Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-12-15


someone told me he was only twenty
SIX years old. He looked rather
younger"
'.You think some one told YOU"
Noble groaned. "Oh, Julia, Julia
And here 1t is all down in black and
white, in my pocketl"
II haven't the slightest idea wha.
you're talking about" Julia's tone
was cold. and she drew herself up
haughtily, though the gesture was IL.
effective, so far as Noble was c,n-
cerned, in the darkness of the CULVER
ing interior, The quivering stopped
just then. however, as the taxicab
halted before her house.
"Will you come in with me mo-.
ment, please?" Julia said as she got
out. ''There are some things / want
to ask you-and I'm sure papa hasn't
come home from downtown yet.
There's no light In the front part of
the house."
There was no light in any other
part of the house, either as they dis
covered after abandoning the bell for
an excursion to the rear. THAT'S dis
heartening to hungry person." Julia
remarked; and then remembered that
she had key to the front door in
her parse. She opened the door, and
lighted hall luster while Noble
brought In her bags from the steps
where the taxicab driver had left
them. 80
There's nobody at home at ALL"
Julia said. thoughtfully.
NO. Nobody" her sad companion
agreed. shaking his head. NOBODY at
all, Julia. Nobody al ALL" Rousing
himself, he went back for the golf
tools, and with lingering gentleness
set them in a corner. Then. dumbly,
he turned to 60
wait, please" said Julia. II want
to ask you few things especially
about what you've got all down in
black and white in your pocket. WIN
you shut the door, IL you please, and
go into the library and turn on the
lights and wait there while l look
over the house and see If can find
why It's all closed up like this.
Its chilly. The furnace seems to
be off," she said. "Ill--" But instead
of declaring her intentions. she enact
ed them; taking match from the lit
tie white porcelain trough on the man.
telpiece and striking II on the heel OF
her glittering shoe. Then she knelt
before the CRATE and set the flame to
excelsior beneath the kindling and
coal ''You mustn't freze," she said,
with thoughtful kindness that killed
him.
said. when she came back. II suppose
/ might as well take off my furs,
though" She did So first unfasten-
Ing the great bouquet she wore and
tossing 1t upon a table. Noble was
standing close to the table, but moved
away from 1t hurriedly. This revulsion
she failed to notice; and she went on
to explain, as she dropped her cloak
and stole upon chair. "Papa's gone
away for at least a week. He's taken
his ulster 1t doesn't make any diff
ferences what the weather Is, he never
wears his ulster In this town. but
when he's going away for week, or
longer. he always takes 1t with him,
except In summer"
81 suppose" said Noble huskily, 81
suppose you'll go to some Of your
aunts or brothers or cousins or some
thing"
no" she said. my trunk may
come up from the station almost any
time, and If close the house they'll
take 1t back. The servants are hav-
ing holiday, not expecting me
back"
"You needn't bother about that
Julia. I'll look after It."
"HowY
II could sit on the porch till II
came" he said. "Td tell 'em you
wanted 'em to leave It." He paused
painfully. 81 could wait out on the
porch with 1t, to see that 1t was safe,
until you came back tomorrow morn
ling"
She looked full at him, and he plain
lively endured the examination.
"Noblew She had undoubtedly a
moments shame that any creature
should come to such a pass for her
sake. what lovely nonsensew she
said; and sat upon stool before the
cracking fire. do sit down, Noble
unless your dinner will be waiting for
you at homer
mo-" he murmured. "They never
wait for me. Don't you want me to
look after your trunkT
mot by sitting up all night with It
on the porch" she said. ''Fm going
to stay here myself. I'm not going
out; I don't want to see any Of the
family tonight"
II thought you said you were hum
cry"
81 am; but there's enough In the
pantry. / looked"
"Well. II you don't want to see any
Of EN-" he suggested, "and they know
your fathers away and think the house