The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-04-22
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Poopendyke clutched me by the arm and drew me toward the door or might have stood there transhxed fot heaven knows how long.
 She's asleep he whispered.
 It was the second time in twelve hours that some one had intimated that was blind
 The door creaked vilIainously The gaunt, ecclesiastical tails of my bor- rowed frock coat were on the verge of being safely outside with me when she cried out, whereupon I swiftly transposed myself and stuck my head through the half open door.
 stOh, it's youg' she cried, in a qua very voice. She was leaning forward in the chair, her eyes wide open and eager,
 advanced into the room A look of doubt sprang into her face. She stared for a moment and then rather pfteous- 1y rubbed her eyes.
 Yes, it is I,'' said, I. spreading my arms in such a way that my hands emerged from the confines of Poopen- dykes sleeves. Upon my word, had no idea that he was so much longer than ID stIt is still I. countess. despite the shrinkage.'
 
 slowly sliding out of the chair As she unbent her cramped leg she made a little grimace of pain, but smiled as she limped toward me, her hand extended
 s.Yes,SI always shrink when I get wet" explained, resorting to face tieusness.
 < s Then I bent ever her hand and kiss ed it. As I neglected to release it at once, the cuff of Poopendyke's best coat slid down over our two hands, completely enveloping them. It was too much for me to stand. squeezed her hand with painful fervor and then released it in Hepidatfon.
 tPoopendyke goes to church in it, 2 said vaguely, leaving her to guess what it was that Poopendyke went to church in, or, perhaps, knowing what I meant, how I happened to be in it for the time being. You've been cry tngl''
 Her eyes were red and suspiciously moist.
 As she met my concerned gaze, "a wayering. whimsical smile erept into her face
 sIt has been a disgustingly wet night, she said. ..oh, you don't know how happy I am to see you standing here once more, safe and souhd, and and amiable. I expected you to glover and growl and
 sfOn a bright, glorious, sunshiny morning like this ?p I cried. .sNeveri I prefer to be graciously refulgent- Our troubles are behind us.
 @How good you are!'' After a mo ment's careful scrutiny of my face she added, sI can see the traces of very black thoughts, Mir. Smart, and recent ones.''
 tsThey were black until came into this room,' I confessed Now they are rose tinted
 She bent her slender body little to ward me, and the red seemed to leap back into her lips as if propelled by magic Reso1utely put my awkward, ungainly arms behind my back and strengthened my figure. I was curi- ously impressed by the discovery that was very, very tall and she very much smaller than my memory record ed. Of course I had no means of Knowing that she was in bedroom slip pers and not in the customary high hee1ed boots that gave her an inch and a half of false stature.
 Your mother is here I remarked hurriedly.
 She glanced toward my bedroom door.
 'sOh, what a night!'' she sighed. tsI did all that I could to keep her out of ydlr bed. It was useless. I did cry, MT. Smart. I know you must hate all of us.''
 laughed, Love thy neighbor as thyself,' I quoted. You are my neighbor, countess. Don't forget that. And it so happens that your mother is also my neighbor at present, and your brothers too Have you any cousins and aunts ?''
 tsI can't understand how any one can be so good natured as you" she sighed
 The crown of her head was on g SseveI with my shoulder. Her eyes were lowered. "A faint line of distress grew between them. For a minute stared down at the brown crest of her head an almost ungovernable impulse pound ing away at my sense of discretion. do take credit unto myself for being strong enough to resist that opportuni ty to make an everlasting idiot of my self knew even then that if sim liar attack ever came upon me agafn should not be able to withstand it.
 All this time she Was staring srathel pensively at the second button from the top of Poopendyk coat, and sG prolonged and earnest. was her gaze that looked down in some concern, a the same time permitting myself t make a nervous. jerky and quite invol