THE SECRET OF LONESOME COVE
Adams, Samuel Hopkins
The Secret of Lonesome Cove By SAMUEL HOPKINS ADAMS (Copyright, 1918, by the Boobs-Merrill Company.) CHAPTER XXI Reward "A ND now," said Blair, "I am still in the dark as to your interest in...
...The breath of her whisper was at his ear...
...You're not very demanding in the matter of returns for your trouble," he remarked...
...Her cheek was pressed to his own...
...Your presence would be the one essential...
...Mine...
...Kent...
...Frank," he called, "come down here...
...You haven't asked me about Sedgwick...
...I didn't know he was here," she panted affrightedly...
...Besides, there was a promise made to Mrs...
...He had beheld against the wide window shade two shadows, which, standing motionless for a moment a few feet apart, had drawn slowly together as by some irresistible magnetism, and suddenly merged into one...
...My dear," she said, "I have waited for you all my life...
...Why, for one thing, I dislike to leave any affair unfinished...
...No...
...she inquired formally, but with quickened breath...
...gibbered Kent...
...C'est conclu...
...Do you realize what it is to live in such uncertainty and longing as I've lived in since you left, to wait and hope and lose hope and hope and wait again for a word that never comes— to eat your heart out with waiting...
...cold little hands that clung as they touched...
...Chester Kent and Marjorie Blair stood face to face...
...Everywhere...
...Ask him," said he heartily, "and see...
...Still she did not speak, but stood, tremulous, her face half panic, half passion...
...It's quite disgustingly wet out here...
...Tiptoeing to the door he threw it open...
...She shrank back a little from the light in his eyes...
...The unintentional eavesdropper nodded in grave gratulation to the house and then turned away...
...he burst out...
...The Secret of Lonesome Cove By SAMUEL HOPKINS ADAMS (Copyright, 1918, by the Boobs-Merrill Company...
...Blair hesitated...
...I—I—I beg your pardon...
...Blair communed with himself for a time, then said abruptly, "By the way, do you think your friend, Mr...
...Why did you never write me...
...It was just that I—I felt I must come back to you as I had come to you first, unexpected and without a word...
...He is cured—and a man—a man," he added meaningly, "for any woman to be proud of...
...Even amid his ill ease he could not but note how the girlish loveliness had ripened and warmed...
...Finished," he said...
...he asked gently...
...He is more than that...
...I suppose not...
...In one of these lulls Kent heard footsteps outside...
...This time Kent looked her in the eye...
...With a muttered apology Kent stepped aside, and she entered...
...Das End...
...It isn't in the market...
...What do you do here...
...She is at Hedgerow house...
...she faltered...
...He took the stairs at a leap and on the landing stopped dead...
...Did any woman ever say 'Boo!' to you suddenly, I wonder " she mused aloud...
...the end...
...Kent," he blurted, "I realize now why you won't take my money...
...Good day...
...Where's your reading matter...
...Chester Kent raised his voice...
...He went forward and took her hands in his...
...What does it matter...
...Out in the wind and rain Chester Kent drew in the deep breath of satisfied and rounded achievement...
...Is he well...
...The footsteps approached the window...
...I don't know...
...Marjorie...
...May the kindly fates give me to be among those present when you fall in love...
...Is she back from Europe...
...Kent favored her with an elaborate bow...
...she remarked sweetly...
...He shouted upstairs to Sedgwick: "Go on with your work, Frank...
...CHAPTER XXI Reward "A ND now," said Blair, "I am still in the dark as to your interest in the matter...
...I couldn't...
...Oh, forgive me...
...But there glinted now in her deep eyes an elfish spirit of mischief...
...I wonder," she said, with a smile, "whether I'm the worse frightened one of us...
...And any or all other words of whatever language meaning a sound conclusion...
...he said very low...
...Finis...
...Unobtrusively Kent slid along the wall, like a shadow, and vanished into the night...
...Don't ask me to explain...
...A slow wonderful smile trembled on her lips...
...Kent's face lighted up...
...Thank you...
...I begin to feel repaid for my visit already...
...You see," he said lamely, "it was so sudden, your—your coming that way...
...His tormentor considered him with malicious eyes...
...Not twice in his life had Sedgwick heard that tone in his friend's voice...
...Or are you calling yourself Mr...
...Marjorie Blair's hand went to her heart...
...asked Kent...
...I will make it up to you, my dear, my dearest...
...I will as soon as I get home...
...I came just to ¦—look at the place...
...No," he said...
...I didn't expect you...
...Chester Kent went back into the house with a glow at his heart...
...quick...
...Sedgwick asked the woman of his love...
...Can you understand...
...A man couldn't...
...Good God...
...He dropped his book...
...The wind alternately shouted profane protests at the window because it couldn't get in, and then fell silent waiting for an answer...
...There was a step on the floor above...
...Where have you been...
...Blair nowadays...
...What a surprise to find you here, Mrs...
...I can always buy brains, but I can't buy the bigger, better thing...
...Telos...
...he whispered...
...Three minutes later Kent was stretched luxuriously on the divan, with the window shade pulled down and the big electric chandelier glowing, immersed in the joyous nonsense of "Rhyme and Reason...
...Feminine wise she built up her self-possession on the ruins of his...
...I've come back...
...Sedgwick, would come over to a pickup dinner before we leave...
...Nowhere...
...I want to loaf and invite my soul for an hour...
...Really," she approved, "you're progressing...
...He caught the scientist's hand in a swift hard grip and strode off down the road...
...And for that reason you intend to bar me from the house...
...Suddenly her arms were around him...
Vol. 7 • December 1915 • No. 12
