Part 24 (1/2)

”Where his papa had sent him for a more cosmopolitan knowledge of life than Louisville could afford,” supplemented Alexina gaily.

”And where he wrote verses to a little dressmaker across the hall,”

said William.

”Verses?” said Alexina. ”Did he write verses? I never heard about the verses.”

”No?” said the son; ”hasn't he ever written verses to you? Well, since I've opened the way to it, I was leading up to it all the while, why _I have_. I'll show 'em to you. I've had 'em in my pocket waiting the opportunity three days now.” Which was true. He had been going for them that first day.

He produced a small card photograph, somewhat faded, which, taken in Alexina's hand, showed her a little girl's serious face, with short-cropped hair.

”She had a nice, straight little nose, anyhow,” said Alexina approvingly, studying the card.

”Turn it over,” said William Leroy. He had a way of commanding people.

Some day Alexina intended warring with him about it, but she turned it over now. The lines inscribed on its reverse were in a round and laboured script that, despite effort, staggered down hill.

”I wrote 'em,” said w.i.l.l.y Leroy, ”moi--myself, with gulped-down tears at leaving you. I've never written any since.”

She was reading them.

”Out loud,” he commanded.

She read them aloud. She was laughing, but she was blus.h.i.+ng absurdly, too.

”This is Alexina and she Is a girl but she Plays like I tell her and she Cried because we had to come away And this is Alexina.”

”He thinks, your son does,” said Alexina, addressing herself to the Captain, ”that he was a precocious person, whereas he was only--”

”Young,” said the Captain.

”Lamentably egotistical,” said Alexina.

”Give it to me,” said w.i.l.l.y, ”my picture and my feelings thereon.”

”No,” said the girl; ”I want it.”

”Yes.” He said it with the King William air. She made a little mouth, but gave him the card, which he put back in his wallet and the wallet into his pocket. ”You're welcome to a copy of the lines,” he said.

Alexina, bestowing on him a glance of lofty disdain, departed, high-headed, into the house.

But he ran after her and stooped, that he might look into her face; was he laughing at her?

”Oh,” she said, and wheeled upon him, but had to laugh too, such was the high glee behind the sweet gravity on William Leroy's countenance.

Glee there was, yet, too, something else in the dark eyes laughing at her, something unconsciously warm and caressing.

The girl ran quickly up-stairs.