Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 146 No. 4 — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

A NEW GIRL IN TOWN, “ That’s not my fault,’ he said. “Perhaps I was too hasty,” murmured Diantha. “Oh, do you mean that?” he cried, all his heart in his voice. “You mustn’t stop!” she said. ready you are beginning to shiver!” “I’m not. It won’t do me any harm.” “IT must go,” she said with a sort of bustle of preparation, but not making any actual move. “Don’t go!” he implored. It was sweet to her. ‘ But it’s too ab- surd—like this—people are staring at us— you'll catch cold—” “Til gever get another chance to speak to you,” he said desperately. “I know what we can do!”’ she said sud- denly. “The colonel has coats hanging in the coat room. I'll get you one.” “Oh, will you?” he cried, beaming with happiness. “ Run up and down till I get back,” she flung over her shoulder. She darted across the road. To her dismay the footman was in the hall again. She had forgotten about him. He was greatly astonished to see her enter. e—{Oh, Mathews!” she said instantly, without thought. ‘‘ There’s a poor man out- side on the corner shivering with the cold! I’m going to give him one of the colonel’s old coats!”’ She ran into the coat room. “ Good Heavens, what a glib liar I am!” she thought. When she came out with the coat “e Al- Mathews said: ‘“ Shall I take it to him, miss?” ““ No, I want the pleasure of handing it to him myself.” “ Hadn’t I better go with you?” “Nonsense! There are plenty of people in the street. I’m perfectly safe. You stay here.” He could not go counter to her direct command, but it was with a very disapprov- ing air that he let her out. Diantha raced back to the corner. Ran- met her on the other ee and she sd other disconcerted and smiling. It was a momieit-of jesteat aeaneae out aln first word destroyed it, 8 “ You said you were sorry you turned me away,” he said eagerly. — ee She nodded. aD .e- “Then you have thought over what I told _ you?” ; Diantha drew away from him. “ Noli No! No!” she said. ‘ You were wrong! — Every new day proves to me how wrong ~ you were!”’ . He looked away from her sullenly. A” wretched feeling of constraint divided them. “Oh, dear!” wailed Diantha, “ Why — must we begin to quarrel as soon as we open > our mouths?” ‘You won’t face things!” he muttered. ‘‘ Why should we face things that force us to quarrel? Here we are! Such a fantastic sort of meeting! We ought to carry it off fantastically; not bother with reality. Think what a clever scene it would be in a play!” It was impossible for him to hold anger against her. He loved her so! “ But I’m not clever!” he said with his — crooked smile. te ‘“‘ Well, neither am I!” said Diantha. They laughed and felt better. = “Why do you run every night?” she — asked. “You have seen me before?” ‘Yes, three nights now.” “ You think I’m a fool to do it?” “Oh, no! I think it’s fine! It changes my whole opinion of you. I’d like” She stopped, blushing. He could not speak for pleasure. But his eyes were eloquent. S “T have a confession to make,” Diantha | said impulsively. “I came out on purpose ~ to meet you—I wanted to tell you—that I felt differently.” | , His eyes shone with joy. “Did you? Did you?” he said breathleae SE fe: b wonderful of you!” ‘a His joy confused her siribiakc The light died out taf his fa ee. “D guess Bs ; 7? Be