River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1920-01-01
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He went to the library, and, seat.
ing himself beside the table whereon
he had placed the photograph of his
father, picked up book, and pretend
ed to be engaged in reading 1t.
Presently Isabel's buoyant step was
heard descending the stairs. She came
into the library, 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.
Guided most of the light of day, she
did mot at once perceive Georges
presence Instead, she went to the bay
window at the end of the room, which
afforded a view of the street, anc
glanced out expectantly; then ben
her attention upon her glove; afte
that, looked out toward the stree.
again, and turned toward the interior
of the room.
'Why, Georgie"
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 somewhereW
"Yes." He did not look up from the
book.
"Did you have plenty to eat?"
Eyes"
A tinkling bell was audible, and she
moved to the doorway into the hall.
"Pm going out driving. dear. +"
She interrupted herself to address the
housemaid, who was passing through
the hall: 81 think it's Mr.. Morgan,
Mary. Tell him I'll be there at once"
'Yes, ma'am."
Mary returned. "'Twas a peddler,
a'am."
"Another one?" Isabel said, sur
prised. 81 thought you said it was a
peddler when the bell rang little
while ago.
Mister George said it was, ma'am !;
lie went to the door," Mary informed
aer, disappearing.
'There seem to be a great many of
.hem," Isabel mused what did
yours want to sell, George?"
'He didn't say"
'You must have cut him off short y
she laughed; and then, still standing
in the doorway, she noticed the big
silver frame upon the table beside
him. Gracious, Georgiel" she exclaim-
ed "You have been investingp and
as she came across the room for a
closer view, rs 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 "Oh!"
He neither looked up nor moved.
"That was nice of you, George"
she said, in low voice presently. II
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 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
in the hall, where he could see hee.
She was still sitting patiently by ths
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
heard, and George Amberson's voice,
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 unconscious of the watchful
presence above them.
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