The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-05-01
CHAPTER VIII.-(contlnued.)

CHAPTER VIII.-(contlnued.)
He suddenly looked away from her
and, turning to the chimney-piece,
rested one hand upon it and sazed
down at the logs. A charned end
projected and he pushed It with his
sllppered foot, his down-bent face,
the lips set and brows wriukled. look
Ing like the face OF a sullen boy who
has been unjustly punished. An icy.
invading chill Of depression made
Roses heart sink down into bottom.
less depths. She faltered in faint
tones:
Well, you'll be there soon now"
Il don't know" he answered with
out moving. 81 don't know whether l
shall"
You don't know whether you'll be
home soon7 The roads are open; the
postman has come In"
Il don't know whether I'll so home"
ne repeated.
The swapping OF the fire sounded
loud upon the silence that followed.
The thrill OF strong emotions rising
toward expression held them In q
breathless, immovable Quietude.
Don't you want to go homer" said
the young girl Her voice was low
and she cleared her throat In this
Interchange Of commonplace sentences
her heart had begun to beat so vio-
1entIy that It interfered with the case
Of her speech.
Dominick leaned forward and
dropped the crumpled letter into the
Iire.
No, l don't want to. | hate to-"
To this she did not reply at all, and
after u moment he continued: my
home is unbcarable to me. 1t isn't
a home. It's place where l eat and
sleep, and I'd prefer doing that any
where else, in any dirty boarding
house or fourth-rate hotel-Pd rath-
er-"
He stopped abruptly and pushed the
log farther in. The letter was caught
up the chimney In a swirl of black
ened scraps.
But your wife?" said Rose.
This time her voice was hoarse but
she did not know 1t. She had lost the
profound moment, the deepest she had
so far known, and all the forces OF her
being were concentrated upon 1t. The
young man answered with delibera-
tion. still not moving
Il don't want to see my wife. We
are-we arc---uncongenial. There Is
nothing but unhappiness between US. -
Don't you love herr" said the girl.
No. never did," he answered.
For moment neither dared speak
They did not look at each other or
stir. They hardly seemed to breathe.
A movement, touch, would have rent
the last thin crust of reserve that
pected fires. DomlnIck knew it, but
the girl did not She was seized by
what to her was a sudden, inexpli.
cable fear. ard the increased, suffo'
eating beating of her heart made her
feel dizzy. She suddenly wished to
fly. to escape from the room, and him
and herself She turned to go and
was arrested by Cora's voice in the
hall:
Say, you folks, are you in there?'
Cora's visage followed her voice
She thrust it round the door-post
beamingiy smiling under a recently
applied coat OF powder.
DO you want 10 tackle game ol
euchre? Mr. Willoughby and I'll lay
YOU out cold unless that British mem
nry OF his has gone back on him anC
he's forgot all taught him last time.
They were too bewildered to make
any response. Rose gathered up hel
coat and dropped 1t again, looking stu
pidly from 1t to the intruder. Corr
turned back to the passage. calling
Here they are. Mr. Willoughby, al
ready and waiting for us. Now vel
show them how to play euchre."
Before WilIoughby appeared, re
sponsive TO this cheerful hail. Cor;
had pulled the chairs round the tabl'
and brought oGt the cards. A few mo
ments later. they were seated and tht
game had begun. Cora and her part
ner were soon tubilant Not only dit
they hold the cards, but their adver
saries played so badly that the tall
OF many old scores was wiped Off
The next day the first movement
of departure began. Early in the aft
ernoon Buford and Judge Washburn
started for Rocky Bar in Perley'
sleigh. The road had been broken b.
the mail-carrier. but was still S,
deeply drifted that the drive was rech
oned toilsome undertaking not with
out danger. Periey's two powerful
horses wero harnessed in tandem, an
Perley himself. "A mere pillar Of wraI
pings. drove them, squatted on a soa
box in front of the two passengers
There were cries of farewell from tn
porch and tappings on the windows a
the sleigh started and sped away t
the diminishing jingle of bells. A sat
ness fell on those who watched 1
The little idyl of isolation was owe
On the following day Bill Canno
and his daughter were to leave.
Telegram had been sent to Rocky Bs
for sleigh and horses Of the propt
lexceiisRce to be the eQuipage Of