The Argosy, Volume XLIV — page 282: what you’re looking at

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

218 how, and she had no doubt that this lost brother was the head of Mrs. Pomeroy’s iamiuly. Mrs. Pomeroy was not heeding the genealogy of the Pomeroys to any ‘areat extent. Eler eyes were fastened on two figures that were strolling slowly along the paths, and gradually disappearing in the direction of a grove where the twilight shadows were falling. “ Lover’s Lane, eh?” she said grimly to herself. “Perhaps vou think | havent tramped over this place again an’ again in the winter time, when it was shet up. an’ don’t know every inch of it by heart! Lover’s Lane runs right catawampus acrost that grove, an’ when a woman gits my boy out there to make a fool o’ him, his mother’s goin’ to be on hand!” And when thcre was a break in the conversation, Mrs. Pomeroy rose smi- lingly. “1’m sorry to leave,” she said, “ but it’s gettin’ late, an’ T must go an’ hunt up that sono mune. Maybe you'll come over an’ spen’ the day with me some- time, an’ well talk over the Pomeroys since the year one.” And Mrs. Pomeroy went down the broad steps and out along the path, wearing a smiling face for the benefit of the hotel people she met. “Now, the Lord forgive me for lvin’,” she said to herself beneath the smile, “but I aint goin’ to let nobody know.” Lover’s Late was shrouded in such deep shadows that she hesitated a mo- ment about plunging into it; and as she paused, looking around, she saw a man hastening across the grounds from a earriage which had just driven up to the side gate. “e ello, Lightwood,” called another man, going to meet him. “Miss the train? ” “Yes.” he growled. acroxs—confounded anvthing o’ mv wife: “Had to drive nulsanee. Seen 99 Mrs. “Pomeroy plunged wildly into Lover’s Lane and almost ran along it until her eyes, grown accustomed -to the darkness, fell upon two figures, one of them clad in white, sitting on a bench im the shadows. The old wouan had .moved very rere gle THE ARGOSY. quietly over the soft earth. The white- clad figure was speaking. ‘Oh, no, don’t say that to me!” she was murmuring pensively. “ You shouldn’t, you know—and besides, | know very well that you don’t mean it —you couldn't mean it. What is there about me——” . ‘ Robert,” said the composed voice of an old woman, which caused two violent starts, “it is time for us to be goin’ home. I see Mr. Lightwood has come —his wife will be wantin’ to be with him.” Mrs. Lightwood gave a little scream, and began to hurry along Lover’s Lance, but the others were close behind her. At the mouth of the Lane they met Mr. Lightwood, studiously polite. Before he could utter a word Mrs. Pomeroy held out her hand to Mrs. Lightwood and said blandlyv: “Well, good-by, Mis’ Lightwood. Robert an’ me takes it mighty kind of you to show us aroun’ an’ be nice to two country people like us. An’ I’m so elad your husband come, after all. I hate to see people disappointed like that.” She caught Robert's arm and dragged him away; but it was one of those eve- nings when sounds carry far. “Trying to get another man to make a fool of himself, eh, Ethel?” asked Mr. Lightwood in a nasty tone. And then she laughed, slowly and wearily, not at all childishly. ‘Qh, well—one must amuse oneself somehow,” she said. * * * * Mrs. Pomeroy and Robert drove home in utter silence, and all the next morning passed in silence as well. But in the afternoon Mrs. Pomeroy saw with a quaking heart that Robert was putting Sultan into the shafts of the buggy. When the last strap was buckled he came in, and merely touched her smooth hair with his hand in passing. She had never taught Robert to be demonstrative, and this light touch on her hair made her heart leap. “ Mother.” he said, turning at the door, but not meeting her eyes, “ I am going to take Milhe out driving—and I’m—ves, I’m going to see if I can’t get CONMUC OOO|KS (GO) awa