Miss Gibbie Gault

and again alone. Hedwig had left them, and

he bowl of lilacs to the girl at the head of the table. "I don't see why women p

ded her came down wi

eaten together in s

s her elbows with which the table was thumped. "It is your fault, John! You know I haven't a bit of memory

is fork and pushed back his chair. "Is it hydrophobia

id/ you let me forget?" And now, standing up, Mary Cary looked despairingly first

crime we've committed?" John got

might forgive any sort of sin, but nobody forgives r

ps of sugar in his tea. "I thought you were having a fit, and convulsi

can't have four lumps! You know sweet things don't suit you. We were to take tea with Mrs. Defor

what you've been maki

as the matter." He pu

and took out his watc

were we to

ody has supper at seve

fried chicken. "Terrible in you to forget such a thing as that! Terrible! B

she half rose. "Didn't you forget

f taking tea with people you don't like? No, I didn't forget, and if you'd remembered and made me go, I'd gone. As you didn't, I took the part of wisdom and opened not

t you know what it is going to mean? To-morrow everybody in town will be told of my rude behavior-and the asylum will be blamed for it. Everything I do wrong socially is attributed to my childhood's lack of oppo

d for you. Do you

r. I see very little of her, and she is polit

his hand to bring back the plate Hedwig was removing. "What hav

edwig looked helplessly first at the

the table, and his chin on the back of his hands and looked at the girl in front, whose eye

didn't until you had done so first. You said you'd come with

ion you don't expect a man to run, do you? I always accept, but never go if I can manage to stay away. And I generally manage. It is purely a

eople m

, I don't like Mrs. Deford. She is a friend of mother's and visits her at the blink of an eye. I always have business out of the city when she is at the house. She puts her head on the side when she tal

n olive from a dish near the bowl of lilacs

name of heaven did

mean Mrs. Deford do

he's got a bad memory. Gre

, her eyes like big turquoises

o-night; going to sit at the table with some

nly a glass thimble to put it in, and it's more convenient to have the pitcher by my own side. What were we talking about? Was I going to sit at the table with some one I knew was untruthful? If I didn't I'd eat alone

the way, and the chance of any one's getting it is sufficient cause for her cultivation of friendship. You don't want to know her. It's better to be polite

chair aside, stood waiting for her to lead the way to the library. "I'm going to write her a note to-m

t don't be silly-there are few times in life when an untruth is justified, but

ida

s it seven or eight o'clock? If we will just say, 'Friday or Saturday?' 'Friday or Saturday?' 'Seven or eight?' 'Seven or eight?' over and o

efore she co

right hand at her, the left holding the receiver, she dropped into

talking for the last thirty minutes about our engagement with you, and I wasn't sure of the hour. What's that? I don't wonder you're mad. It is inexcusable, but it was my fault. I'm entirely to blame, and Miss Cary will be distressed to death to hear of our bad behavior. You know how particular she is about things of this kind and nev

ter with that? A microscope couldn't find a microbe of untru

he damp night air Mary shivered slightly, and J

re for you with that t

long warm cape of com

r and lean back in it

to stay? I'll go

look that told of spent energy. There was no fleeting shadow or hint of weariness he was not quick to un

had placed for her, drawing the cape over her shoulders, but leaving her throat open.

h, lighted his cigar, leaned back against th

. What a blessed provision of nature our ears can't catch the things people say about us. I hope our ears

d to her. "John, have you heard from Mr. Van Orm as

blew out a puff of smoke and watched its soft spirals curl upward. "I had

e coming

er than at the girl beside him, and out of his face

g doesn't at all understand how fortunate it is to have his men resurvey the town and get things in shape for the curb

face and suddenly understood. For half a moment she watched him, c

ys he is such

ans

His name is at the very head of his pr

ch

of her hands, she leaned toward him-"do you think M

do

u think as I do." She gave a grea

u m

e crazy in a week if I had to live in the house with a man like that. A straight line is crooked to him and a plumm

. He can't take it in that you won't change your mind. Thinks it's because

al about the kind of man you ought to have for a husband, Mary, but I've ne

is

Maxw

ed. Please go home. And bring me to-morrow those plans of Hay & Hammond for the high-school, will you

and again put the cape around her, picking it up from the floor, where it had fallen from her

ne about ten and see i

n, and, as Hedwig app

e porch until Mr. Max

and with a nod she