Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-06-18


grave security in her position. Noel
florists box on her knee. Y
"You took the flower last Aight-
will you take these? And I have
something more to say. The House of
the Little Shoes"
He fancied that a trenaor shook her.
She wore q dress Of some thin, pale
yellow fabric, that left bare her
slender young neck and arms. In
that light, she gave the glirnmering
Noel's excited impulse hardened into
deliberate resolution.
THE house is mine" he said Is
calmly as he could. IT built 1t. l told
you yesterday morning that l wanted
to help you win the doll because you
looked like a child who had, been kind
to me. r built the house-and my life
for that child. I was a boy Of the
streets, ar orphan; poor ragged, un-
taught, and wild as a little animal. She
was born to everything delicate and
fine and luxurious: but 1t was stamped
on my mind that she was to be- my
wife. Remember that I had not a
child's mind, never having had a
childhood, a. that worlds taken to
Rosslind Arlof neither turned aside
his eyes nor noved The dim.
ness Of twilight was like q thin veil
between them, blurring sight, yet Noel
! IN her a quivering sympathy
Of excitement. Oh. he had decided
WISELY There could be no Earring
regret when this girl drifted like a
dancing leaf through the rooms made
lovely for Constance. At the worst,
mere could be nothing harsner than
the vague memory OF 2 dream.
eca M had peen reared TO
wealth.. set myself to gain money.
ne slowly continued. That was the
easiest task. ecaus n was dainty
and fastidious, l trained myself out OF
the speech OF my class into the speech
OF hers. learned to dress as would
the men she knew, to carry myself as
tney would, to play the sports they
would play. Because she was pitiiui
and GOOD beyond the custom OF chlia-
rem. l lived Clearly n honestly
with other men and women.
".All this took time. was eleven
years old when I met her: This spring
tell you and to ask her to 90 home
with me; homo, to the house that has
two little shoes carved at its gate. be-
OF her two little shoes tina she
once gave me"
the girl breathed.
Il our that she has married a
year ago"
AFTER a long interval Rosalind
Arloh sighed with an odd patience.
You now her name them" she
Queeroneo.
Yes. That was easily discovered
BY a lew inquiries in the neighbor-
mood OF her home; A family of that
position was well known" i.
.Who was she!"
There was no reason why. he
should not answer h query: After
an instant's consideration Noel did so.
She was Miss Constance Berkeley
Bruce.
Another long pause fell: The girrs
nan It was almost dark now. Noel
knew what he wanted to say: what he
meant to say: but a growing discom-
tort and disbursement gripped him
a n or havink
While he hes1tated the girl began
to speak with a hurried. muffled
vehemence like the beating Of small,
Iuti!e nan against some barrier.
why should you tMnk you io"e
I
tnlnk tnat you would ner.
even: IL n hao oeen what you De.
girl VINO was yours-coulo
sne nave married some n else? You
! all TINS Tor ner: Ihen, II was
not meh aware OF your toiiing, OF
your tnougps pouring out to ner TX
q strong river: II she dld not nave
areams by night tnat smut ner away
from other men by day, II she d1d not
feel you IN me world-tn o have
made a mistake. You do not love a
woman. u an IDEAL"
That is prettily romantic, but it is
naro,y common sense, Noel replied
startled and not pleased by n attack.
"And>1s what you nave felt for her
commcn.sensfole:.
Noel Old not smile at the somewhat
remarkable word: That the substitute
girl should criticize h princess
angered MIN beyond reason. Because
ne meant to raise the dancing girl to
that high place beside him, he gave
her no right to this arrogant judgment
OF the lost Constance. The restraint
he forced upon his voice made his
answer colder than he himself real
lied.
Probably not, In your eyes. Never
theless. pms or idea, I have made
my life a journey toward that image.
Failing to reach. that-and I am not
used to failure--I will not-@eave the
place blank. When saw YOU"
He stopped. dismayed by his pre-
mature frankness In his irritation