The Yale expositor., 1915-10-28

She broke away from him holly
after he had taken the flushed face be-
tween his hands and kissed her; broke
away to drop into the chair at the
other side of the table, hiding the
flashing eyes and the burning cheeks
and the quivering lips in the crook OF
a round arm which made room for it.
self on the narrow table by pushing
the japanned money-box off the oppo-
site edge
Il was the normal Griswold who
picked up the box and put it on the
other chair. gravely and methodically
Then he stood before her again with
his back to the wall, waiting for what
every gentle drop of blood in his veins
was telling him he richly deserved
His punishment was long in coming;
so long that when he made sure she
was crying, he began to invite IL.
Say it," he suggested gently, you
needn't spare me at all. The only ex'
cuse could offer would only make the
offense still greater"
She looked up quickly and the dark
eyes were swimming. But whether the
tears were of anger or only of outraged
generosity he could not tell.
Then there was an excuse?" she
flashed up at him.
mo" he denied. as one who finds
the second thought the worthier;
there was no excuse"
She had found a filmy bit of lace
bordered linen at her belt and was
furtively wiping her lips with it.
81 thought perhaps you might be
able TOTO invent one of some sort,
she said, and her tone was as colorless
as the gray skies Of an autumn night
fall And then, with a childlike appeal
in the wonderful eyes: 81 think you
will have to help me a little-out OF
your broader experience. you know
What ought | to do?"
His reply came hot from the refining
fire of establishment.
You should write me down as one
who wasn't worthy of your vingkind
ness and compassion, Miss Grierson
Then you should call the custodian
and turn me out"
But afterward," she persisted
pathetically. There must be an after
ward"
81 am leaving Mereside this eve
Ming" he reminded her. ut will be
for you to say whether its doors shall
ever open to me again"
She took the thin safety-deposit key
from her glove and laid it on the Ia
BILE.
you have made me wish there
hadn't been any money" she lamented
with a sorrowful little catch in hel
voice that stabbed him like a knife. 81
haven't so many friends that ] can af
ford 10 lose them recklessly, Mr. Girls
void"
Damn the money!" he exploded;
and the malediction came out of full
heart.
Her fingers had found the bell-pusf
and were pressing it. When the Gus
todian opened the door, Miss Griersor
was her poiseful self again.
Number three-forty-five-A is Mr.
Kenneth Griswold's box, now" she an
nounced briefly. please register it ii
his name, and then help him to put il
away and lock it up"
Griswold went through the motions
with the key-bearing young woman
half-absently Man-like, he was ready
to be forgiven and comforted; anC
there was at least oblivion in hel
charming little shudder as the custo
dian shot the bolts of the gate TO let
them out.
"Br-r-r!" she shivered, Il can never
stand here and look at the free people
out there without fancying myself II
a prison. 1t must be a dreadful thing
TO be shut away behind bolts and bars
forgotten by everybody, and yet your
self unable to forget. Do you evel
have such foolish thoughts, Mr.. Girls
wold?"
For one poignant second fear leapeC
alive again and he called himself NJ
better than a lost man. But the eyes
that were lifted to his were the eyes
of a questioning child, so guilelessly in
nocent that he Immediately suffered
another relapse into the pit of self-de
spisings.
"You have made me your prisoner
Miss Grierson," he said, speaking t
his own thought rather than to he
question. And when they reached thu
sidewalk and the trap: MAY l bid yo'
good-by here and go to my own place?
"Of course mott" she protested. MI
Raymer is coming to dinner tonigh
and he will drive you over to Mrs. Hol
combs afterward, If you really thinl
you must 60"
And for the first time in their com
ings and goings she let him lift her t
the high driving-seat.
CHAPTER XVI.