The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-06-05


and then-only for . moment Iiks
this."
He felt her hand. small and cola.
crush softly inside his, and almost i'm
mediately was conscious Of her effort
to withdraw It. He instantly loosened
his fingers. let hers slide from his
grasp. and drew back.
Good night" she said hurriedly,
and without looking at him turned and
went up the steps.
1t was . great morning for CorneliA
She was engaged. Two evenings be
fore, Jack Duffy, who had been hover
Ing round the subject for q month.
poised above It, as hawk above de-
lighted prey. had at last descended
and Cornelia's anxieties were at an
end.
The wind was not yet out in force:
its full. steady sweep would not be
inaugurated till early in the afternoon.
It came now in gusts which fen upon
Cornelia from the back and accelerat-
ed her forward progress, throwing out
on either side Of her Q tapping Bail
Of skirt.
It was. after midday when she found
herself approaching that particular
block. along the edge Of which the
tiower-venders place their baskets and
display their wares. The boys and
men, seeing that the brilliant lady
was in generous mood. collected
about her. shouting out the excellencea
OF their particular blossoms.
Cornelia, amused and somewhat b.
wildered, looked at the faces and
bought recklessly.
We'll. Cornelia, are you trying tt
corner the curb-stone marketf"
She wheeled swiftly and saw hes
brother.
"Domimck!" she exclaimed. you're
just the person want to see. was
going to write to you. I've got lots
to tell you"
Come along then and take lunch
with me. I was on my way up to
Bertrand's when l saw you. They'll
give us a good lunch there and you
can tell me all your secrats."
They walked up the gtyUat toward
Bertrand's, French restaurant which
for years had enjoyed the esteem OF
the city's gourmets.
In the restaurant they found va
cant table in a corner. and CorneliA
had to bottle up her good news while
Dominick pondered over the bill OF
fare. She was impatient and drummed
on the table with her fingers. while
her eyes roamed about the room.
The order given and the first
stages OF lunch appearing, Cornelia
could at last claim her brothers full
attention.
II told you how awfully anxious I
was to see you, and how I was going
to write to you, didn't II"
| Her brother looked up and his eye
was caught by her rosily- -blushing
cheeks
Dear me. Cornie." he said with .
look Of slowly-dawning comprehens
sion, "it really isn't-it really can't
be-"
"And why can't It be-" looking very
much hurt. Whats there so queer
about that?"
Nothing, only meant that hadn't
heard any rumors about It, Is 1t
that?"
"Yes, it is, Dominick Ryan, and
don't see why you should be so sur
prised."
Surprised! Pm more than sur
prised. I'm delighted-haven't been
so pleased for years. Who is it?"
Jack Duffy"
"Oh, Cornie, that's the best yeti
That's great! It's splendid. l wish
l could kiss you, but l can't here in
the open restaurant Why didn't you
tell me somewhere where we would be
alone? I'd Just like to give you
good hug"
Cornelia leaned across the table and
spoke with low-toned, almost tremu.
lous earnestness:
"You know that If it were I, I'd ask
your wife. You know that all the hard
feelings l may once have had against
her have gone. If 1t were for me to
say, I'd have received her from the
start. What I've always said is,
What's the good Of keeping up these
fights? No one gets anything by them.
They don't do any one any good But
you know mommer. The first thing
she said when we talked about the
house wedding, and l said you'd give
me away, was. II he'll come without
his wife," h
There were tears in her eyes and
Dominick saw them and looked down
at his plate.
"All right" he said quietly. '11l
come. When Is 1t to be?"
June" said the prospective bride
once more beginning to blush and
beam, "early in June. The roses are
so fine then, and we can have the
house so beautifully decorated"
With scraping Of chair legs, they
rose and, threading their way among
the now crowded tables. passed out
into the wind-swept streets. Here they
separated, Cornelia. with her armful
Of willing flowers, going home. and
Dominick back to the bank.
Two hours later, while he was still
bending over his books. In the hushed
seclusion Of the closed building. Bill
Cannon was talking to Berny In the
parlor of the Sacramento Street fiat.
This interview was neither so long,
and (on Berny's part) did not show
the self-restraint which haG marked
the frs. one. The offer Of one hum
dred thousand dollars which the old
man made her was refused with more
scorn and less courtesy then had been
displayed in her manner on the former