Gunnison news-champion., 1918-07-26
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NO" he said. Il shall not be leaving
you"
"YOu Ike II hereT'
VERY much" II. turned and looked
down at her. II was unwise. He real
lied that at once. So frail she looked.
50 s1ftly. tcndsrly feminine, And be-
cause he knew that. after the night.
he had not yet got control over himself.
the msrcst hand-clasp as she got out OF
the machine was all he dared. But at
the top Of the steps ElIn0r turned
"You will never know just how sorry
am" She said and went through her
Garden To- the house.
From that Friday morning until the
cvcnln: Of the following day Elinor
was quite alone.
Hour after hour she spent pacing the
terrace, lo0Ein: down into the valley.
on Friday night. unable to sleep. she
threw Il nesll-.c over her shoulders
and went down To her garden. The
village slept quietly. but there was
Il -ht in Wards small window near the
church. She remained on the terrnce
until the light wus eNfinEuishcd.
At dinner that Saturday Boroday's
Empty place cnst gloom over the
neal, Walter HgT came n little late.
Under the case Of HIS greeting there
,yas n touch OF uncasiness as he met
-7rn0r's eyes when the servants left
he room. Talbot leaned forward to
Walter.
"Nnw tell rs about H." he said.
Hun was frankly triumphant, but he
s'u avoided Eliu0r's eyes.
It's working out exactly as I knew
II would lac explained. Having once
hnd parish house they cannot do
without It. The ycstry carried only
1buut n third enough Insurance. And
there's another point In our favor-the
r"rtor's away. He's got rheumatism.
They are going 10 take up an additional
rurs. 10 send him to Badcn-Baden."
"Whenf'
Tomorrow morning. And tomorrow
being sunday. tn" assistant rector. Eli
nnr's friend. will have Il In charge I'M
III Monday morning"
II shall warn him." said Eliuor sud
denly.
There was silence for n moment. Tai
-pt smiled Lcthbrldce looked astound-
cd Hun. bending forward with his
arms out before him on the table, con-
frontcd Eiinor squnrely.
That's 1t. is III" he said.
"I asked you not TO do-what you
have done. The children used II all
the time. They played basketball there.
BESIDES. my wish should mean some
thing TO you"
Hun shrugged his shoulders.
III / had burned n tenement full OF
people"
"A man was nearly killed. He was
on the ridge-pole of the church and
they turned the full strength Of the
water on him. saw 1t. I--almost
tainted"
"You saw It."
81 was there" said Elinor quietly.
Hun rose angrily.
"You were there! And who was II
who almost fell OF the roof Your
parson. suppose"
Talbot silcnced the boy. 1t was
Lethbridge who took up the argument.
He understood her position and sym
pathized he said. The fire was mis-
take. But now that 1t WAS done
He spoke OF Boroday's critical condi-
tion. of their safety that depended on
his, and finding her attitude to be IN
yielding, took refuge In her fathers
memory.
"If anything comes out. 1t will all
come out" he reminded her. "It seems
to me, Eiinor. that you owe 1t to your
father not to interfere. This isn't
new plan. Four or five years ago when
the parish house was first built we
talked 1t over here. And it isn't as
though we mean to hurt this fellow
Ward. 1t will be three to one; he'll
make no resistance
Yes" she said. Three to one.
That is the way we fight. oh, I'm one
of you, know that-but 1t sickens me,
sometimes"
The men were astounded, frankly
uncomfortable
The conference got nowhere. Elinor
acknowledged their duty to the Rus
'iOi, VhtiVh utA hNA yC"CiS, ~ AoNt, Ava
his defense. But she stubbornly re-
fused to countenance the attack on
Mr.. Ward. HUI lapsed into sullen ST.
lence, his eyes on her. The other men
found every argument met by silence,
except for one passionate outburst.
"He is my friend" she cried. II
have never had any friends, except
once! years ago. a girl. II was Boro-
day then who used my friendship for
her. II was the Rutherford matter.
Walter would not remember. but the
rest of you'll tell you, won't do this
thing"
Talbot tried n new method. Its
a wealthy congregation he explained.
1t is not much for them. and it's
safety for us. II we let Boroday go
rp, and he thinks what he will about
rs. he can make 1t bad for all of u.s."