El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-09-22
| Has Plenty to

: too. am tired. The heat IS very en-
An Invitation
! I would not remain alone with Nj.
/ Norton Tom and Hugh had gone
! off together somewhere, probably
! down to the river for a swim
] wanted 20 avoid any confidential talk
] with my employer.
Miss Dart he proposed, as II
struck by a fortunate idea. wouldn't
you like to take a little spin in the
runabOut2 Ii would cool you off
] Say the word and III get the car out
Mrs. Gore paused in the doorway.
listening, was sure. Tor my answer.
"Oh, no thank you" I replied. 4
| do not feel like il this evening 1
/ appreciate the offer, just the same.
] Goodnight"
Mrs. Gore held out her hand to me
as I followed her into the house. She
Z had never before been the least BIZ
demOnstrative with me 1 knew that
my rejection Of her brother-in-law'
] suggestion had gratified her, although
1 scarcely realized why
i hope you Will rest well, dear"
she said kindly.
Thank your I rejoined. returning
her hand pressure
At the door of her room she spoke
again. diffidently, almost imidly'
thought
You are a very wise girl, Miss
Dart. And your judgment is excel
lent"
you are kind TO say So" I &C
knowledged with smile, then 1 went
on upstairs
What did she mean2 I pondered.
Did she fear my acceptance Of Brew
ster NOrtOn's attentions, and did my
refusal to drive with him just now
convince her that I did not care for
him2 Why should she object to his
marrying me2 Did she fear she would
lose her home II did so-or was she
Jealous Of her dead sisters memory
did not undress, but, taking off
my gown, I put on a thin and loose
1eEliEee and sat down by the front
window, in the dark
On the horizon the heat lightning
flashed frequently; the sounds Of
thunder. perhaps a little louder than
before, were still FAR away. Unless
the wind got under those heaped-up
clouds in the west we would
scarcely have a shower tonight. And
If We did not the oppressive heat
Every Movement Audible.
IN the intense quiet / could hear ]
every movement in the house. Mr.. /
Norton came upstairs TO his room and I
shut his door. Evidently he had no Z
idea Of taking an auto ride alone. /
Ten minutes later I heard Tom go j
toward the wing in which he and I
Hugh Parker slept Hugh was with /
him. OF course. but he walked much 4
=
heavy footsteps quite drowned the tu- /
tors lighter tread
The door leading to the wing closed. I
Then all was quiet again, with the /
ominous and broOding stiffness OF the
country before the arrival OF a storm
that has been q long time coming
Sitting by the window I rested my
head against the cushions on my
chairback and closed my eyes. could I
not sleep, but my thoughts wandered I
off vaguely for awhile. then, all Of
once, they conferred with a shock upon
my conversation OF this afternoon
with my employer-and I heard again
all that he had said and that I had
answered.
I had promised to try TO promise"
TO marry him
What a foolish and inconsequent
promise that had beeni Yet he had
accepted it, He had even said that
he knew I was not the kind OF a Eirl
to break It.
A sense Of suffocatfon almost over
whelmed me spranE to my feet
and looked at my watch on my dress-
ng table Only a quarter before 1O!t
The whole night was before me. And
was sure / wosld not be able TO
sleep.
Ny room was hot. All the mem
oers OF the household we're in bed
and slumbering by now. Down on the
veranda IL would be cooler than up
here. I would steal down and sit
outside in the darkness until I was
cool and drowsy-
CTO Be Continued.)