Argosy, Vol. 117, No. 2 — page 130: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

280 The picture stayed in, did not leap forward, but was not in any way a second thought. There was a photograph of Amalfi and an Italian courtyard with all the dirt and charm of the eternal festa—even the pig, the two-wheeled cart, and the shrine be- neath the eaves. “What a charming bit,’ murmured Mr. Carpenter. He turned to the table, which was bare —and bare tables were not being worn in that day—to see some books of interesting binding with interesting contents. Then he saw the book shelves, which were of tactful height and in appearance lowered the ceiling and made the room less a well. ‘““T see you’ve been inspecting my room,”’ he heard from the doorway. ‘‘ How are you, Mr. Carpenter?”’ “And you?” he answered. ‘ Yes, I have been guilty of looking about. Really a delightful, small place, you have. To be frank, I did not know that your tastes ran in these directions. But—how is your mother?” Frances’s eyes filled with tears. “ She’s awfully sick,” she said unsteadily, “ aw- fully!” : Philip Carpenter forgot resolves. He acted on impulse for perhaps the first time since he had thrown his milk bottle from his crib. ‘ Don’t cry, my dear,” he whis- pered. ‘“‘ How I wish I could help you.” He caught her hand after he had spoken and held it closely. ‘‘ My dear!”’ he ended. Frances looked startled. She tried, gently, to disengage her hand. = “ You’ve been ever so kind to me,” she said quickly. ‘“‘ I appreciate it lots. Those flowers were beautiful. I wanted you to see them, but I don’t know where they are. I told Annie to bring them in here, but I guess she forgot.”’ Philip Carpenter was still looking down at the four-and-a-half-foot maiden, who was uncomfortably aware of a tightly held hand. His eyes were unusually human, and hungeringly so. “Do you know why I’ve been good to you?” he asked in a tense, short way. Frances shifted her weight and looked wildly around. “Isn’t it cold!” she said, but Philip paid no heed. 2 THE ARGOSY. “Do you know why I have?” Frances did know. The knowledge had been forced, and unpleasantly forced, on her consciousness; but, like all other wo- men, confronted with the question she knew was to come, she shook her head. ‘““T am greatly attracted to you,” said Philip. ‘ Your nature I believe to be one of sweetness; your manner is intensely ap- pealing, in short, 7 admire you exceedingly.” Philip Carpenter stopped. The room he had found to grow extremely warm. He had to mop his forehead with a mono- grammed handkerchief. Then something snapped, and his voice grew rough. For a moment he was an average man. “T love you damnably,” he said. “ It —this thing—has upset me for all of the summer and fall and winter, and—and—”’ He stopped. “Won’t you sit down,” said Frances, in a flustered way. Philip sat suddenly. ‘“ Well?” he interrogated, after a silence of some duration. “Tm sorry,” said Frances, who stared at the fire. “T don’t see why you say that,” he answered irritably. ‘“ You'll marry me. I’ve decided that.” ‘Have you?” she said, in a weak, little voice. Philip Carpenter moved quickly. . He felt — unduly annoyed. “As I was saying,” said Philip, “I have - been greatly attracted to you. Your man- ner, your sweet personality, in short, all of you. I have pondered, searched my soul, and pondering and searching have I found love!” Frances looked very ill at ease. “ Really?” she answered after a moment in .conversational tone. “ Did you expect to find it? Do you feel it coming on, like Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, or does it ap- pear suddenly, like a boil?” Philip frowned. “I had hoped,” he said sternly, “ not to have to tell you how it, as you call it, feels. I had hoped—” “That I was in love with you?” she ended for him, with the first laugh she had laughed for some days. ‘‘ Why, really, Philip, I haven't thought of it. I suppose love is largely a quality of imagination, and AAMC NOLOLKS (C@ (C@)