Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-10-07

Griswold. waiting on the porch while
Doctor Fsrnham fitted his key. had Q
nerve-tingling SILVER of apprehension
when the latch yielded with a click
and he found himself under the hall
lantern formally shaking hands with
the statuesqde young woman of the
many imaginings.
you are very welcome to Home
Nook, Mr. Griswold; we have been
hearing about you for many weeks"
she was saying when he had relin.
pushed the firm hand and was hang
ing his coat and hat on the hall rack
And then, with half-embarrasse
laugh: Il am afraid we are dreadful
gossips; all Wahaska has been talking
about you, you know, and wondering
how 1t came to acquire you"
1T hasn't acquired anything very
valuable" was the guests modest dis.
claimer, its readiness arising out of a
grateful easing of strains now that the
actual face-to-face ordeal had safely
passed it's Introductory stage. And
you mustn't say word against your
charming little city, Miss Farnham,"
he went on. 1T is the friendliest, most
hospitable-"
The doctors daughter was interrupt.
ing with an enthusiastic show of ap-
plause.
Come out to dinner. both of you."
she urged; and then to Griswold: Il
10 oil v,4,
to Aunt Fanny" so
In the progress to the cozy. home
like dining-room Griswold found the
contrast between the Farnham home
and the ornate mansion three streets
away on the lake front strikingly ap.
parent; as clearly marked as that be-
tween Margery Grierson and the
sweetly serene and conventional young
person who was introducing him to
her aunt across the small oval dining
table.
So far, all was going well. But .
little later, in the midst of a half
uttered direction to the serving maid.
Miss Farnham stopped abruptly. and
Griswold could feel her gaze, wide.
eyed and half-terrified. seemingly fixed
upon him.
It was all over in the turning of q
leaf; there had been no break in the
doctors genial raillery, and the breath.
less little pause at the other end of the
table was only momentary. When the
dinner was over the doctor, In the act
of filling two long-stemmed pipes for
his guest and himself, was called away
professionally. Miss Gilman, least OBJ
trusive of chaperons, had been peace
fully mapping for good half-hour in
her low rocker under the reading lamp,
and the pictures in thick quarto OF
Gulf Coast views had pleasantly filled
the interval for the two who were
awake, when Griswold finally assured
himself that the danger Of recognition
was a danger past. AS a mental an
alyst he knew that the opening Of
each fresh door in the house of pres
ent familiarity was automatically clos
ing other doors opening upon the past;
and 1t came to him with little flush
Of the seer's exaltation that once
again his prefigurings were finding
their exact fulfillment. In a spirit
of artistic daring he yielded to sud-
den impulse, as one crossing the fiim-
siest of bridges may run and leap to
prove that his theory of safety
stresses is a sufficient guaranty of his
own immunity.
You were speaking of first impress
sions of places" he said. while they
were still turning the leaves of the
picture book Are you a believer in
the absolute correctness of first i'm.
impressions"
II don't know" was the thoughtful
reply; but its afterword was more def
nite "As to places. I'm not sure that
the first impression always persists;
in few instances am quite certain
it hasn't. didn't like the Gulf coast
at all. at first; 1t seemed so foreign
and different and unhomelike. AS to
persons. however"
She paused. and Griswold entered
the breach hardly.
Il know" he affirmed. There have
been times when. with every reason.
able fiber in you urging you to believe
the evil, still stronger impulse has
made you believe in the good"
How can you know that?" she
asked; and again he saw in the ex.
pressive eyes the flying signals of in
determinate perplexity and apprehen-
sion.
Resolutely he pressed the hazardous
experiment to its logical conclusion.
Once for all, he must know II this
young woman with the sympathetic
voice and the goddesslike pose could,
even under suggestion. be led to link
up the past with the present.
1T is my trade to know" he said
quietly. closing the book of views and
laying It aside. There have been mo-
ments in your life when you would
have given much to be able to decide
a question of duty or expediency en-
tirely irrespective OF your Impressions.
Isn't that so?"
For one fitting instant he thought
he had gone too far. In the hardy de-
termination to win all or lose all. he
had been holding her eyes steadily. as
the sure mirror in which he should
be able to read his sentence. of &C
quittal or condemnation. This time
there was no mistaking the sudden
widening of the pupils to betray the
equally sudden awakening Of womanly
terror.
Don't be afraid" he began. and he