Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1915-09-30
tNrkey.trudden.

, nerve.tingling sniver of apprehension
! when the latch yielded with a clicl
and he found himself under the hal
lantern formally shaking hands with
the statuesque young woman of the
many imaginings,
} You are very welcome to Home
Nook, MI. Griswold; we have beer
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 a half-embarrassed
laugh: 81 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 nov that the
actual face-to-face ordeal had safely
passed its Introductory stage. "And
you mustn't say a word against your
charming little city. Miss Farnham,'
he went N. at 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: II
want you to say all those nice things
to Aunt Fanny"
In the progress to the coy, home
like dining-room Griswold found the
contrast between the Farnham home
and the ornate mansion three streets
away OH the lake front s%trikingly 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 a
little later, in the midst of a hall.
uttered direction to the serving maid.
Miss Farnham stopped abruptly, and
Griswold could feel her gaze, wide
eyed and half-terrifed, seemingly fixed
upon him.
1t 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 owe 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 a good half-hour in
her low rocker under the reading lamp,
and the pictures in a thick quarto Of
Gulf Coast views had pleasantly filled
the interval for the two who we're
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 it came to him with a little flush
of the seer's exaltation that once
again his pref1gurings were finding
their exact fulfllment. In a spirit
of artistic daring he yielded to a sud.
den impulse, as one crossing the film.
siest Of bridges may run and leap to
prove that his theory of safety
stresses is a sufficient guaranty of his
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.
mite: "As to places, I'm not sure that
the first impression always persists;
in a few instances / am quite certain
1t hasn't. I 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.
II know" he affirmed. There have
been times when, with every reason
able fiber in you urging you to believe
the evil, a still stronger impulse has
made you believe in the good"
How can you know that?" she
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 with the sympathetic
voice and the goddesslike pose could.
sven under suggestion, be led to link
Up the past with the present.
1T is my trade to know" he said
closing the book of views and
aging it aside. There have been mo.
nents In your life when you would
lave given much to be able to decide
! question Of duty or expediency en-.
irely irrespective Of your impressions.
sn't that SOL"
For one fitting instant he thought
lie had gone too far. In the hardy de-
to win all or lose all. he !
lad been holding her eyes steadily. as
he sure mirror In which he should
able to read his sentence, of &C.
Initial or condemnation. This time
here was no mlstaking the sudden
Of the pupils to betray the
qualify sudden awakening Of womanly
error. :
Don't be afraid" he began. and he =
ad come thus far on the road to open
onfession when he saw that she was !
OF looking at him; she wal looking I
him toward n of the windows .
living upon the porch. what is IT." i