The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-02-17
DAILY HOME HELPS
WHO'S TO BLAME

BY
ETHEL LLOYD PATTERSON.
CHAPTER NO. IS.
nn0mI

CHAPTER NO. IS.
Doom!
They we're alone together; marvel.
ously alone. Mr.. Smithers' step had
creaked away in the distance, officially
CARRYING him back TO 'Smithers' Hard
ware Store" on Main street, to go
over his books" Ellen, the maid, had
ceased her clatter in the kitchen. For
a while. her work done, she had tried
TO listen TO what might be said on
the front piazza. Then she had been
forced 10 give this up as a bad Job.
She could hear nothing. Finally, bored,
she had tiptoed off through the back
gate to exchange gossip with a neigh
boris hired girl down the street.,
And so-they we're alone. ALREADY
Freddie's uuickening pulse was telling
him OF Estrelda through every fiber.
In the dark he shivered once or twice
as one does when somebody walks
over ones grave" Though they were
not sitting very close together when
Mr.. Smithers had disappeared IN the
shadows, Estrelda had turned instinc-
lively to the hammock swinging in the
darkest corner Of the vtne-screened
porch. The nook was not without mem
cries for her. So now sne MADE a
place for Freddie among the cushions
beside her with what was, had he put
known II, an accustomed gesture But
tic ltll llNI IthlAiNE6 wv iAh1Ah ~ 49,
himself. Instead he drew a wicker
chair toward the hammock. "Ill-sit
here" he said, and she settled herself
a little vexedly.
And for a time they managed to talk
of this and that. But even a quite stu
pid listener would have known theit
thoughts were not In their words. Bit
by bit, life Is 1t Is, was mounting in
them; was going to be too much for
them. One could hear the great surge
beginning to shake Freddie's tones as
one hears far off the echo of surf,
crashing on the inevitable shore, At
last Freddie was still. He sat far Tor
ward on his chair now, his eyes big
and soft, seeking Estrelda through the
shadows. And then, drawn out OF
him:
YOU'RE so wonderful" he whispered.
his voice hushed and filled with a holy
awe.
She moved quickly and a little un-
comfortably. This was a new brand Of
admiration, with which she was some
what at a loss.
"Oh-not so awfully-wonderful!" she
said. "Just-just a-girl!'
mo" he said, solemnly; he vas be-
ginning to find words. "No-not Just
a girl l suppose you are really Just
a girr-only-only you're wonderful be-
| cause you're something more than that
to me. You're so-beautiful and-so-
good! I've met such lots OF girls-l-I
never really liked girls before-espe-
cially. And then-then the other night
II saw-you, and-and-"
He stumbled into silence again. He
did not know how it had happened, but
he had leaned far enough forward to
capture both her strong, large hands
in his own slender and febrile grasp.
She thought how white and fine his
face looked in the moonlight and-how
red his mouth! And now at last he
was going to kiss her. His face was
close to hers. And suddenly the tri-
umph of it went under in her awaken
ing temperament. He was thrillingly
attractive! She drew a long breath
shakily; half closed her eyes. And then
she almost felt his will power re-
assert itself with a snap, as he leaned
back from her. Then
"May-may l kiss your-hand?" he
whispered, Before she could answer
she felt his hot, young lips upon her
fingers.
from her abruptly-quite roughly. The
world was swinging around for him
in time to Natures dizziest tune. His
| prayer for strength to steady himself.
For an instant he stood at the piazza
rail, his back to Estrelda; his Shout
ders squared; his clenched fists In
his pockets. And-through the quiv-
ering shadows from the vine that lay
! like a pattern between them, Estrelda
sent after him one long, keen look.
Then her full mouth curved in a smile,
One could Just catch the white, wet
CLEAN of her teeth. Usually she was
awkward. but now, as she came slowly