The Bienville Democrat. [volume] (Arcadia, Bienville Parish, La.) 1912-1980, 1921-03-24
PART Il-Continued.

been pressed to the glass in an eff0r'
to make him out. AT the corner OF
the Avenue and East Ninth street"
Ten minutes later he drew up his
cab at the appointed spot and reached
back to throw open the door, but kept
his foot on the clutch release, leaving
the gears in mesh, first speed ahead.
All his precautions were in vain
As he opened the cab door his coal
sleeve was seized in very determined
grip and drawn inward catching his
elbow in jiu-jutsu leverage that left
him the HobsOn's choice Of either get
ting out and facing his captor or lis
tening to his arm break. He chose
to get down from his seat quickly.
"Well, Bobby" murmured Miss Var
T.
Mr.. Randolph attempted no evasion
he handed the lady to the curb and
guided her gently toward her own
door and up the high steps. "Madge,'
he said, you fought a great fight to-
night and when you had won you felt
sorry for fremont and surrendered
You were swept too high on the wave
Of the best that is in you. Promise
me that you won't forget that you
have won. Promise ME that you will
wait and take fremont, all of him.
with honor"
"What do you mean? What did
you hear?" cried Miss Van T. angrily
her pale face suddenly flushing.
"From the start of the ride to the
finish l heard every word" declared
Mr.. Randolph frankly, "and more"
"And more!" repeated the hard
pressed girl. "What do you mean by
more?" She still tried to browbeat
him, but remembering one incredibly
long kiss, her eyes fell in the unequal
battle with Bobby's and attempted to
create diversion by staring at his gal
tered legs and heavily booted feet.
'Look up, Madge. Look at me,
said Mr.. Randolph and waited patient.
ly until first her long lashes futtered
and then her lovely eyes swept slowly
up to his face. "That's it," he con.
tinued as their looks met and locked
Lets hold that so we can't lie."
"Why should ! lie If you really heard
everything?" asked Miss Van T, and
suddenly smiled.
"Madge, you little devil" said Mr.
Randolph, suppressing an impulse tc
shake her, lean you think Of what
you've been doing and laugh?"
Eyes, l can, just now" said Miss
Van T., in little gasping phrases that
to man, especially one of Mr.. Ran
dolph's limpid nature, carried only
their face value in words, but which
to any woman would have read as
plainly as the red-weather signal
Look out for showers of tears fol
lowed by storm"
WELL" said Mr.. Randolph solemnly
III you really don't realize just where
you have been, let me tell you. FRS
you flew high into clean air and you
took fremont with you. You were
possessed Of a vision and you made
him see 1t, too, mirage Of those
lifted places that are the altar Of thu
nihd before love. Just mirage, al
Illusion Of perfect happiness, which
cold reason tells us we can't. ever turr
into reinforced concrete and plant II
the yard, but which we must eithel
forever hold as q vision or admit tha
love Is sordid and wingless thing"
Miss Van Tellier's eyes fell from
his frank gaze. Something seemed t
crumple within her; she put her arm.
around Mr.. Randolph's neck, clun,
to him, dropped her face against hi!
shoulder and sobbed, not noisily, bu
as one who weeps to rest.
He held her close to him and wen
on, his face set as though to a duty
''Then what did you do? Because h,
hesitated, merely hesitated at the higl
door Of alteration, you prompt!
slammed 1t and dropped plumb
straight down like that traitor arch
angel Johnny out of heaven into tn
arms Of hell"
Bobby" cried Miss Van T., throw
ing back her head and struggling t,
release herself. How dare you sa,
a thing like thati How dare you b
here, anyway? hate you. / don
know how ever could have though
] loved you. fell, but It was int
Beacher's arms, and / wish was Their
right now" More sobs, convulsiv
ones, that shook the slim body in MI
Randolph's embrace from twitchin
shoulder to tired feet.
Lest the reader be startled by what
coming next It will do well to remin
him that this poignant scene wa
staged ct three o'clock In the mornin
on the high stoop Of the Van Tellie
residence In East Ninth street an
never left tho perimeter Of the door
mat which In itself presented an Al
most feminine contradiction, In tina
It bore, done In red on It's face, tn
word Welcome but was neyeftht
less padlocked and chained to the iro
railing.
Even Is Miss Van Teller was sol
bing her heart out and Mr.. Randolp
was standing IN the bewilderment d
one who knows he has not only take
: the wrong turning but placed both hi
feet III . beartrap, thick. heav.
unsympathetic voice arose from th
foot Of the steps
sHerel YeQsel Break away Il
3 SIk.xs, ~ "a " Y.