United States or Mexico ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"Please God it may be so." They walked slowly homewards to The Bow in the clear warm dark of the midsummer-night. They had much to say to each other, and often they lingered on the way. They lingered again when they came to the gate by the paddock in the lane. Aileen looked towards the house. A light was burning in Mrs. Champney's room. "I'm afraid Mrs. Champney must be much worse.
It did not exactly please him that Champney seemed relieved, and appeared to accept him as a bona fide stranger who could not possibly interfere with any confidential relations that he might have with Miss Sally. Nevertheless, he met the Englishman's offer to accompany him with polite gratitude, and they left the house together. In less than an hour they returned.
"I've got to go, Champ; she wants me." Champney seized him with a strong hand by the suspenders. "Here, hold on! Who, you gump?" "The girl le' me go." But Champney gripped him fast. "No, you don't, Roman; let her yell." "Ro man zo-o-o-o!" The range of this peremptory call was two octaves at least. "By gum she's up to something, and Tave won't stand any more fooling le' me go!"
"Sit down then." She motioned to a chair; but Octavius shook his head. "I can say all I've got to say standing; it ain't much, but it's to the point." Mrs. Champney removed her glasses and swung them leisurely back and forth on their gold chain. "Well, to the point, then." He felt the challenge implied in her words and accepted it.
He had not seen Champney since they parted in the cemetery six weeks before. "Yes! I I thought I'd like to have a little talk with you, Courtland," said Champney. He hesitated a moment before the proffered chair, and then added, with a cautious glance towards the street, "Hadn't we better go inside?" "As you like. But you'll find it wofully hot.
Champney answered shortly, "and neither could you if your eyes weren't blinded by your infatuation for him." Aileen rolled up her work deliberately. If the time had come for open war to be declared between the two on Champney Googe's account, it was best to fight the decisive battle now, before seeing him again. She rose and stood by the window. "What do you mean, Mrs. Champney?"
That afternoon at the station, Octavius Buzzby met him on the platform. "Mr. Buzzby, is there any truth in the rumor I heard, as I came to the train, that Mrs. Champney has had a stroke?" The face of Champ-au-Haut's factotum worked strangely before he made answer. "Yes, she's had a slight shock.
If Miss Sally was really a a distracting element to contiguous man, it was certainly something to be considered in a matter of business of which she would take a managerial part. It was true that Champney had said she was "not that sort of girl," but this was the testimony of one who was clearly under her influence. He entered the house through the open French window. The parlor was deserted.
She tossed back her braid and stamped her foot to emphasize her words: "Why didn't yer come, Romanzo Caukins, when I cried ter yer!" "'Coz I couldn't; he wouldn't let me." He spoke anxiously, making signs towards the shed. But Aileen ignored them; ignored, also, the fact that any one was present besides her slave. Champney answered for himself.
Aileen kept her secret, and all the more closely because she was realizing that Champney Googe was far from indifferent to her. At first, the knowledge of the miracle of love, that was wrought so suddenly as she thought, sufficed to fill her heart with continual joy. But, shortly, that was modified by the awakening longing that Champney should return her love.
Word Of The Day