The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-11-15
CHAPTER VII.
 The Spell.

A more lonesome youth than Jerry never tramped dtsconsolate moods away. He walked restlessly up and down beside his cheerless4 fire. He reviewed the preceding evening and the day just dead.
 Over and over he resolved to make talk directly about his feelings Then as he imagined the conversation he grew less confident. Her tongue was so unmanagea ble. He could never check her speech, and she most eff fectaul1y stopped his.
 We'll, tomorrow should prove diff ferent, he vowed, and then with em- phattc explosiveness: Dam Tom for appearing, anyhow!''
 He cherished that thought long, for in it lay the unspoken idea of what might have been had Tom not appeared. When he determined to go to bed she appeared calmly smiling.
 Are you possessed with walking sickness
 ''No with a worse nalady"
 Poor boy, can I do anything?"
 You can, but will you?''
 ''Why, Jerry, have I refused to help you out of any difficulty yet?'
 Have been in any that you did mt cause?"
 He could not see her face. The aI- tC1 Oo LO1lS as SI1S dIEo wSIeo IOlu ulI1l nothing of her reaction
 And I was congratulating myself upon actually proving interesting. Jerry, that was a cruel blow"
 Undressing! Oh, you've been in teresting, all right"
 The explosive enunciation he used evoked her gaiety.
 You compliment me with convinc- ing power.''
 "I'm glad something is so indefi- nite Jerry she sighed tantaliz:ngly.
 You should acquire the habit of detailed instance"
 What good would it do? You'd just lauh."
 Would I?" Her eyes opened in mock surprise. "I hadn't realiezd that was so easily amused
 If you aren't I must surely be a comedian"
 She came from the shadows and stood beside the fire while her eyes shone with cloudy splendor.
 You aren't. Jerry. not naturally but as so often happens, emotions make you so. It is sad commentary on us poor morals" she grew serious ly thoughtful; ''but we always become ludicrous when we obey the forces of impulse. When we don't we be- come artificial. wooden
 "In your eyes we all must be a sorry lot.''
 Sorry? No. rather say, Judyesque. We could all be called either Punch or Judy, and the hand what works our strings is so humorous"
 She turned her back to the fire, her hands clasped behind her. Jerry watched the delicate play of thought changed from seriousness to amuse- ment in her face
 Take us, Jerry" she unused. "We owe almost a week of rapid feeling to a black bear and. a whim of our play-selves."
 ''I had better add for completion that I owe that bear a rudge."
 You do?" She kept her lips puck cred in half-injured amusement.
 'fYes, for occasioning me the tumult Of mixed desires" Bruin for yourself. It's more flatter- ing to your vanity"
 But it isn't my vanity, it's my heart
 "oh-h-h!" She prolonged each ex- clama ton into pretended means, stopping as though the weight on her shoulders was crushing.
 Don't ever say such a thing again. Jerry. You've no idea how really awful it sounds"
 He felt that his cheeks must burn black in the heat of his blush.
 'fNot even romance can survive such a blow
 She was not looking at him, and he was unpleasantIy certain that she was laughing at kim. The thought was galvanic. Mingled anger and love warred to produce action. He grew tense.
 Edith, you are laughing at me"
 NO"
 Then what are you doing?"
 Being perfectly quiet.''
 What are you th.nking?"
 Do you really want to know ?"
 She faced him suddenly, and the expression he read ave his pulse a distinct start.
 Yes
 T was thinking she hesitated. wripkling her forehead as though