The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1937-05-20

anxiously about the room, even CO.
ing to the door. Returning he seated
himself facing Eleanor. who stood.
one hand resting on the mantel
shelf as she gazed into the fire, and
for the first time he realized that
she wore her outdoor wraps.
She in her turn was trying to
formulate how best to break the
silence.
Would Emery presently say It was
bedtime. and thus the matter end
as it had a dozen times before? She
realized duly that he was winding
his watch, n Of the methodical
preliminaries Of his sleep. Then:
Eleanor, why did you dismiss
the chauffeur. or allow him to be
dismissed"
Because he was drunk!" she an.
swered, startled into brevity, then
added quickly. "How did you know
that we dismissed him."
That "we," stabbed Vance
through and through, though he
would have denied it.
II telephoned the garage, hoping
to secure a car and join you, being
only an hour or so late for supper.
I'm glad now that l could not. The
answer came that no one would
leave the city on Christmas Eve,
with the half sneering addition that
my wife had sent the chauffeur back
from Westchester!"
What did you say?"
THAT if Mrs. Vance had dis.
missed the chauffeur it was for good
and sufficient cause"
Thank you, Emery"
Strangely enough her almost
humble passivity angered him, YET
anger is better. more human, than
habitual querulous Indifference.
at is a most unexpected and dis
agreeable situation. I am willing
to concede that you did not think
| Of the consequences, but, as the
| wife of a man Of my business ION.
nections, it would have been better
to have effected some sort Of a
compromise with the fellow rather
than start possible gossip. I wonder
that barrow was so thoughtless; he
has no excuse, for he knows the
world"
The spark had touched the tow.
"You wonder that Will was so
careless7 What then do you think
Of yourself?"
Myself? I do not understand
you, Eleanor"
Then ! see that I must forge
the meaning into words that often
say too little or too much. Your
wrong is to Will even more than
to me. It is nearly two years now
that, by your indifference to every
thing concerning me. you have led.
nay forced, y,ur aiend into the
unhappy position of falling in love
with your wHe!"
Eleanor"
Eyes. with me, Eleanor Vance!
Tonight the crisis came. Disap-
POINTED beyond expression, and too
tired TO resist the depression Of dis
appointment, coupled with the reck-
lessness Of the drunken chauffeur ]
was driven to the mistake Of tears.
| Will told me that he loved me and
I was glad! It is a long time since
I have heard such words. Stop!
you, above all men, should not
blame him; instead you w him
an apology. You put him in your
place as my protector, my COM
panion, why should he not speak
the words you have forgotten? He
asked nothing. His was a free will
gift!"
Vance, who was growing ashy
white, sat leaning forward, his hands
~clenching the chair arms, his eyes,
over which he had lost power OF
control, fixed on her face.
1.-THE hurt to him is twofold,"
Eleanor continued, "cruel, that ne
has so cold-hearted a friend, and
bitter since his love could only serve
to stir up memories in the woman
that pushed her further from his
reach, and the pain lay with her to
tell him Of his mistake.
when Win cried out to me IN
the dark, I heard his words. but