The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-07-29

8
Il say there is! Why else would you
be here? Speak up What do you
| want?n
She lowered her gaze, a little star
! tied. Eyes, there is one for whom
would renounce even the Cause, turn
traitor" She flung her arms out TO
him in rush of abandon--"Oh, Dan
iel you know, you know
He loosened her hands from MS
neck.
THAT said he ''is impossible. l
! am engaged to be married"
She recoiled as though he had struck
her. Her foot struck a chair as she
stepped back. She sat down very
slowly. For few moments she seemed
stricken dumb. Then: -
Toto that"
"To her. you saw me with at the
opera"
'sWheng she asked. "When?"
1--WE became engaged last March.
The second of last March,"
1.-THE second of last March" She
repeated the words duly, pressing her
hand to her forehead. "The second Of
last-why, D-Daniel, don't you remem-
Der? That is the day we first met
each other. Don't you remember,
Daniel?" laughing shrilly the
crowds. and how was swept into
your arms. and The speeches you made,
first in the street, and then"
Esther! Esther! Do you realize
where you are? Twelve or fifteen
persons are waiting outside to see me.
and their time and mine means
money"
Her "reminiscences trailed off into
silence.
Money!
Then all at once a terrific change
came over her. She sprang up tiger
ishly, swept the chair aside, rushed
toward the door.
He was there first, however, and
stood with his back against 1t, barring
her way.
"You will not leave this Office" he
declared, until"
"Open that door!"
s--uDlI yOu llSlGu W iGdSOu.
"Open that door, open that door
I'll screamr
"You may go when you've promised
me-"
"Open that door!"
Out of all patience, angry and hui
inflated, he threw the door open, and
saw her run the gaping gauntlet in the
outer office. He closed the door quiet
IL and summoned messenger. His
nostrils were dilated, his face white,
his lower front teeth were locked firm
" over the upper ones. He sat at his
desk, took pad Of telegraph forms
from q drawer, and with a hand as
steady as the mahogany on which it
rested he wrote the following, address
ing it Secret Service" "a dement,
ed woman who imagines she has been
wronged by the Russian ambassador
will arrive in Washington from Chica-
go. Watch all trains for her. She is
slightly built, has dark hair and eyes
and is dressed in black. H. D. E."
Some while after five o'clock Fitz-
hugh sat at the telephone on his locked
desk, his hat on, an unlighted cigar be-
tween his teeth, delivering the custom
airy order for violets. With a final adj
monition to the florist to send nothing
except the best, he hung up" AS he
lighted his cigar and swung out of his
office he met messenger, who hand
"a b;,,, a eo,,oro opvoIopo sFnaI,aSSod
on the back was Zone Thousand Lake
Shore Drive" and it contained very
brief and formal request for an i'm.
mediate call from him at that address.
The chauffeur was waiting with the
car ineAdams street. Fitzhugh settled
back comfortably in the cushioned seat
as the chauffeur picked his way
through the mass of traffic, and all
the cares and worries of that busy day
slipped gratefully from him, leaving
him serene with contentment.
He was received in the library of
Mr.. and Mrs. Otis. There was no sign
of Kathleen: and glance at her pa
rents sufficed to apprise lin he was in
for a disagreeable time. They re.
niained standing after he entered; nor.
was he asked to sit down. Mrs. Otis,
| haughti1y stationed as far from him.
as the large room would permit, had
appointed herself spokeswoman.
sour daughter" said she, lifting a
formidable lorgnette to her eyes and
staring at him as though he were the
garbage man, "has Informed us Of her
unfortunate alliance with you."
He bowed respectfully.
II need hardly say to you"zand her
head raised higher, her hauteur. waxed
stiff-"that you must consider this en-
gagement broken. Furthermore, you
will regard your undermined ac-
quaintance with our daughter as
| though it had never been. All COM
munication with her of whatever ma
ture must cease instantly. That, be-
lieve, is ALL"
If Mrs. Otis had expected to infiict a
shock she triumphed amply. If she
had hoped to witness its manifestation
she was woefully disappointed. The
crash struck it's victim as thunder
bolt; but beyond a sudden tension
that gripped every muscle Of him, he
betrayed never a sign of the impact.
Outwardly he was almost if not quite
as self-possessed as when he entered
the house.
"lfiss Otis-does she know this?"
II