The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-10-23

the door in Eugene's face.
Then, not moving away, he stool
just inside the door, and noted tina,
the misty Silhouette remained upor
the frosted glass for several moments
as If the forbidden gentleman debated
in his mind what course to pursue
"Let him ring again! George though!
grimly. "Or try the side door-or the
kitchen"
But Eugene made no further at.
tempt; the silhouette disappeared
footsteps could be heard withdrawing
across the floor Of the veranda; and
George, returning to the window in
the reception room," was rewarded
by the sight Of an automobile a n
facturer in baffled retreat, with all
his wooing furs and fineries hooking
him. Observing the heaviness of his
movements as he climbed into the ton
neau,, George INDUCED in a sickish
throat rumble which bore a distant
cousinship to mirth.
He went to the library, and, seat
ing himself beside the table wherein
he had placed the photograph of his
father, picked up a book, and pretend:
ed to be engaged in reading it.
Presently Isabel's b%uoyant step was
heard descending the stairs. She came
into the library, a fur coat over her
arm, ready to put on, and two wells
round her small black hat, her right
hand engaged in buttoning the glove
upon her left; and, as the large room
contained too many pieces Of heavy
furniture, and the inside shutters ex-
cluded most Of the light of day, she
did tnot at nee perceive Georges
presence. Instead, she went to the bay
window ut the end Of the room, which
afforded a view Of the street, and
glanced out expectantly; then bent
her attention upon her glove; after
that, looked out toward the street
again, and turned toward the interior
Of the room.
"Why, George"
She came, leaned over from behind
him, and there was a faint, exquisite
odor as from distant apple blossoms
as she kissed his cheek. "Dear, I
waited lunch almost an hour for you,
but you didn't come! Did you lunch
out somewhere"
"Yes." He did not look UP from the
book.
did you have plenty to eata"
"Yes."
A tinkling bell was audible, and she
moved to the doorway into the hall.
I'm going out driving, dear. L"
She interrupted herself to address the
housemaid, who was passing through
the hall: II think it's Mr.. Morgan,
Mary. Tell him I'll be there at once"
"Yes, ma'am."
Mary returned. "'Twas a peddler,
ma'am."
"Another one?" Isabel said, sur.
prised. II thought you said it was a
peddler when the bell rang a little
while ago." a
mister George said It was, ma'am;
he went to the door," Mary informed
her, disappearing.
"There seem to be a great many Of
them," Isabel unused. "What did
yours want to sell, George2"
HE didn't say"
"You must have cut him off short!"
she laughed; and then, still standing
in the doorway, she noticed the big
silver frame upon the table beside
him. "Gracious, George" she exclaim-
ed. "You have been investing" and
as she came across the Dom for q
closer view, us it's it Lucy?" she
asked half timidly, half archly. But
the next instant she saw whose like
ness was thus set forth in elegiac
splendor-and she was silent, except
for a long, just-audible ooh"
He neither looked up nor moved.
"That was nice of you, Georgia."
she said, in a low voice presently. IT
ought to have had it framed, myself,
when I gave it to you"
He said nothing, and, standing be-
side him, she put her hand gently up
on his shoulder, then as gently with
drew it, and went out of the room.
But she did not go upstairs; he heard
the faint rustic Of her dress in the
hall, and then the sound of her foot
steps In the reception room." After
a time, silence succeeded even these
slight tokens Of her presence; where
upon George ros and went warily in
to the hall, taking care to make no
noise, and he obtained an oblique view
Of her through the open double doors
of the reception ROOM" She was sit
ting In the chair which he had occu-
pied so long; and she was looking
out Of the window expectantly-a lit
tie troubled.
He went back to the library, waited
an interminable half hour, then re-
turned noiselessly to the same position
in the hall, where he could see her.
She was still sitting patiently by the
window.
Waiting for that man. was she?
Well, 1t might be quite a long wait!
And the grim George silently assembled
the stairs to his own room. and began
to pace his suffering floor.