Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1924-11-21
CHAPTER X-Continued


ooh, she fascinated him, / think,
from the first. / don't know" Her
voice dropped YEARLY. He'll come
back, and he'll be sorry for this quar-
REL" she added, after silence. And
you'll forgive him. won't you?"
II struck him." the old man repeat
ed somberly. II don't know how ever
came to do thing like that. Yes
yes" he added, sadly. I'VE must make
1t up-my boy and I. l never should
have brought you both here-a man Is
dull about such things Well! Wen
make 1t up and you and he shall start
fresh somewhere"
Dinner, Mrs. Josselyn," said Flor
ence in the doorway, rather timidly,
breaking a few minutes of silence in
the study.
81 think I'll not dine" the old man
began quickly. But Ellen went to him
with smile.
Indeed you'll dinel" she decreed.
"And, Florence, go see If Tommy has
had his dinner. If he has not, tell
Lizzie said he might dine with us.
You'll feel very different" she said
to her father-in-law, as they went to-
ward the dining room, when you've
had some hot soup, and perhaps Gibbs
will come back In time for some cot
fee II
After dinner she and Tommy went
with Josselyn, Senior, into the study,
and even after Tommy was in bed
Ellen ran down again for few friend
ly words of goodnight. She pleaded
a headache as an excuse for going up
stairs almost Immediately after the
little boy, but as matter of fact. 1t
was excitement rather than distress
that made Ellen long for the quiet OF
her own fire tonight.
When Lizzie had gone to bed, Ellen
sat on, thinking. Lizzie came in, to
stand beside the fireplace, and talk to
her. half-shamed. half-shy. but yet
with a certain great happiness in her
face And as Ellen drew from her the
story of the sordid home, the drink
and dirt and laziness. the unwelcome
babies, the lack Of courage, self-con-
troll. kindness. of everything that
make life worth while. she marveled
at the world that could accept Lillian.
and cast Lizzie out as a sinner.
She had book. but she could not
read 1t. Thoughts of the long day
would interpose themselves between
her and the page. She remembered
the quarrel, herself innocently follow
ing Gibbs downstairs, and being ar
rested on the landing by the frighten-
ing, rough voices. How strange they
had sounded, how hideously alarming
this unexplained and sudden animost
ity!
"Now we will go away" Ellen
thought, in deep satisfaction. For
even though Gibbs became reconciled
to his father he would no longer live
in the 'villino deli Orto.' He would
take Ellen and Tommy to some little
apartments sunny kitchen-and the
old hilarious breakfasts
Ten o'clock. Ellen reused herself
from a golden dream, and began to
prepare for bed. She stepped into the
next room for q goodnight look at
Tommy. Lizzie, In the narrow bed
beside his short, square bed. was
asleep. too, her relaxed little sensitive
face wearing a smile as childish as
Tommy's own. Before she got into
her own bed, Ellen put out her lights,
and stood at the window, looking out
at the dark. cold night.
It was sharply clear, the stars shin
ing coldly, Against the bare shrubs
at an angle of the house she could see
the dull green light that filtered from
the bottle-end windows of the study,
and far across the hills there was an
other light the country club, where
Gibbs perhaps had dined Ellen left
a shaded light for him; before the
clock struck eleven she was sound
asleep.
Yet she was too tired and excited
that she had been waking and tossing
long time when slight but definite
sound awakened her. and she sat up
in bed, The night light was still burn
ing, and the fire had been coaxed into
fresh life. 1t was after two O'clock.
Gibbs. still dressed, was sitting star
ing at the Goals.
"Gibbs" she said bewilderedly.
He got up, and as he came to the
side of the bed she saw that his hair
was tossed about in disorder, and his
face strangely pale. The cut on his
forehead looked ugly and swollen, and
his manner was agitated and stern.
Look here. Ellen" he said quickly.
eve get out of here tomorrow morn
ing, do you understand? I'm done with
this house. I'll not stay here an un-
necessary hour, do you see?"
"Why. certainly, dear, I'll go any.
where-whatever you sayi" she said
soothingly. For a few minutes he
stood looking al her giooniiy, then mis-
face softened.
You're good little thing. Ellen |"
he said gruffly The quick tears