Part 19 (2/2)

He freed himself from her hold. ”If I thought you were lying----”

Then, roughly, ”I hate a liar!”

”Oh, but I'm not lying! Honest I'm not! Oh, believe me, and go!--Felix!”

He forbore looking at her. ”Very well,” he said coldly, and started out.

She followed him to the door. ”And don't come back here, will you?

Promise you won't!”

”I shan't come back,” he promised.

”Oh, thank you! Thank you!” Then in tearful appeal, seeing his displeasure, ”Oh, Felix, I love you!” The poignancy of her cry made him relent suddenly, and turn. He put an arm about her, and she clung to him wildly. ”Oh, Felix, trust me! Oh, you're all I've got!”

”But there's something I don't understand about this,” he reminded more kindly.

”I'll explain later. I will! You'll hear from me soon.”

Again he drew away from her. ”Just as you say,”--resentfully.

The front door shut behind him, Clare called up the stairs. ”Tottie!

Tottie!” She listened, a hand pressing her bosom.

”A-a-a-all right!”

Clare did not wait. Running back into the front-parlor, she stood on a chair in the bay-window, and worked at the hook holding the bird-cage.

”Well, precious!” she crooned. ”Missy's little friend! Her darling pet! Her love-bird! How's the sweet baby?” The cage released, she stepped down and hurried across the room.'

”Aunt Clare!”--first the clear, glad cry; next, a head all tumbled curls.

”Barbara!” Clare came short. Then, as Tottie sauntered in, ”Oh, what's this young one doing here?”

Barbara had risen, discarding the doll and the shawl, and gone to Clare. Now, feeling herself rebuffed, she went back to the settee, watching Clare anxiously.

”Waitin' for you,” answered Tottie, taking up her shawl.

”Aunt Clare!” pleaded the child, softly.

”Oh! Oh!” mourned Clare. She set the cage on the table.

Barbara bethought herself of the gift. Out of the sagging pocket of the gingham, she produced the tightly-made bouquet. ”See!” she cried, holding out the flowers with a smile. ”For you, Aunt Clare!”

But Clare brushed them aside, and fetched the child's hat. ”Where's that Colter woman?” she demanded angrily.

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