The Yale expositor., 1913-03-20
CHAPTER vii.-(continued.)

CHAPTER Vii.-(Concinueus)
Didn't the people at the Rocky Bar
Hotel try to dissuade you from start
ing?" said Buford. They must have
known it was dangerous. They must
have been worried about you or they
wouldn't have telegraphed up"
ooh, believe they did" The young
man tried to hide the annoyance the
questions. gave him under dry brew
ity of speech. They did all that they
ought to have done. III see them
again on my way down."
"And yet you persisted" The ac-
tor turned to Rose with whom. as he
sat beside her at table, he had be-
come quite friendly. THE blind con-
fldence of youth, Miss Cannon, isn't
it a grand. inspiring thing?"
Dominick shifted his aching feet
under the rug. He was becoming ex-
ceedingly irritated and impatient, and
wondered how much longer he would
be able to respond politely to the con-
versational assiduities Of the stranger
Now" continued Buford, kindly
satisfy my curiosity on one point.
Why, when you were told of the dan
ger of the enterprise, did you start?"
Perhaps liked the danger, wanted
it to tone me up. I'm bank clerk.
Mr. Buford, and my life's monotonous.
Dangers a change"
He raised his voice and spoke with
sudden, rude defiance. Buford looked
quickly at him, while his eyebrows
went up nearly to his hair
"A bank clerk, OH" he said with
a falling infection Of disappointment,
much chagpined to discover that the
child of millions occupied such hum
BILE niche. 'T-I-was not aware OF
that"
"An assistant cashier" continued
Dominick In the same key OF exas-
peration, land I managed to get hol-
iday at this season because my father
was one of the founders of the bank
and they allow me certain privileges.
II you would like to know anything
as I know how"
His manner and tone so plainly In
dicated his resentment of the others
curiosity that the actor flushed and
shrank. He was evidently well-mean-
ing and sensitive, and the young mans
rudeness hurt rather than angered
him. For a moment nothing was said.
than to clear his throat, while he
stretched out one arm and pulled
down his cuff with a Jerking move
ment. There was constraint in the
air, and Rose, feeling that he had
been treated with unnecessary harsh
ness, sought TO palliate it by lifting
the book on her lap and saying to
him:
This is the book we were talking
about when you came In, Mr.. Buford,
Wife in Name Only Have you read
it?"
She handed him the ragged volume,
and holding 1t off he eyed 1t with a
scrutiny all the more marked by the
way he drew his brows down till they
hung like bushy caves over his eyes.
mo. my dear young lady. have
not. Nor do l feel disposed to do SO.
wife in Name Only That tells a
whole story without reading a word.
Were you going to read it?"
mo; Mr.. Ryan and l were Just
looking over them. We were think.
ing about reading one OF them aloud.
This one happened to be on the pile
ITO me-" continued Buford, "the
name is repelling because 1t suggests
sorrows of my own"
There was a pause. He evidently
expected q question which undoubt-
eddy was not going to come from Dom
mick. who sat fallen together in the
armchair looking at him with moody
ill-humor. There was more hope from
Rose, who gazed at the floor but said
nothing. Buford was forced to repeat
with an unctuous depth OF tone, "Sug-
gests sorrows of my own" and fasten
his glance on her, so that, as she
raised her eyes, they encountered the
commanding encouragement of his.
Sorrows of your own?" she repeat
ed timidly, but with the expected
questioning infection. .l
YES, my dear Miss Cannon" re-
turned the actor with a melancholy
which was full of rich, dark enjoy
ment MY wife is one in name only"
There was another pause, and nei-
Their showing any intention OF break
ing It., Buford remarked:
THAT sorrow is mine"
What sorrow?" said Dominick
bruskly. s-..
THE sorrow OF deserted man" re-
turned the actor with now. ioi the