The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-11-07
CHAPTER X

come IN Tor q minute! ] want to
talk to you." Susan turned toward
the parlor and he followed her.
Lets close the door," she said.
They're Ill asleep upstairs" By
the mercy Of providence none Of the
sleepers had been disturbed BY the
opening and closing Of the doors
and the tom-tom Of the storm.
There was not . sound from the
upper regions Of the house.
With the door closed and Allen
standing on the Bokhara rug be-
tween the familiar fireplace and
the old garnet-colored sofa, the
shabby room became another place
Tor Susan. An unreal feeling that
she was in q dream where every.
thing was happening just @ she
had wanted It 70 happen, came over
her. The sound Of the storm out
side and the latensss Of the hour
seemed to shut herself and Allen
away from Ill the rest Of the world.
Il wanted to ask you not to lock
the side door tonight" she said.
"AnnA's gone out to . party, and
just before dinner she called up to
tell me that she's lost her key-the
key 70 the back door. ] told her I'd
zee to II that the side door was left
unlocked for her."
When she finished there was .
little silence broken by the faint
noise Of the fire.
Then Allen spoke. ''Is that all
you wanted to say to met" he asked.
To Susan it was as if he had said.
Us that oil you went to this trouble
for? Did you call me in from
the rain, let me use the Broderick's
sacred front door. bring me in here
and shut the door, simply to tell me
that the maid had lost her key and
wanted the side door left open!
Eyes" she answered after . mo-
ment. II didn't want my uncle to
hear me tell you about it. He's al
ways angry when he has to get up
70 let Anna in. Don't you want
g hang your overcoat over chair?
It's dripping"
He shook his head.
y think the best thing could do
would BE- 70 60 upstairs and get out
Of Ill this wet stuff," he said. But
10 made no move to 60. He stood.
With his wet hat in his hand. looking
ct her.
Susan" he said, using her name
for the 6rst time. "Susan- 10 that
really everything that you wanted
- say3" His voice was very low.
"Yeo,s said Susan and her own
voice went thick in her throat.
She cav him shake his head. and
her heart made an odd and star
cling movement - If it had dropped
IN inch Or two in her breast. There
came IN aehing swelling feeling in
her throat and she was afraid that
che was going 70 cry.
"You toel toward me the way I
fsel toward you. You wanted to talk
3 ne. didn't ycu!-Just - ! want
. talk % you."
susan's threat tightsnsd still
more. you don'@you couldn't, !"
she said. sHow could you know III"
And then shs WAS IN his arms.
She never knew whether he came
closer Or whether she took . tiny
step toward him and into his arms.
but there she was, with her head
pressed back against the shoulder
Of his sodden coat and his wet face
on hers.
~How did l know Il? How do We
know anything?" Allen said to her
presently when they were sitting
close 10 the fire, on the hearthrug,
their arms around each others
shoulders, their faces pressed to-
ssther. II knew I felt this way
about you that first night when you
looked ct me in the mirror upstairs.
] could hardly get myself out Of the
house. ] wanted to stay right up il
that room and find out all about you
whether you were engaged or in
love, or even married. That awful
thought crossed my mind-Susan.
you don't think I'd have stayed in !
house where ! have to use the side
door, like q chauffeur, II / hadn't
fallen for You, do you?"
arm and looked at him. ANY sane
person would tell % that this il In
fatuation pure and simple. Allen.
We've known each other for fifteen
or sixteen days-barely known each
other ct al. We don't know any
thing about each other. We haven't
talked b each other for half IN
hour; oil told-Anyone would tell
% that love just doesn't pop into
being like this, Ill at once"
His arm drew her closer 20 him.
ours did, though. No getting away
from e. And what is there that you
think you ought to know about me!
I've told you that I'm . deputy