1895-]
A Study in Human Nature ,
Sercombe stalked out in a rage, and he didn’t think of anything
else until night, but by the time he got aboard the Madison train
his mind had changed somewhat.
He had thought the matter all over. “It will be tough on
both of us, but I will do it. ’ ’ He had resolved to make this his
last visit until after his graduation. “If Igo down occasionally
it will be just as bad. I must cut right off short. If everything
is all right I’ll find it out as soon as lam safely out of here. At
any rate, I know that Nell is all right.” All the faculties of his
reason united to strengthen his purpose, and by the time he
reached Madison he knew what he should do.
A few minutes later he rang the bell. The door opened.
Was it an apparition ? His resolve flew to the four winds. She
had always seemed surpassingly beautiful to him, but tonight she
was divine. She seemed to have all the clear, transcendent love
liness of an angel combined with the vivacity and brilliancy of the
most coveted of earthly idols.
Sercombe had a strong will. He collected his wits and nerved
himself to speak, feeling that after this moment his chance for
liberty would forever be gone. His lips refused to move. “Oh,
for one more hour of heaven,” he thought. “I’ll take a few
minutes. ’ ’
He saw that every minute was adding a thread to a cable already
stronger than he could break, and finally, clenching his fist, he
opened his mouth and forced out the words:
“Nell, lam having some pretty hard work in college. Our
acquaintance has been — We met —”
“ Wasn’t it jolly on the train,” said she, with a rippling, merry
laugh that sent the hot feeling over his cheek and choked his
words. That first neglected opportunity, those few minutes, the
added threads had turned his cable to one of iron; he was lost.
“ Nell, you know my heart. I love you passionately, madly,”
he faltered.
Her head dropped upon his shoulder. “ Oh, Theodore; but we
mustn’t let—”
“Jack! ” she gasped, turning deathly white, and springing away
from him, but Sercombe held her wrist tightly.
The door opened, and in the hall he caught sight of a man,
whose step had already been recognized.
* * * * * * Sfc *
Though, of course, he was hurt by Sercombe’s cutting words