Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-10-06

She only looked at him. a lifting
and dropping Of her heavy lashes, then
turning followed the mulatto woman
please go down to the fire. shall
be back soon," Mrs. Mendall said TO
MacAllister. ~.
She studied keenly the girl who pre-
ceded her. There was nothing girl
ish about her. She was as tall as the
average woman, and extraordinarily
it was difficult to tell just what the
contour of her face would be if 1t had
the usual fitness of youth; not a
small-featured face, certainly, and
with the breadth between the eyes ex-
aggerated. Her eyes were noticeable.
light eyes, that because Of their wide.
heavily-fringed lids, looked sleepy.
She looked as a yellow-fever on
valescent might, Mrs. Mendall
thought, hollow-cheeked. lips color
less, and skin jaundiced.
ahce she was impressive. When they
came into the bedroom, she walked
directly t the bed and began I'M
fastening her coat. She showed no in
terest in her surroundings or in Mrs
Mendall. The gesture she made to
the mulatto was regal: Here" she
said. indicating the valise and point
ing to her feet. Mrs. 'Mendall heard
her voice for the first time; it was de-
liberate. and enriched with a minor
quality, a sort of thick resonance.
She spoke with a decided accent.
The woman obeyed her, though she
showed the whites Of her eyes in q
rolling glance.
IT hope there is everything here
you need?" Mrs. Mendall asked, maxi
ing an effort to be at ease. r
"Yes-Madane-I have my bag.
There is everything in it."
you speak both Spanish and
French. of course" Mrs. Mendau re-
marked.
"Oui, Madame" ~
and Spanish I do not know at all.
Perhaps you will teach it to me-"
With pleasure, Madame. But you
will be better without my Spanish-it
is-patois," she returned cornposedly.
Mexican Spanish, you nlean?"
Yes
She had u%nfastened her coat, but
stood without any motion to remove
it, her eyes fixed in a sort OF sleepy
intentness on her questioner. It oc-
CURED suddenly to Mrs. Mendall that
the girl was waiting for her to go and
she turned at once
rs there nothing I can do for you
something for your cough. perhaps }"
she asked from the door. jul.
"Eo, Madame-there Is nothing"
III you should need anything in the
night, my room is on the floor below.
You must not hesitate to call me. And
please sleep just as late as you like
in the morning"
II shall remember"
Good night, then, and I hope you
Will sleep we'll"
Thank you, Madame"
Mrs. Mendall went out, closing the
door softly behind her, Is one will in
leaving an oppressive presence. Her
hand scarcely left the knob when the
key was turned in the lock: the girl
must have fairly leapt to the door to
have reached it in that brief moment,
and Mrs. MendAll had the chill feel
ing that. under any circuni-
stances could she cone any. nearer to
the girl on the other side Of the door.
When MacAllister had hrst talked to
would be the case,
The big mulatto woman who had
scutfled out before her doomed now In
the doorway OF her Am she
goin' ter stay here long?." she asked
in the rich tones of her people.
For some little time. probably,
Lucy"
The woman retreated into her pom.
She done nm her place, then, may.
be-" Mrs. Menedau heard her NUT
ter.
Mrs. Mendall sighed as she went
downstairs. Time would show
whether she had undertaken an isn-
possibility.