Meade County news., 1915-10-14
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Doctor Farnham fitted his key. had .
nerve-tingling shiver of apprehension
when the latch yielded with a click
and he found himself under the hall
lantern formally shaking hands with
the statuesque young woman of the
many imaginings.
"You are very welcome to Homo
Nook. Mr.. Griswold; we have been
hearing about you for many weeks"
she was saying when he had relin.
quished the firm hand and was hang.
ing his coat and hat on the hall rack.
And then with a half-emb barrassed
laugh: II 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 tho
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 on. 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: "r
want you to say all those nice things
to Aunt Fanny"
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 cleanly 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 we'll But o
little later, in the midst of 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.
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 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 filed
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 prefgurings were finding
their exact fulfllment. In a spirit
of artistic daring he yielded to sud-
den impulse, as one crossing the finn
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 believer In
the absolute correctness of first inn
impressions?
81 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. didn't like the Gulf coast
at all, at first; it seemed so foreign
and different and unhomelike AS to
persons. however,"
She paused, and Griswold entered
the breach hardly.
81 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.
Resoutely 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
at 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
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