Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1922-07-26

each other In the hallway. She de.
cided at once that she had been too
cordial, too kind, too free. with this
unknown, unpresented man. ==ss 8:
The next time Miss Barton met the
major on the: stairs she merely bowed
and dropped her eyes, Whereat the
major so far forgot himself as to turn
and stare. The major had looked, for
better treatment. The ma or's remem-
brance Of that charming afternoon in:
the restful room, where lived the
woman with sun-fiecked hair and
peach bloom cheeks. was very vivid :
while the majors recollection of the
suitcase episode was growing fainter
every day.
Weeks passed. The little mother
came to number four bringing cheer
and comfort, and sense Of home
but she had not been there two months
before she was summoned to distant
state to see q sick daughter, where
upon the major resumed mis- old habit
of going out for his meals. His neigh
Dor he seldom saw; when he did see
her there were only the grave bow.
and the quickly averted eyes to greet
him. He began to wonder if that de
lightful afternoon in the homelike
room at number three were only
dream after oil.
Did the major forget on that day
just a week after his mother left?-
or was he shamelessly making a
shrewd attempt to find out for GER
tainty whether that afternoon was q
dream or not2 At all events, one
O'Clock and Miss Barton found him
seated on the topmost step of the
stairway.
SIN locked out again." he an
nounced cheerfully, as he rose to his
feet. "And, If you'll believe it, that in
considerable janitOr has gone to Brook
Ign, too.'
Miss Barton raised her head. For an
instant repetition of the invitation
trembled on her lips !; then a certain
exultation in the mans voice, ON eager
expectancy in his eyes, sent swift
suspicion to her mind.
thing on purpose? What il
81 am sorry," she said gravely, and
passed to her. own door.
swell, by Jove-by Jove!" muttered
the major as the door shut her from
view. Then he sat down on the top.
most step and thought.
It was on a pleasant morning not
| long afterwards that Mrs. Todd left
the house to spend the day In shopping.
at ten, dressed in cool gray and white.
Miss Josephine Barton opened the door
| and stepped into the hall. She had
scarcely crossed the threshold when q
gust of wind from the rear blew the
door to with q bang.
MY key!" gasped the lady. her
small teeth seeking her under lip. Then
Il relieved look come into her eyes.
'Never mind-Aunt Emma will be here
long before I get back from larry
town.
| : She took one step forward, then
stopped. She pulled gently, then with
! force, at her gray draperies. With O
| quick indrawing of her breath she
turned and lacked behind her Fully
three inches Of the hem Of her skirt
lay under the close-shut door,:
,"Oh!n she cried softly, and rugged
again. "Oh, OH, what shall L do?''
At that moment came a click across
the hall. Miss: Barton turned right
about face on the instant. She opened
her: purse and began carefully to scru.
,tinize it's contents.
The door across the hall opened and
the major stepped out. There was an
: almost imperceptible pause while he
waited for her recognition. 1t was
then that Miss Barton made her first
mistake. In her anxiety to appear nat
ural and unconcerned she gave, not
the usual cold bow and mute dropping
Of her eyes, but dazzling smile.
Good morning major" she said
brightly. "We must all be improving
this beautiful day, you see."
It was the mans visible start of sur.
prise that opened Miss barton's eyes
She froze instantly.
! Certainly, certainly" beamed the
major; then he caught sight of hes
stern, unsmiling face. Ser certainly
he mumbled, as he turned and hurried
downstairs, wondering the while If II
were his ears or his eyes that were
playing him false this time.
When silence once more reigned II
the hall Miss Barton dropped YEARLY
to her knees, twisted her body about
and brought both hands to bear on the
gray skirt. It was useless.
"tOh, dear! Oh, dear!" moaned Miss
Barton. what can do? can't stay
here all day."
A clatter Of steps from the floor
above brought her painfully to hel
feet !; and again she scrutinized the
contents of her purse. This time "a
tenant from number five passed down
1.-The stairs. -Four times was this repeated
At the end OF an hour she was lean,
ing, white and exhausted, against the
casing when the main door downstairs
banged shut She had just time &c
open. her purse and begin the counting
Of coins that to her seemed already
worn thin By the process, when the
major reached the top Of the stairs.