The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-11-01

again, and turned toward the interior
of II 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, |
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 eatT"
"Yes."
a tinkling bell was audible. and she
moved 10 the doorway into the hall.
I'm going out driving. dear. L"
She interrupted herself to address the
houSemaid, who was passing through
Mary. Tell him I'll be there AT once"
Yes, ma'am.'
Mary returned. Twas a peddlcr.
ma am"
Another one:" Isabel said, sur
prised. ~ thought you said it WAS
peddler when the bell rang little
while ago
Mister George said il was, maam:
he went to the door" Mary informed
her, disappearing
There seem to be Il great many of
them" Isabel unused. what did
yours want 10 sell, GeOrge?"
"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 room for a
closer view. as it's it Lucy?" she
the next instant she saw whose like
ness was thus set forth in elegiac
splendor-and she was silent except
for a long, juSt-audibIe "Oh."
He neither looked up nor moved.
THAT was nice of you. George"
she said, in low voice presently. 81
ought to have had it framed myself,
when 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 il, and went out Of the room.
But she did not 90 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
time. silence succeeded even these
slight tokens of her presence: where
upon George rose 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
i'm the hall. where he could see her.
She was still sitting patiently by the
window.
Waiting for that man. was She?
Well. it might be quite long wait
And the grim George silently assembled
the stairs TO his own room. and began
to pace his suffering floor.
| He left his door open, however. and
when he heard the front door bell
ring, by and by, he went half way
down the stairs and stood to listen.
He was not much afraid that Nor
gan would return, but he wished to
make sure.
Mary appeared in the hall below
him. but, after a glance toward the
front of the house, turned back, and
withdrew. Evidently Isabel had gone
to the door Then murmur was
quick and serious: 81 want to talk
TO you, Isabel and another
murmur: then Isabel and her brother
passed the foot of the broad, dark
stairway. but did not look up. and
remained uncOnS 'ious of the watchful
presence above them.
For time all that George could
hear was the indiStinct sound of his
uncle's voice: what he was saying
could not lie surmised. though the
troubled brotherliness of his tone was
evident He seemed To be explaining
something nj considerable length, and
there were moments when he paused,
and George guessed that his mother
was speaking. but her voice must have
been very low. for it was entirely in
audible to him.
Suddenly he did hear her. Through
the heavy doors her Outcry came,
clear and loud:
"Oh, nor
1t was a cry of protest. as if some
thing her brother told her must be un-
true. or, if it were true, the fact he
stated must be undOne; and it was a
sound of sheer pain.
Another sound of pain, close 10
George. followed ii; this was vehe-
ment smiling which broke out lust
above him. and, looking up. he saw
Fanny Minafer on the landing. lean
ing over the banisters and applying
her handkerchief to her eyes and
nose.
81 can guess what that was about, -
| Shn U-hiSppred huSEilv 0Ua,S ;,e,