The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1919-12-26
CHAPTER XVIII,


CHAPTER XVIII.
| Having finished some errands down.
| town. the next afternoon, George AM
berson Minafer was walking up Nation
al avenue on his hOmeward way when
he saw in the distance, coming toward
him. upon the same side of the street,
the figure Of young lady-a figure
just under the middle height, comedy
indeed. and to be mistaken for none
other in the world-even at two hum
dred yards. To his sharp discontinue
his heart Immediately forced upon him
the consciousness Of it's acceleration; a
sudden warmth about his neck made
him aware that he had turned red,
and then, departing, left him pale. For
a panicky moment he thought of fac.
ing about in actual flight he had little
doubt that Lucy would meet him with
no token Of recognition, and all at
once this probability struck him as I'M
endurable. And if she did not speak,
was it the proper part of chivalry to
lift his hat and take the cut bare
headed? Or should the finer gentle
man acquiesce in the lady's desire for
nc further acquaintance, and pass her
with stony mien and eyes constrained
forward? George was young man
badly flustered.
AS they drew nearer George tried to
prepare himself to meet her with some
remnant Of aplomb. He kept his eyes
from looking full at her, and as he
saw her thus close at hand, and COM
ing nearer, a regret that was dunn
founding took possession of him. For
the first time he had the sense of hay
ing lost something of overwhelming inn
pGrtance.
Lucy did not keep to the right
but came straight to meet him, smil-
ing. and with her hand offered to him.
"Why-you-" he stammered, as he
took it. Haven't YOU" What he
meant to say was: Haven't you heard?"
Haven't what?" she asked: and he
saw that Eugene had not told her.
Nothing" he gasped. "May T.
may turn and walk with you little
way?"
Eyes, indeed!" she said cordially.
He would not have altered what had
been done: he was satisfied with all
that-satistied that it was right. and
that his own course was right. But he
began to perceive striking inaccu-
racy in some remarks he had made to
his mother. Now when he had put
matters in such shape that even by
the REIMBURSEMENT of his "ideals of
life" he could not have Lucy, knew
that he never could have her, and
knew that when Eugene told her the
history of yesterday he could not have
a glance or word even friendly from
her-now when he must in good truth
give up all idea of Lucy" he was
amazed that he could have used such
words rs mo particular sacrifice" and
believed them when he said them! She
had looked never in her life so bewitch-
F. ihgly pretty as she did to-day; and as
he walked beside her he was sure that
she was the most exquisite thing in the
world.
"Lucy," he said huskily. II want 10
; tell you something. Something that
matters"
II hope it's lively something, then
:. she said, and laughed. "Papa's been
so glum today he's scarcely spoken te
me. Your Uncle George Anderson
; came to see him an hour ago and the,
shut themselves up in the library, anG
; your uncle looked as glum as papa
I'll be glad if you'll tell me a funn,
story, George"
swell. it may seem one to you" h.
said bitterly. "Just to begin with
: when YOU went away you didn't le
> me know; not even a word-not +;
line"
Her manner persisted in being in
:, consequent. "Why, no." she said. sc
: just trotted off for some visits. Don
YOU remember, George? We'd had ;
l. grand quarrel. and didn't speak t,
each other all the way home from :
long, long drive! So, as we couldn'
Il play together like good children, o
!. course it was plain that we oughtn'
to play at ALL
"Play!' he cried.
: eyes. What mean is that we'd com
o to the point where it was time to qui
l. playirlg-well, what We We're playing.
I AT being lovers, you mean, don
n YOU"
q Something like that" she said light
$ ly. "For US two, playing at bein
lovers was Just the same as playing a
u cross-purposes. had all the pul
e poses, and that gave you all the eros.
q ness; things weren't getting along q
u all. It was absurd"
K swell, have it your own way" h
y said. ut needn't have been absurd"
Z mo, it couldn't help but be-" sh
l. Informed him cheerfnllv "The VIZ