Middletown transcript., 1916-02-05
CHAPTER XIV.
rhe EIutter Of a Sheet Of Music.

morning robe. with soft frills If lace
around her white throat and at he7
white elbows, sat on the floor of the
music room amid a chaos of sheet mu'
sic. She was humming a gay little
song suggested by one of the titles
through which she had leafed. and was
! gradually sorting her music for the
yacht party; instrumental pieces here.
popular things there. another little pile
of old-fashioned glees which the as
sembled crowd might sing, Just here
little stack Of her own solos, nearby
the rector's favorites, between the two
their duets. 1t was her part in one
Of the latter she was humming now,
missing, as she sang. the strong ac.
compartment Of Rev. Smith Boyd's
mellow voice. She was more peace
full this morning than she had been
for many days.
The butler came through the hall,
and Gail looked up with a suppressed
giggle as she saw him pass the door
She always had an absurd Idea that
his hinges should be oiled.
Miss Gail is not at home, sir" she
heard the butler say, and Gail paused
with a sheet Of music suspended in
her hand. the whole expression of her
ia 3e changing. She had only giveu
instructions that one person should re.
ceive that invariabIe message
81 beg your pardon. sir!" was the next
observation Gail heard, in tone of as
near startled remonstrance as was
possible to the buffers wooden voice.
There was a sound almost as of
scuffle, and then Allison, with his top
coat on his arm and his hat in his
hand, strobe to the doorway of the
music room, followed Immediately by
the butler who looked as if his hair
had been peeled a little bit at the
edges. Allison had apparently brushed
roughly past him. and had disturbed
his equanimity for the balance Of his
life.
Gail was on her feet almost instan-
taneousIy with the apparition in the
doorway. and she still held the sheet
Of music which she had been about to
deposit on one Of the piles. Allison's s
eyes had a queer effect Of being
sunken. and there was strange nerv-
GUS tension in him. Gail dismissed
the butler with a nod.
"You were informed that l am not
at home" she said.
II meant to see you," he replied
with a certain determined insolence in
his tone which she could not escape.
There was triumph in it. too. as il
his having swept the butler aside
we're only part Of his imperious in
tention. 'T have some things to say
to you to which you must listen"
"You had better say them all, then.
because this is your last opportunity
she told him, pale with anger, and
with a quaTer in her voice which stt= I
would have given much to suppress
He cast look on her which blazed
He had not slept since he had seen |
her last. He smiled, and the smile |
was a snarl displaying his teeth
more than anger crept into /
Calls pallor
Il have come to ask you again tn
marry me, Gail The matter is too |
vital to be let pass without the most
serious effort of which | am capable
cannot do without you. have a
need for you which is greater than
of which you could conceive.
come to you humbly. Gail. to ask
you to marry me-"
For just a moment his eyes had
softened. and Gail felt slight trace
Of pity for him; but in the pity itself
there was revulsion.
81 cannot" she told him.
You must!" he Immediately re.
Joined. "As I would build up an EN-
pire to win you, | would destroy one
to win you. You spoke last night of
what you called the cruelty and trick
cry of the building up Of my big trans
portation monopoly. If it is that which
stands between US. 1t SHALL not do SO
or moment longer Marry me. and
will stop 1t just where 1t is. Why,
only built this for you. and If you
lon't like it, shall have nothing to
10 with it," In that he lied. and con-
He knew that the moment
le had made sure Of her his ambition
o conquer would come uppermost
lgain, and that he would pursue his
lream Of conquest with even more ar
Tor than before, because he had been
'efreshed.
"That would make no difference. Mr.
Allison" she replied. 81 told you last
hight that | would not marry you be-
;ause do not and could not. love you
There does not need to be any other
eason." There was in her an inexpIi
able tension. reflex of his own. but.
hough her face was still pale. she
tood very calmly before him.
The savageness which was in him
leld too long in leash. sprang into his (
ace. his eyes. his lips. the set of his
avs. He advanced step towards
Ter. His hands contracted
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Try This. Il