Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-20
II TWICE AMERICAN
By Elee*er M. I1sr1. ) Aaa1sr If From The ca Ba1i~d''


-4-- ------
Would he, Noel, have missed Rosa
linde
The name BROUGHT him back to the
immediate present. Rosalind .
sent him this news. Why: The an.
swer came with the questfon-peeause
she believed that he loved Constance
and Constance was free.
Noel dropped the paper and turn
Cd his face away from the light. His
heart leaped up, laughing. Now.
he could slay the very ghost Of that
ugly word substitute which had !caus-
ed her to drive him from her presence
With blasting acorn and anger. For
Censta1ee was free, yet he would 60
to RQaalind,
Milo Valdez was discreetly convers.
ing with the nurse, but he turned
back Mt his chiefs first word.
Il viii riae now" declared Noel.
The face of Milo remained troubled
and ApprehenAive. ;.
"Yes, Dom David" he murmured'
"only,SI am obliged to say that-that
clesed."
"Qiossd"
Senior, there Is no one there.
called an hour ago to express our &C
acknowledgements, and to say you were
ne injured BY your removal. No one
This was an unexpected calamity.
Not at home. The idea was nons9hse,
In view Of the invalid around whom
the household life was conferred. Nc
doubt Rosalind was out, at her work,
and the old Abel did not answer the
bell. Well,.Abel would open to him,
afternoon. Nile" he slowly directed,
I'm the meantime, / will call on Miss
Arloh-and find her"
The doubt did not lift from valdex'i
expression, but he said no more. The
nurse was dismissed on Benito'a COM
ing.
1t seemed to Noel that life ran
strong within him; a racing current
approaching the two outlets Of his ole
deeire9. After he vas up and dressed
however, he found himself compelled
to rest for a time in an armchair. HI
was more shaken and weaker than he
had believed possible.
A visit from the doctor, delayed him
a second time, so it was afternoon
when Noel finally descended to the
street. Milo Valdez accompanied
him, chiefly because Noel found i
easier to take that gentleman than te
induce hin to stay at home. Hi
presence was no hindfance; Noe
would leave his secretary to wait in
the limousine at Rosalind's door
Meanwhile, the support Of. his ARR
was not unwelcome.
The drive steadied and refreshed
Noel, instead of firing him. Wher
they reached the dingy house in ths
dull street, he nodded q brief fare
we'll to Valdez and went up the steps
with quite hts usual bearing.
The card marked "Vasili Arloff'
was no longer/over the bell in the
hall. Noel . unreasonably startled
by its disappearance. The door re.
manned shut, though he had rung Thu
bell ana ascended the stairs to knock
repeatedly. Foreboding crept celdlS
to his side.
After moments of indecision, hi
tried the door. 1t opened at a touch
and showed him emptiness! He
faced a bare, unfurnished room.
For . space, he was bewildered tt
been i'll and the sheck was great
But by and by pain and understand,
ing drew out of the xist. hand In
hand. twin sisters. she had, then
meant her fiery assertion that she
never would marry him, and because
she had read resolution in his face
she had fed beyond his finding. She
had not sent him to Constance Ian.
caster in n generosity, but In indif,
ference; at most, In pity.
David Noel had been very sure OF
himself, with the arrogant, yet par.
donable sureness Of a man who ha,
Oy0AMfAM nsNA~AHa $oA~s liz -r>-A %>-
that arrogance was "A garment hang
ing in rags about him. |as he stood,
man rejected, and thrust out the gate
The dancing girl would have none o.
him! She would not have him, mol
his gifts, nor Mis- feet upon he
threshold. She had withdrawn her
self like an empress offended.
The sun was low. Its level rays sho'
across the vacant room and into tn,
room beyond. Surely something gilt
tered there! The golden ray hae
found some echoing brightness not
part OF vacant walls. Was it a thiRl
forgotten Prompted by the vasu,
relief Of any action, Noel walked
across the dusty Aoor.
v The French doll, Anitra, sat on tn,
mantel-shelf in all her fnery, with
perpetual smile on her bisque lips and
her bisque arms extended straight be,
fore her.
contaminated! That was Noel's f,rs'
bitter thought. To bitterness, sue
ceeded anger; to anger a slow, over.
whelming grief. He turned away ant
leaned against the uncurtained wiz
dow frame, seeing not the ding,
houses on the opposite side Of the
street, but a white villa set in gar
dams ahnV0 q hIi,o aoo-N 1,tl1, fI,a,
was empty. Empty as never before
since the dream that was & hope ne
lenger dwelt there! III
Down In the limousine, Milo Waldo;
smoked innumerable cigarettes sazins
at the afternoon sky AMI fretting will
the passage Of each n%ion,eEt. Evi
IDENTIFY Dom David had found tile
beauty at home, he unused. Eeins
himself in love with at least three
fades simultaneously. t,ilo was al
sympathy and interest; bu. also hi
watched with growing anxiety the ap.
preach Of the hour for sailing. Hi,
Ldelicacy of going in after Noel, yet
time pressed, and for people in love
time does not exist.
He watched the door; he paced tn,
sidewalk, looking frequently at hi.
watch as the moments passed. HI
would wait until the last possible mo.
ment, to wait longer than that, he do.
cided. would be to fail in duty.
His delicacy and sympathy almos1
detained him too long. He had no,
counted upon the delay caused BY hi.
receiving no answer to his ring 81
knock. When he finally resolved up.
on opening the door of the apart
ment, he had no time for observation
Of the room he 2entered.
Dom David" me cried with
anxiety, the boat sails in forty Ave
minutes. We must drive fast. I beg
OF you to hasten.I
Noel turned from the window. lift.