Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-09-13
sleigh beside him. She was unques-

sleigh beside him. She was unques-
tionably pale, pale and hstless, her
body wrapped in enveloping furs. sunk
in an attitude Of WEAKNESS, her eyes
full Of detected reverie. Even to his
masculine perceptions
her distract looks, her dispirited 81
lence, told of melancholy preoccupa-
ton. She was not happy-his Rose,
who, II she had wanted 1t and he could
have bought. begged or stolen H.
would have had the moon.
Tonight, in her white dress, the
mellow radiance Of the lamp throw
ing out her figure against the shadoWy
richness of the dining-room walls. sne
bore the same appearance Of despon-
dency. Her luster was dimmed, her
delicate skin had lost its dazzling. sep
arated bloom of pink and white, her
glance was absent and unresponsive'
Never. since the death Of her mother,
now ten years back, had he seen her
when II was so obvious that she har-
bored an inner, unexpressed sense OF
trouble.
Il guess the city's the best place for
you," he said. "Roughing 1t don't
seem to suit you If cows and chickens
keep you awake all night. I've seen
the time when the hotel at Rocky Bar
would have been considered the top
notch Of luxury. I wish you could see
the places your mother lived in when
l first took her up here. You're a
spoiled girl, Rose Cannon"
Who spoiled me, / wonder?" she
said, looking at him with a CLEAN OF
humor in her eyes.
We're not calling names tonight,
, he answered. anyway, not since
Genes gone. All my desire to throw
things and be ugly vanishes when that
boy gets out. So the noises at Rocky
Bar kept you awaken"
Yes, and I was wakeful. anyway.
She looked down at her cup, stir
ring her coffee. He thought she ap-
peared conscious and said:
What made you wakeful, guilty
conscience?"
Guilty conscience!" she repeated
In tone that was full Of indignant
surprise. why should have a guilty
conscience"
Lord knows! Don't fire of these
conundrums at me. l don't know al
your secrets. honey"
She did not answer. He glanced
furtively at her and saw that her fact
had flushed. He took cigar from
the box the butler had set at his ell
bow and bit off the end.
How should | know the secrets o.
a young lady like you? A long time
ago. perhaps, l used to, after you
mother died and you were my littl'
Rosey, fourteen years old. Lord, hov
cunning you were then! Just begin
ming to lengthen out, little womal
and a little girl, both In one. Yo'
didn't have secrets in those days o
wakeful nights either"
He applied a match to the end o
the cigar and drew at It, his ear
strained for his daughters reply. Sh'
| again uldut uOhC anu hC oAOt q quiNi
glance at her. She was still stirring
her coffee, her eyebrows drawn to
gether, her eyes on the swirl of brow
in the cup. He settled himself in hi
chair, a bulky figure. his clothe
ribbed with creases, his head low bt
tween his shoulders, and a reek O
cigar smoke issuing from his lips.
How'd you like 1t up there. any
wayT
up where?"
up at Antelope. 1t was a sort @
strange, new experience for you"
"Oh, liked 1t so much-I loved par
of 1t. liked the people much bette
than the people down here. Mrs. Pc
} ley, and Cora, and Perley, and WI
loughby-did you ever know a nice
man than Willoughby?-and Judg
Washburne., He was a real gentle
man, not only in his manners br
down in his heart. And even Perley
!. boy, he was so natural and awkwar
and honest. felt different from whs
, l do here, more myself, less as II on