The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-11-12


isfied look In his face. She was stretch
ed out comfortably, lazily, In a grea
chaise lounge, her black little slippers
peeping out at him with perfect aban
Comment.
Hello" he said shortly. She CAV,
him her hand. Sorry l couldn't ge'
out last night" He shook her hant
rather un~graciously.
I'VE missed you," she said. Pull vi
a chair. | was never so lazy as now
Dear me, | am afraid I'll get stout and
gross"
Spring fever" he announced. He
was plainly out of sorts. "Ill stand, II
you don't mind. Beastly tiresome. sit
ting in q hot, stuffy train"
He took a couple Of turns across the
porch, his 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 OF
more"
Cant go in?" he demanded, stop
ping before her. He began to pull at
his little m~oustache.
mo. Hetty's posing. They won't
permit even me to disturb them"
He glared. With a final, almost dra.
matte twist he gave over Jerking at
his moustache, and grabbed up q chair,
| which ha mt dDn,n hAaiIA No.. -f.A ,
vehemance that spoke palmer than
words.
Il say" he began, scowling In the
direction OF the doorway, how long Is
he going to be at this silly job?"
SILLY lob? Why. 1t Is to be a mas.
terpiece," she cried.
Il asked you how long?"
"Oh, how can | tell? Weeks. per.
haps. One can't prod a genius"
IT'S all tommy-rot," he growled
II suppose I'd better take the mex,
train back to town"
Don't you like talking with me?"
she inquired. with a pout.
"Of course | 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, o,
words to that effect"
He stared gloomily at his cigarette
case for a moment. Then he carefully
selected a cigarette and tapped II on
the back of his hand.
See here, Sara, I'm going to get
this of my chest" he said bluntly
I've been thinking 1t over all week
| don't like this portrait painting non
sense"
Dear me! Didn't you suggest it?'
she inquired in%nocently, 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 al
along. Her purpose now was to en-
courage the ugly flame that tortured
him, to fan 1t into fury, to make it un
endurable. She knew him we'll: His
supreme egoism could not Withstand
an attack upon its complacency. Like
all the Wrandalls, he had the habit
OF thinking too well of himself. He
possessed a cle~arly-defined sense OIL
humor, but 1t did not begin to include
self-sacrifice among It's endowments
He had never been able to laugh al
himself for the excellent reason thai
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, ant
at the same time to consider his an
l suggested q tort OF portrait, o
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 1t. She
and Mr.. Booth get on famously to
gether."
"She likes him, eh?"
Certainly. Why shouldn't she like
him? He Is adorable"
He threw his cigarette over the rail-
ing. Comes here every day, / sup
poser"
my dear Leslie. he is to do me a.
soon as he has finished with her.
don't like your manner"
oh" he said In a dull sort Of won
der. No II had ever cut him shor'
In just that way before. Whats up
Sara? Have l done anything out o.
the way?"
"You are very touchy. 1t seems tc
me-"
I'm sore about this COMPOUNDED por
trait monopoly"
I'm sorry, Leslie. / suppose you
will have to give In, however. We are
three to one against you-Hetty. Mr.
Booth and J."
II see." he said. rather blankly
Then ne drew his chair closer. "See
here. Sara. you know I'm terribly keen
about her. I think about her, I dream
about her. l. oh. well, here 1t is In q
nutshell: I'm in love with her. Now
do you understand"
II don't Gee how you could help be
Ing In love with her." she said calmly
Il believe 1t IL a habit men have where
she is concerned"
You're not surprisedr" he cried
himself surprised.
Not Il. the least"
saAA - 81 ~ - nassy ~