The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-03-20

Dominick's and with this she hat
been making long scratches across
the footboard. which was Of walnut
and was scanned back and forth, like
a rock scraped by the passage Of 6
glacier. As Dominick entered, she de
sisted, ceased rocking, and turned tC
look at him. She had an air Of taut
sprightly impudence. and was smiling
q little.
We'll. Dominick." she said jauntily
you're late"
Yes, believe I am" he answered
Il did not come straight back"
Took a walk" she said, turning
to the bed and beginning to rock
It's a queer sort Of hour to choose
for walking" and lifting the cane she
recommended her occupation oi
scratching the foot-board with It, trac
Ing long, parabolic curves across the
entire expanse, watching the canes
tip with her head tilted to one side
Dominick, who was not looking al
her. did not notice the noise.
Il thought" she said, tracing q
great arc from one side to the other,
that you were with your loving fam
ily-opening the ball. probably"
He did not move, but said quietly:
1T was impossible to get the invi-
tadon, Berny. tried to do 1t and
was refused. want you to under
stand that as long as live Ill never
do thing like that again"
"Oh, yes, you WILL" she said laugh.
ing and shaking her head like an
amused child. "Oh. yes, you will"
She threw her head back and. look
Ing at the ceiling, laughed still louder
with a note Of fierceness in the sound.
You'll do it and lots more things
like it. You'll do It II l want you to,
Dominick Ryan"
He did not answer. She hitched
her chair closer to the bed as If to
return to an engrossing pastime, and,
leaning back luxuriously, resumed her
play with the cane. This time Domi-
nick noticed the noise and turned.
She was conscious that he was look
ing at her, and began to scratch with
an appearance Of charmed absorption,
such as an artist might display in his
work. He watched her for a moment
In silent astonishment and then broke
out sharply:
What are you doing?"
Scratching the bed," responded
calmly.
"You must be mad" he said, strid-
ing angrily toward her and stretching
hand for the cane. You're running
it."
She whipped the cane to the other
side, out of his reach.
Am 2" she said, turning an eye Of
fiery menace on him. Maybe am,
and what's that matter?" Then, turn
ing back to the bed. TOO bad, isn't it,
and the set not paid for yet"
mot paid fort" he exclaimed, so
amazed by the statement that he for
got everything else. why, I've given
you the money for it twice!"
Three times" she amended coolly,
"and I spent it on things l liked bet
ter. l bought clothes, and jewelry
with it, and little fixings l wanted.
Yes, the bedroom set isn't all paid
for yet and we've had it nearly two
years. Who would have thought that
the son Of Con Ryan couldn't pay his
bills!"
She rose, threw the cane into the
and, turning toward him,
leaned back, half-sitting on the foot
board, her hands, palm downward,
pressed on its rounded top.
Dominick and she had had many |
luarrels, ignominious and repulsive,
out he had never before seen her in
30 savage mood. Even yet he had
lot lost the feeling Of responsibility
md remorse he felt toward her. AS
le moved from the mantelpiece his
Eye had fallen on the ball-dress that
ay, sweep Of lace and silver, across
he bed, and on the bureau he had
een jewels and hair ornaments laid
,ut among the powder boxes and
cent bottles. The pathos Of these
utile preparations appealed to him