The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-07-02


ting in a hot, stuffy train
He took couple of turns across the
porch MS eyes shifting in the eager,
annoyed manner of one who seeks for
something that, in the correct order of
THINGS ought to be plainly visible
Please sit down, Leslie. You make
me nervous, tramping about like that
We can't go in for half an hour or
more"
cant go in?" he demanded stop
ping before her. He began to pull at
his little moustache
NO. Hetty's posing They won't
permit even me to disturb them
He glared. With final, almost dra-
matte twist he gave over jerking at
his moustache, and grabbed up a chair,
which he put down beside her with a
vehemance that spoke palmer than
words.
L say" he began. scowling in the
direction of the doorway. "how long is
he going to be at this silly job?''
Silly job? Why, it is to be mas
terpiece,' she cried
Il asked you how long?
oh, how can l tell? Weeks, per-
haps. One can't prod a genius
It's all tommy-rot, he growled
i suppose I'd better take the next
train back to town.
Don't you like talking with me?"
she inquired, with a pout.
of course l do" he made haste to
say. But do you mean to say they
won't let anybody in where Oh,
say. This is rich!''
spectators upset the muse, or
words to that effect
+ He stared gloomily at his cigarette
case for a moment Then he carefully
selected cigarette and tapped it on
the back of his hand.
| See here, Sara, I'm going to get
| this off my chest he said bluntly
I've been thinking it over all week
1 don't like this portrait painting non
sense
Dear me. Didn't you suggest it?''
she inquired innocently, but all the
time her heart was beating violent
time to the song Of triumph.
He was jealous. 1t was what she
wanted, what she had hoped for all
along. Her purpose now was to en-
courage the ugly flame that tortured
him, to fan it into fury, to make it I'M
endurable. She knew him we'll: His
| supreme egoism could not withstand
an attack upon it's complacency. Like
all the Wrandalls, he had the habit
of thinking too we'll of himself. He
possessed a clearlydefned sense OF
humor, but it did not begin to include
self-sacrifice among it's endoWments
He had never been able to laugh at
himself for the excellent reason that
some things were truly sacred to him
She realized this, and promptly
laughed at him. He stiffened.
Don't smoker, Sara he growled
He took time TO light his cigarette, anC
at the same time to consider his an
swer to her question. In way, yes
suggested tort of portrait, Of
course A sketchy thing, something
like that, you know. But not an all
summer operation.
But she doesn't mind" explained
Sara. In fact, she is enjoying it. She
and Mr. Booth get on famously to
gether."
She likes him. eh?"
, Certainly. Why shouldn't she like
, him? He is adora ble.''
He threw his cigarette over the rail
, ing Comes here every day, l sup
pose?"
my dear Leslie, he is to do me a
soon as he has finished with her.
7 don't like your manner
! oh he said in a dull sort of won
. der No one had ever cut him shor
, in just that way before. What's W
Sara? Have | done anything out o
+ the way?'
you are very touchy, it seems t.
y me-
q I'm sore about this confounded pol
0 trait monopoly
y I'm sorry, Leslie. / suppose yo
Y will have to give in. however. We ar
!. three to one against you-Hetty, MI
# Booth and l"
q L see," he said, rather blankly
Then he drew his chair closer. Sc
I here, Sara, you know I'm terribly kee
| about her. I think about her, l drea1
| about her. L oh, well, here it is in
| nutshell: I'm in love with her No,
| do you understands
| Il don't see how you could help b.
| ing IN love with ner, Sne Sa1Q ca lml.
| Il believe it is habit men have wher
| she is concerned.
| You're not surprised?' he criet
! himself surprised.
| Not in the least
! Il mean to ask her to marry me
4 he announced with finalty This wa
4 intended to bowl her over completed.
She looked at him for an instan
4 and then shook her head. I'd like
/ be able to wish you good luck.
i He stared You don't mean to sa
4 she'd be fool enough he began i
| creduously, but caught himself up
a time "Of course, I'd have to take N
y chances he concluded with more h
/ mility than she had ever seen him di
play DO you know Of any one else
No. she said seriously. She doesn
confide in me to that extent, | fea
n I've never asked.
of DO you think there was any or
back there in England?' He put
IN in the past tense, so to speak, as
lie there could be no question about tt
lie present
t. "Oh, | dare say