The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-12-28

past, yet the race was young II
sweet. as young, perhaps, as herself.
miniature back in place with caressing
hand. She felt that she would like to
know this woman with the tender eyes.
She wished her here now, that she
might tell her all her anxiety.
Her eye wandered to the pile OF let
tiers, some of them official looking
ones. one or two in squar perfumed
envelopes with high, angular writ
ing. They We're all addressed
to Mr.. Cyril Gordon. That was
strange! Who was Mr.. Cyril Gordon?
What had they-what had she-to do
with him? Was he a friend whom
George-whom they-were visiting for
a few days? 1t was all bewildering.
Then the telephone rang.
Her heart beat wildly n she looked
toward t,as ii it had been a human
voice speaking and she had no power
Should she answer? Or should she walt
for the man to come? Could the, man
I'lear the telephone bell or was she per-
haps expected TO answer? II yet IL
Mr.. Cyril t~Gordon-well, somebody
ought to answer. The phone rang in
sistently once more, and still a third
time. What if he should be calling her!
Perhaps he was in distress. This
thought sent her flying to the phone.
She took down the receiver and called:
"Hello!" and her voice sounded far
away to herself.
rs this Mr.. Gordon's apartment"
yes" h answered, for her eyes
were resting on the pile Of letters close
at hand.
rs Mr.. Gordon there?"
"No, he Is not" she answered, grow
ing more confident now and almost
wishing she had not presumed to an
swer q strangers phone.
"WhV / inst 'DhOne6 TO the office and
they told me he had returned" said a
voice that had an lmperious note in 1t.
Are O sure he isn't there?"
Quite sure" she replied
Who Is this, please"
81 beg your pardon" said Celia try
ing to make time and knowing not how
to reply. She was not any longer Miss
Hathaway. Who was She? Mrs. Hayne?
She shrank from the name. 1t was
filled with. horror for her. Who Is. this,
/ said," snapped the other voice now
us this the chambermaid? Because IL
1t is I'd like you to look around and
inquire and be quite sure that Mr.. Cor
don isn't there. ! wish to speak with
him about something very important"
Celia smiled.
mo, this is not the chambermaid,"
she said. sweetly, and l am quite sure
Mr.. Gordon Is not here"
How long before he will be there?"
Il don't now really, for /. have but
just come myself"
"Who is this to whom I am talking?"
"Why-just a friend" she answered,
wondering IL that were the best thing
to say.
"Oh!" there was a long contemplating
| pause at the other end
We'll, could you give Mr.. Gordon q
message when he comes in?"
Why certainly, l think so. Who Is
this"
Miss Bentley. Julia Bentley. He'll
know replied the imperious one eager
ly now. And tell him please that he
is expected here to dinner tonight. We
need him to complete the number, and
he simply mustn't fail me. I'll excuse
him for going off in such a rush If he
comes early and tells me all about It.
Now you Won't forget, will your, You
got the name, Bentley, did you?
b. e. N, T, L, r, Y, you know. And
you'll tell him the minute he ONE
in?"
Yes
THANK you! What did you say your
name was?"
But Celia had hung up. Somehow
the message annoyed her, she could
not tell why. She wished she had not
answered the phone. Whoever Mr..
Cyril Gordon was what should she do
if he should suddenly appear? And as
for the imperious lady and her mes
sage h hoped she would never have
to deliver II. On second thought why
not write it and leave 1t on his desk
with the pile of letters? She would
do it. 1t would serve to pass away q
few of these dreadful minutes that
Jagged sc distressfulIy.
She sat down and wrote: Miss BentS
ley wishes Mr.. Gordon to III with her
this evening. She will pardon his run
ming away the other day If he will come
early" She laid it beside the high
angular writing on the square per.
fumed letters and went back to the
leather chair, too restless to rest yet
too weary to stand up.
She went presently to the back win
dows TO look out, n then to the side
ones. Across the housetops she could
catch a glimpse of domes and buildings
There was the Congressional library
which usually delighted her with its
exquisite tones of gold and brown and
white. But she a no eyes for 1t now
Beyond were more buildings, all set in
the lovely foliage which was much far
ther developed h 1t had been in New
York state. From another window SHE
could get a glimpse Of the Potomac
shining in the morning sun.
She wandered to the front window.
and looked out. There were people
passing and repassing. 1t was a busy
street, but she could not make GU;
llStiiN = "No NAiS oibS hhS" ~
There were two men walking back ant
forth on the opposite side. They die
not go further than the corner of tn,
street either way. They looked
across at the windows sometime:
and pointed up, when they met
and once one Of them took some,
thing out OF his pocked and flashed
1t under his coat at his side, as /
to have it ready for use. 1t reminded
her Of the thing her husband had hel,
in his hand in the bedroom and sh,
shuddered. She watched them, fasci
mated, not able 10 draw herself awa.
from the window.
Now and then she would go to tn,
rear window, to see If there was am
sign of the automobile returning, ant
then hurry back TO the front, to Sc
If the men were still there. Once sht
returned to the chair, and, lying back
shut her eyes, n let the memor.
Of yesterday sweep over her in all IT.
sweet details, up to the time when the.
had got into the way train and sh'
had seemed to feel her disloyalty t,
her father. But now her heart was al