Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-10-09
Continued From Yesterday.)

/
she'd never get back. l didn't tell
Martin about that. I'd have had to
| tell what I'd said to the family that
morning; the situation hardly called
| for that.
Each of us maneuvered carefully
to get rid of the other when we got to
town and we succeeded-for a time.
But at something to 3, when L walked
up the steps of the white house on
the hill, Martin was there.
An elderly woman admitted me, and
let me standing in the hall She
| looked like a leftover from better
times, like the Washington mirrors
and the old paintings, and she didn't
like my looks. Not that l knew it at
the time She told me so later. Mar
tin and Miss Hazeltine were talking
in the livingroom and had not heard
my ring.
so you see," Martin was saying
with that out of the way, it's all
right. 1t was bit of luck finding it,"
"All right! How can you say it is
all right? I cannot even think of
pairingly. And even with that out
of the way, there is the picture"
whats done is done. 1t can't be
helped, Hazel. The thing is, not to
let it happen again If you had only
waited until o'clock. Eleven was
He would not wait, l begged him
| to-"
The maid, who had not bothered
with an apron to admit me, had put
one on by that time to announce me,
and the voices beyond ceased. l got
an impression that they were about as
glad to see me as the servant had
| been, and Martin as much as told me
so.
They were alarmed, I think, for l
saw Hazel glance at him as if to get
some comfort from him. But Martin
eyed me grimly.
We'll" he said, "how did you get
| it?"
THE usual method-bell and front
door"
1t looked very cozy there, a small
wood fire and not much other light.
| Nobody sat down, but if they had had
an idea of getting me off that way,
they didn't know me.
DO you mind if 1 sit down by the
| fire?" I said. II haven't been warm
to-day. Taking cold, I think"
oh, sit down and spend the even
ing" Martin said, rudely Did you
ever notice the insolence of the man
who is over six feet tall? It's par
ticular brand, half patronizing and
half sarcastic. And when the mans
in love, there's something of the saw
age in it. too.
Thanks. But that invitation to be
effective should come from Miss Ha-
eel, shouldn't it?"
He turned red with fury, but she
didn't understand, poor kid. She stood
by the fire and looked at US in turn,
wistfully. And when, after bit of
scowling, Martin picked up his hat
and went out looking surly as blazes,
she was still bewildered.
L wasn't there because I wanted to
be. Not that | didn't want to see her;
l did. But I had to tell her of the
mess I'd got her into, and I had to
go through with it. Hurt? I'd as soon
have pinched a baby.
But do you think l could do it?
could not, just then, anyhow 1t was
easier to sit near her, and think how
pretty and how pale she was and
wonder what on earth the office would
be like without her. After a while
1t got on my nerves to see her sitting
there, white and wretched, and trying
to be polite.
I've had a headache all day." she
said. But I'll be back at the office
tomorrow. l hope your father was
not much put out"
II tried to tell her then, but some
how it wouldn't come.
And we've landed the big order.
Mr.. Martin says. All the men will he
back and Grayton will be happy. Tve
been so worried about some of the
families there"
/ got up and wandered to the win
dow. To save my life 1 couldn't see
the light die out of her eyes, I'd
never thought she cared about the
Grayton people, or anything like that.
Martin was always raving about bad
conditions in the mill settlement and
ne TOOK Sis once or twice to look
around. But she said the odors and
the dirt made her sick.
1t was some view. The whole town
lay spread out below. The lights
were on again, and one could see the
bridges, with their double rows of
lamps, and sand dredge in the river
trimmed up with red and blue lights
Ike Christmas tree. The trolley cars
moved along the streets like boats in
a canyon.
It's pretty up here" 1 said. "T
don't know why more people don't
live here"
II like to sit here on summer eve
nings and think of the people down
there, hurrying along to get to some
place or other. The street cars and
the trains, and the automobiles rush
ing across the bridges, everything
seems to hurry so. And up here it
is SO quiet. Do you know what like
most to watch %
II know what I like to watch ="
said, looking at her.
THE mill, your fathers mill. It's
so dark and restful'
TOO darned restful," I said. "A
really healthy and normal mill doesn't
need rest But with the big order in
to-day, were going to put on a night
shift"
She was all eagerness at that, poor
kid. And me with what l had to tell
her!
Can you beat it?
I got it out somehow after a while
that she was not to go back, and
tried to make up an excuse. But I'm
no liar, and she saw through me like
a shot.
The real reason" 1 said, as stead
lily as 1 could sis that I told them
I was going to marry YOU"
"You-what?"
Your ears did not deceive you. II
oh, hang it all, made a fool of my
self this morning, and you're paying
for it,"
L softened what the Mater had said,
and told her the whole wretched bust
ness from start to finish.
so you see," finished. we're both
out I'm a homeless wanderer, sit
ting on your doorstep, and you-you
poor little thing!"
For she was crying. BY heaven.
it hurt I went over and stood by
har couldnit thiply of q +l;xr. a