruffly.
ooh, yes, we're really going. Ev.
erythings been arranged. Horses and
sleigh are expected any moment
now from Rocky Bar. They rest here
all night and take us down in the
afternoon. think papa'd go crazy
IL we had to stay twenty-four hours
longer"
I'll follow In a day or two" he
said. probably go down on Tuesday.
the doctor says"
She began gathering up the books,
reading the titles, and putting aside
those that were not hers.
I'm so sorry it's over" she said
in a preoccupied voice without any
particular regret in 1t. The Mill on
the Floss is Mrs. Perley's, think"
'I'm sorry, too," he commented,
very low.
She made no reply, selected another
book, and as she held it up looking
at the back, said:
But it's not like a regular good.
by. It's not as if you were going In
one direction and we in another. Wen
see you in San Francisco, of course"
II don't think So" he answered.
She laid the book on the table and
turned her face toward him. He stood
looking into the fire, not seeing the
face, but conscious of it, of its express
sion, of its every line.
DO You mean that were not going
TO see you down there at all?"
yes. that's just about what
meant" he replied.
Mr. Ryan," 1t was hardly more
than a breath of protest, but it was
as stirring to the man as the whis-
per of love.
He made no comment on 1t, and she
said, with a little more Of insistence
and volume:
But why?'
tits best not" he answered, and
turned toward her.
His shoulders were squared and he
held his head as man does who
prepares himself for a blow. His
eyes, looking straight into hers, en-
veloped her In glance soft and burn
ing. not savage glance, but the en-
folding. possessive glance. caressing
and ardent. pleading and masterful. OF
lover.
The books that she was holding fell
to the table. and they looked at each
other while the clock licked.
Its best for me not to come" he
said huskily, never to come"
Very we'll" she faltered.
He came a little nearer to her and
said:
You know what mean"
She turned away, very pale, her lips
trembling.
And you'd like me to come IL I
could-if were free?"
He was close to her and looked
down to see her face, his own hard.
the bones Of the Jaw showing through
the thin cheeks.
You'd like me to?" he urged.
She nodded her lips too dry to
speak.
20 Rose! he whispered, a whisper
that seemed to melt the strength OF