Part 6 (2/2)
”I can't work while you are here, dear; return for me at six--no,” she corrected, struck by a sudden thought, ”at six-thirty.”
”Let me wait for you, dearest,” he pleaded.
She waggled a playful finger at him.
”Good-by until later.”
”Until six-thirty, cruel one.”
”Yes.”
”There is so much to be said, Gertrude dear.”
”To-night.”
He left her lingeringly. They tried to cover up their fervent, low-voiced farewells with pa.s.sive faces, but after he had departed her every feature was lyric.
Juliet might have looked like that when her love was young.
Mr. Barker arrived, but she met him diffidently, even shamefacedly.
Before she could explain he launched forth:
”I'm sorry, kiddo, but we'll have to make it to-morrow night for that ride of ourn. That party I was tellin' you about is goin' to get busy on that big deal, and I gotta do a lot of signin' up to-night.”
Fate had carved a way for her with gentle hand.
”That's all right, Mr. Barker; just don't you feel badly about it.” She felt a gush of sympathy for him; for all humanity.
”You understand, kiddo, don't you? A feller's got to stick to business as much as pleasure, and we'll hit the high places to-morrow night, all right, all right. You're the cla.s.siest doll I've met yet.”
She swallowed her distaste.
”That's the right idea, Mr. Barker; business appointments are always important.”
”I'll see you to-morrow mornin', and we'll fix up some swell party.”
”Good night, Mr. Barker.”
”So long, honey.”
Directly after he departed Miss Ethyl bade her good night in cold, cracky tones.
”The goin's-on in this parlor don't make it no place for a minister's daughter, Miss Gertie Sprunt.”
”Then you ought to be glad your father's a policeman,” retorted her friend, graciously. ”Good night, dearie.”
She hummed as she put her table in order. At each footstep down the marble corridor her pulse quickened; she placed her cheeks in her hands, vise-fas.h.i.+on, to feel of their unnatural heat. When Mr. Chase finally came they met shyly and with certain restraint. Whispering together like diffident children, they went out, their hands lightly touching.
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