Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1913-03-21

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little fiat.
The door of Berny's room was open,
and under a blaze Of light from the
chandelier and the side lights OF the
bureau she was sitting in rocking
chair facing the foot of the bed. She
| held In her hand walking-stick of
Dominick's and with this she had
been making long scratches across
the footboard, which was of walnut
and was scanned back and forth, like
rock scraped by the passage Of a
glacier. AS Dominick entered, she de-
sisted, ceased rocking, and turned to
look at him. She had an air Of taut.
sprightly impudence, and was smiling
little.
We'll, Dominick," she said jauntily,
you're late"
Yes, l believe 1 am" he answered
Il did not come straight back"
Took a walk" she said, turning
to the bed and beginning to rock.
tits a queer sort of hour to choose
for walking" and lifting the cane she
recommended her occupation Of
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 at
her, did not notice the noise.
'I thought" she said, tracing a
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:
ut was impossible to get the invi-
tation, Berny. I tried to do 1t and
was refused l want you to under
stand that as long as l live I'll never
do thing like that again" ~.
"Oh, yes, you WILL" she said laugh
ing and shaking her head like an
amused child. ooh, yes, you will"
ing at the ceiling, laughed still louder
with note Of fierceness in the sound.
You'll do it and lots more things
like it. You'll do it If I 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 II" she said. turning an eye of
fiery menace on him. Maybe l 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 for!" 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. / bought clothes, and jewelry
with 1t, and little fixings l wanted.
Yes, the bedroom set isn't all paid
for yet and we've had 1t nearly two
years. Who would have thought that
the son of Con Ryan couldn't pay his
bills!"
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She rose, threw the cane into the
corner, and. turning toward him,
leaned back, hsit-sitt,ng on the foot
board. ler hands, palm downward,
pressed on its rounded top.
Dominick and she had had many
quarrels, ignominious and repulsive,
! but he had never before seen her in
SO savage a mood. Even yet he had
not lost the feeling Of responsibility
and remorse he felt toward her. AS
he moved from the mantelpiece his
eye had fallen on the ball-dress that
lay, a sweep of lace and silver. across
| the bed, and on the bureau he had
seen jewels and hair ornaments lejd
out among the powder boxes AID
scent bottles. The pathos of these
futile preparations appealed to him
and he made an effort to be patient
and just. s
Its been a disappointment" he
said, "and I'm sorry about 1t. But
I've done all l could and there's no
use doing any more. You've got to
give 1t up There's no use trying to
make my mother give in. She won't"
Wont she?" she cried, her voice
suddenly loud and shaken with rage.
Wen see! Well see! Well see If
I've married into the Ryan family for
nothing"
Her wrath at last loosened, her con.
troll was instantly swept away. In a
moment she was that appalling sight.
a violent and vulgar woman in rag.
ing passion. She ran around the bed
and, seizing the dress. threw 1t on the
floor and stamped on it, grinding the
delicate fabric into the carpet with