Connecticut western news., 1922-08-24

as he jerked some ejaculation across the table.
 Corvet leaned over to the frosted window, as he had done when alone, and looked out. Spearman shot com- ment which made Corvet vince and draw back from the window; then Spearman rose. Corvet looked up at him once and asked a question, to which Spearman replied with a snap of the burnt match down on the table; 1; he turned abruptly and strode from the room. Coryet sat motionless.
 The revulsion to self-control, some times even to apology, which ordina- rily followed COrvet's bursts of irrita- tion had not come Co him; his agita- tiOn plainly had increased. He pushed from him his upeaten luncheon and got up slowly. He went out to the coat room, where the attendant hand ed him his coat and hat.
 He winced as he stepped out into the smarting, blinding swirl of sleet, but his shrinking was not physical; 1t was mental, the unconscious reaction to some thought the storm called up. The hour was barely four o'clock, but so dark was 1t with the storm that the shop windows were lit motorcars, slipping and skidding up the broad boulevard, with headlights burning, Kept their signals clattering con- stantly to warn other drivers blinded by the snow. The sleet-swept side walks were almost deserted; here or there. before hotel or one of the shops, limousine came to the curb, and the passengers dashed swiftly across the walk to shelter.
 Corvet turned northward along Michigan avenue, facing into the gale. The sleet beat upon his face and lodged in the folds of his clothing without his needing 1t.
 He continued to go north. He had not seemed, in the beginning, to have made conscious choice of this direc- ton; but now he was following it pur- posely. He stopped once at shop which sold mems things to make tel ephone call. He asked for Miss Sher- Till when the number answered; but he did not wish to speak to her, he said; he wanted merely to be sure she would be there if he stopped' in to see her in half an hour. Then-north again. He crossed the bridge. Now, fifteen minutes later; he came in sight of the lake once more.
 Great houses, tbe. SherriEI house among them, here face the Drive, the bridle path, the strip of park, and the wide stone esplanade which edges the lake. Covert crossed to this espla- made. He did not stop at the Sherrill house or look toward 1t, but went on fully a quarter of a mile beyond 1t; then he came back, and with an oddly strained and queer expression and at titude, he stood staring out into the lake. ,',
 Suddenly he turned. Constance Sherrill, seeing him from a window of her home, had caught cape about her and run out to him.
 Uncle Benny!" she hailed him with the affectiOnate name she had used with her fathers partner since she was a baby. Uncle Benny, aren't you coming i'm" ...., .
 "Yes," he said vaguely. "Yes, of course" He made no move but re mained staring at her. "Conniew he exclaimed suddenly, with strange re- proach to himself in his tone. Con nie! Dear little Conniet"
 "Why?" she asked him "Uncle Benny, what's the matter?"
 "Has Spearman been here todayT he asked, not looking at her.
 'To see father?'
 'No; to see you"
 "No."
 He seized her wrist. Don't see him, when he comes!7 he commanded.
 "Uncle Bennyp
 Don't, see himr" Corvet repeated. He's asked you to marry him, hasn't he?
 Connie could not refuse the answer. "Yes."
 And you2"
 "Why-why, Uncle Benny, haven't answered him yet"
 ."Then don't-don't, do you under stand, Connie?"
 She hesitated, frightened for him. "Pll-I'n tell you before I see him, if you want me to, Uncle Benny" she granted.
 But if you shouldn't be able to tell me then, Connie; If you shouldn't want to then?" The humility of his look perplexed her; if he had been any other man-any man except Uncle Benny-she would have thought some shameful and terrifying threat hung over him; but he broke off sharply. q must go home" he said uncertainty. "I must go home; then I'll come back. Connie, you won't give him an answer till I come back, will you?"
 "NO" He got her DrOmica half