The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-07-20

into the room and was standing beside
the chair in which Priscilla had been
sitting when he left her, his expression
still one of surprise, tinged deeply with
annoyance and regret.
Priscilla moved so that he could
see her, though her face was hidden
from the woman on the divan.
"Pm here" she said, in a nervous
little voice. at was so warm. There
is little more air here by the win
dow"
The mans face cleared miraculously,
and he joined her.
81 was in beastly funk, you know
afraid you had gone. You're not
feeling faint, are you? I'll open the
window"
He suited the action to the words;
and as she looked out into the garden
Priscilla's longing for flight swelled to
monumental proportions.
81 wonder whether one could get out
that way" she said.
"Out where?"
"To the street"
81 suppose so; but who wants to
get out to the street,"
Truth rushed to her lips.
al do" she said with fervor.
He stared blankly at her.
"But, if you want to go away"
he began, somewhat stiffly.
An overwhelming desire to cry came
upon her. If anything could make
the situation worse, tears would do 1T;
but she felt them coming. The lump
in her throat was swelling, swelling,
her self-control crumpling up little
by little.
"If you want to GO" repeated the
offended young man at her side.
"Oh, l do, l dol" she urged. The
culver in her voice caught his ear; and,
as he looked down at her, he saw some
thing glistening on her eyelashes His
bewilderment deepened. She was not
snubbing him. She was appealing to
him. He did not understand, but his
manhood rose to meet the appeal.
"There's some one | want to avoid,
she explained. "Some one it would
be dreadfully embarrassing for me to
meet; and if l could go out quietly,
through the garden-Do you think it
is possible? Do you, truly2"
Her voice was TREMENDOUSLY eager.
The man stepped out through the long
French window and looked about him
"The area entrance is around the
other side; but we couldn't go out there,
anyway. That Mould look jolly queer.
There must be garden door somewhere
in the wall. I've an idea it's around
the corner of the shrubbery down there.
Shall we try for it?"
If anyone should see us2"
1--WE are passionately fond of gar
dens. There's probably door some
where through which one could walk
into this particular garden without
exciting comment. Even if the balcony
scene has an audience, it will probably
be credited to whim-or sentiment; and
don't imagine anyone will see us. "
He was using the first person plural
freely and Priscilla found it comfort
ing. She was no longer alone in her
her adventure. Gathering her trailing
skirts around her, she stepped out
through the window.
"There are some steps here; but
they are rickety. Be careful" The
man turned to lend the girl hand
For a moment their eyes were on 9
level, his face was very close to hers
and something in the eyes, in the
whole face, made her step carelessly
stumble, fall. He caught her, held
her in his arms only second Longer
than necessity demanded, and set hei
on her feet on the brick walk, with {
scrupulously formal, You're not hurt
hope?"
ooh, no, thank you. 1t was no fal
~ all u Tho 0irl renliad with a ron