The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-09-02

She broke away from him hotly
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 on the oppo-
sito edge.
1t was the normal Griswold who
picked up the box and put 1t 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 it
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 sae 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.
"I 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 childlike appeal
in the wonderful eyes: II 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 self-abasement.
"You should write me down as one
who wasn't worthy Of your loving-kind
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 b
for you to say whether its doors shall
ever open to me again."
She took the thin safety-deposit Ike!
from her glove and laid it on the ia
BILE.
"You have made me wish ther'
hadn't been any money" she lamented
with a sorrowful little catch in he
voice that stabbed him like knife. y"
, haven't so many friends that can al
ford to lose them recklessly, Mr.. Girls
wold."
r Damn the money!" he exploded
! and the malediction came out OF tul
heart.
: Her fingers had found the bell-pusI
= and were pressing it. When the Gus
todian opened the door, Miss Grierso
b, was her poiseful self again.
) Number three-forty-ive-A is MI
: Kenneth Griswold's box, now," she al
r nounced briefly. please register 1t
his name, and then help him to put
l away and lock 1t up"
Griswold went through the motion
with the key-bearing young Woma
8 half-absently. Man-like, he was read
5 to be forgiven and comforted; an
there was at least oblivion in he
= charming little shudder as the GUST
: dian shot the bolts of the gate to Il
them out.
e "Br.r-r!" she shivered, Il can nevt
l. stand here and look at the free peop
out there without fancying myself
g prison. 1t must be dreadful thiT
to be shut away behind bolts and bar
e forgotten by everybody, and yet you
n self unable to forget. Do you ev
e have such foolish thoughts Mr.. Gri
wold?"
It For one poignant second fear leap
" alive again and he called himself
r better than a lost man. But the ey
lie that were lifted to his were the ey
Is of questioning child, so guilelessly
lie nocent that he Immediately suffer
I'd another relapse into the pit of self-t
spisings.
er "You have made me your prison'
y, Miss Grierson," he said, speaking
lie his own thought rather than to b
in question. And when they reached t
to sidewalk and the trap: MAY bid y
es good-by here and go to my own place
as "Of course not!" she protested. IN
as Raymer is coming to dinner tonig
1t and he will drive you over to Mrs. H
ou combs afterward, if you really thi
H. you must CO."
ne And for the first time in their co
ay ings and goings she let him lift her
d. the high driving-seat.