Part 29 (2/2)
”You needn't bother! Good-by!”
”But I'll see you again----”
”_Never!_”
”----when you're not so--cross?”
Jeff reached for his stirrup.
”Oh, well! If you're going to be huffy! Never it is, then, by all means!
No--wait! I must give you back your present.”
”I have never given you a present. Some other man, doubtless. You should keep a list!” said Jeff, with bitter and cutting scorn.
The girl turned half away from him and hid her face with trembling hands; her shoulders shook with emotion.
”Look the other way, sir! Turn your head! You shall have your present back and then if you're so anxious to go--Go!”
”Miss Hoffman, I never gave you a present in my life,” Jeff protested.
”You did!” sobbed Ellinor. She turned upon him, stamping her foot. ”You said, when you gave it to me, that you hoped it would bring me good luck. And you've forgotten! _You'd_ better keep a list! Turn your head away, I tell you!” She sank down on the bench.
Confused, mazed, bewildered, Jeff obeyed her.
She sprang to her feet. She was laughing, blus.h.i.+ng, glowing. In her hand was the little gold chain.
”Now, you may look. Hold out your hand, sir!”
Jeff's mind was whirling; he held out his hand. She laid a little gold locket in his palm. It was warm, that little locket.
”I have never seen this locket before in my life!” gasped Jeff.
”Open it!”
He opened it. The little eohippus glared up at him.
”Ellinor!--_Charley Gibson!_”
”Tobe! Jeff!--_Jamie!_”
The little eohippus stared unwinking from the gra.s.s.
THE BEGINNING
_”The Books You Like to Read at the Price You Like to Pay”_
_There Are Two Sides to Everything--_
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