Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1916-03-17
CHAPTER XII.
A viii Drawn Up.

got back 10 the firm
one of her knees throbbed
painfully for somewhere along
tile road she had stumbled and fallen.
In bed she could not shut her eyes.
The voice of the man had awakened
the half forgotten terrors Of the past
The peace and serene happiness Of
thc white walled convent. the beauti.
fui gardens, such as only Europe has
had time TO prepare aud fulfill. and in
her innocence she had dreamed that
the world outside the huge iron gates
was Il grand faTy story whiting to be
read.
Then into the world. the greut house
with Ifs paintings and rugs aud tapes
tries aud marbles the coming Of the
young men. of middle aEed men, Of old
men, and the fever of eard playing;
her beautiful gowns and gems. and tho
vaguely growing wonder Why the men
never brought their wives with them,
aud then came the thupdegboit.
A Young man much in Wine had
thrown bis arms about her IN the hall
aud kissed her Ter indignation, his
IlHHHtffs itt ltlliRit ifA ftAFtHAl
"oh. come now! Don't be a prude
Do You suppose we chaps would come
here but for chance TO see you and
talk with your God in heaven. YOU
niece to tell me you do not know that
this- b a private gambling housef The
how, abominable scoundrelsi"
From her varied wardrobes she had
4 Ia, !, fal
en- only the money in her purse and
fed
Ii was almost as Ii she had fled with
her hands to her ears and her eyes
shut The gradual dlslllusioning from
which humanity draws its experiences
aud profit WIS denied her
II had beaten down upon her with
the suddenhcss OF an avalanche. For
days after there had been mental
numbness. DRY eyed and uanceiiko
she had gone from place to place for
work, God forgive them; never would
abe.
Began the battle With the world.
Warned she learned quickly how TO
deal with men and half men and
beasts learned TO hold them of at
arms length without repelling them
TO meet rebuff with llrmness and gen.
tleness. harshnesS with patience, guile
with disarming honesty. The fairy
story she had dreamed of reading there
behind the convent grille was a grim
hag's tale. In these teeming six years
many had been her oecupations-shop
girl, stenogTapher, nurse. governess
companion 10 old ladies. stewariess OF
the Atlantic liners which she still fol-
lowed ostensibly. but In reality as 4
blind for more daring business.
And now the hurt she had always
succeeded in Guiding had finally come
Here Ia this quaint low eeilinged room
SHE faced II honestly,
She cured more for this comparatlv,
was how 20 leave him, To forget him
and make him forget in turn
Quarter after 10.
Sniead is playing solitaire and paus
ing from time 10 time ahsuaeiedly, 10
A+ttN ttttAt AtttAh Aitt' AAfh = VI q NNAN Wis
solves and a Vision comes instead
Crawford Is smoking his pipe an,
Ia the pillows ~ nearly smoke VI
sions. IN the hotel barfoam the mar
who calls himself Ianehett has hi
visions To the youae. sad eyed wa
man In Watertown visions troop haci
and forth past her star enamelei win
dow. Visions sufse about the pillow
of the young woman Ia The farmhouse
Quarter after 10.
In a house IA the great city cioc
IN hallway struck the quarter hour
The seft boom of il penetrated a
the lower rooms OF the biz house IS
the library reading table the gray hail
ed man laid down his newspaper am
looked al his watch
Wonderful low that eld clock keep
time he said 10 the white haired W.
ulan opposite Hundred and nft
years old. and yet IL il still as aceurat
as this Swiss piece"
He returned the watch 10 his poke
aud was about 10 resume his reading
when he saw something sparkle ON tn
-heeks OF the woman. What's th,