Show L U T IR EE by david graham fillips auth or 01 the cost the deluge ec copy IWO by bj bod mcanul co alra T continued from dec 21 go ahead with it lie he said ive been thinking it over and talking it over we ve shall need only nine others besides myself and you you represent the ramsay interest lie he equipped nie me with the necessary letters of 0 introduction and sent me forth on a tour of 0 my own st state late when it was ended my combine was formed and I 1 was the combine was master of 0 this political blind pool I 1 had taken the forstthe first the hardest step toward the realization of my dream of leal leaf political power to become an boss not the agent and servant of 0 plutocracy or but using both to further my own purposes and plans I 1 had thus laid out for myself the difficult feat of controlling conti ollins two hery fiery steeds difficult but not impossible if I 1 should develop skill is as a I 1 driver for the skillful skill ful driver has a hand so light that his horses fancy they are goinz going their own road at their own gait t CHAPTER VI miss ramsay revolts the last roebuck had made to me on his as I 1 was sta stalling t on my mission was cantou cant ou and lottie hurry up that marriage of yours you ought to get it over and out of the way when I 1 turned le ie home with my mission accomplished the first I 1 remark emark my i mother made after our greeting was I harvey larvey 1 I aou ou and lottle lottie were goins goin to aarre marry a little sooner A note in her voice made mo me look swiftly at her ter and then without a word I 1 was on my knees my face in her lap and she was v as stroking my head 1 I feel that im going to to your father dear she said I 1 heard and I 1 thought I 1 realized re but I 1 did not who feeling upon him the living hand band of love was ever able to inia imagine ine that hand band other than 1 aline but her ter look of illness of utter exhaustion that I 1 understood and suffered tor for you must rest said 1 I you must sit quiet and be waited on until you are strong again yes I 1 will lest she answered as soon as my boy is settled that very day I 1 wrote cailotto Cai lotta telling her about my matheis mo theis health and asking her to change the date of our wedding to the first week in august then iben just under a month away she telegraphed ms ine to come and talk it il over she was at the station in III her phaeton to meet me we had not driven tar far before I 1 felt and saw that she was v as intensely imitated Inita ted against me As I 1 unburdened my mind of my anxieties about mother sho she listened coldly and I 1 had to wait a long time fline I 1 sol got her answer in a str strained aind olce loice and with averted ekes ees 0 of course im sony your mother well but I 1 cabi cant t set get ready that soon it wa nas not lie ber wards that exasperated me the lightning of speech from rom the storm clouds of anger to clear the air it was her expression never have I 1 known knon anyone could conceL concentrate into brows aa aal 1 eyes ayes and chin and lips lipa more of that sui sullen and aggressive obstinacy which is the climax of patience tic nce in thought at least with refusal has not been one ot of my virtues this refusal of hers his denial of happiness to one who had deserved so much and had deceived so little set temper to working in me ine like a quick poison but I 1 was silent not so much from prudence as from inability to find adequate words 1 I cant do it repeated carlotta and I 1 wont she maak ma it clear that she meant the wont that she was bent upon a quarrel but in my struggle lc to train those of servants and maddest of masters the passions I 1 had got at least far enough away to choose both the tha time and the ground ot of a r 0 so I 1 said very well carlotta then that is settled and with an all air sufficiently deceptive to pass muster lefore before angry eyes I 1 proceeded to talk of indifferent matters As I 1 sat beside her my temper glowering in III the straining leash I 1 leveller levelled level led her conduct and tried to puzzle out its meaning it is clear thought I 1 that she does not care for me ine as people about to marry usually profess to care then does she wish isal to break the engagement that tamed my anger instantly yes I 1 thought onsbe wishes to be flee to free me and as my combine is formed and my career kellad well ad danced in the way of being eliab r kisbi what reason la Is there for try lag ta prevent her from self none for I 1 can easily e explain ap bairt tho the sittia situation tion to mother yes I 1 concluded you can avoid a qua quarrel r rel cat can remain friends with carlotta can ive and get freedom what had changed her I 1 ald lid not klow I 1 did not waste tinie time in sizzling mizz ling I 1 did not tempt tats fate by ashing you are poor she I 1 is rich I 1 reminded myself that makes it impossible tor for you to hosi hos tate you must give her no elcus tor for thinking you lack pride then I 1 reasoned and planned my temper back 1 a its old kennel and peaceful as a sheep that evening I 1 avoided being alono alone with her just as a 1 I was V as debating how to announce anno that I 1 must be leaving by the first train in the morning a telegram cams came from roebuck calling me to chicago at once when we were all going to bed I 1 said to to sirs mrs ramsay 1 I shall see you and ed in the morning but 2 to callotta lotta you dont get up tip so eally eaily ill say goodby good by now this in the friendliest possible way I 1 was conscious of sirs mrs ramsays Ram saya says look ot of wonder and anxiety ot of eds wild stare from carlotta to me aej back again at her she bit her lip III adf and her voice w was as unsteady as sh sha said oil oh no haricy ill be up there was a certain meekness in liar tone which would probably have delighted me had abeen what is usually called masterful when I 1 came down at seven after an unquiet night carlotta was lying in wait for me took me into ali the parlor and shut the door what do da you mean she demanded facing me fill something of her wonted imp ampe piousness rious ness mean Me atIT said I 1 for once feeling no resentment at her manner by leaving this way she explained pla ined with impatience you heard mr roebucks telegram said 1 I you are angry with me she p persisted r i no carlotta said I 1 1 I was but k she was vas waiting at the station in her phaeton to meet me I 1 I 1 am not As soon as I 1 saw what sou aou wished I 1 was grateful not angry what did I 1 wish to let me ine know as gently and as kindly as you could that you proposed to end our engagement and I 1 guess you are right we do not seem to care for each other as we ought if we you misunderstood me she said pale and with flashing eyes and in ia such a struggle le with her emotions hat she could say no more it if I 1 had not seen that only her pride 11 and her vault vanity were engaged in the strai struggle alc ard and her heart not at all I 1 think I 1 should have abandoned my comfortable self deception that my own mide forbade discussion with her Is As it was I 1 was able to say don t try to to spare me carlotta ini im glad iou ou had the courage and the good serse sense not to let us its both drift into irrevocable tolly folly I 1 thank you I 1 opened the door into the hall let us talk no lie more about it we could say to each other only the things that sting or the things that stab let us its be friends you must givs give me your friendship at least I 1 took her hand she looked strangely at me you want me to humble myself to crawl at your feet and beg your pardon said she between her teeth rut but I 1 shant she snatched away her land lan and threw back her head bead 1 I wish nothing hut but what Is best tor for us both said 1 I but let us its not talk or of it now when neither ot of us ua is ia calm you dont care for me sia cried do you love me I 1 rejoined iler her eyes shifted I 1 waited tor for her reply and when it did conte come I 1 sail lee lec us its go to breakfast ill not go in just now she answered ni in a quiet tone a sudden and strange shift front from that ct cf the wa uia ment before and she let me ine take her hand echoing my goodby good by and kaaa no further attempt to detain tae me 1 to be continued |