Amnesiacs -- Fiction; New York (State) -- Social life and customs -- Fiction; Trials -- Fiction; Young women -- Fiction
"Well, he's a comic supplement,"--Dunce snapped his teeth viciously,
"he's a--an Egyptian obelisk," raged the boy, "and I'd like to cut some
more hieroglyphics on him."
So the two sat in the little roadster, arrested in their impulsive
pampered lives by one of the greatest laws that has ever been laid on
humanity, the Law of Obedience, incoherent in their inner warrings of
hurt pride, they tried to sustain each other. Dunstan's awkward arm
went once around Minga's little red-clad figure; he strove in a callow
way to be tender, but only for a moment.
For a tempestuous Minga stood up straight in the car.
"For Heaven's sa-sake," she demanded with a slight sob, "For Heaven's
sake,"--gulp--"what do you think this is, Dunce Bogart, one of
those petting parties? Do you think I'm a park lady or one of those
Sunday-school picnic vamps?"
Dunce looked sheepishly determined. "You remember what I said that
first night," he said solemnly, "that I'd kiss you again--and
better--that's what you'll--you'll feel, some day."
To her disdainful silence he went on, "Well, I haven't yet, but I'm
going to; you wait." He wagged his head.
But there was a little distressed quiver in her voice, and the
essential manhood in Dunstan answered it with gentleness. He himself
rose and the two climbed soberly down out of the car. Through the great
trees they saw the cathedral moonlight still silvering all the world
and the sleep and quiet, the majesty of the night, touched them. They
saw depths of life that they had never fathomed; depths that saddened
and frightened them. Together they softly closed the garage doors,
together they entered the dark house and crept slowly up-stairs.
"Good-night, Minga," said Dunstan softly. "Do you care that--that I was
there----" The boy looked solemnly at her.
The girl, pausing at the door of her room, lifted her head and looked
at him. "You were the only decent person on the whole trip," she said
softly. She put her hand in his; it was cold and little. Dunstan,
wondering, felt it tremble.
When a boy goes to bed remembering a girl's trembling hand does he ever
ask himself who made that hand tremble, or does he always feel sure
that it was he who stirred the young life to quivering?
CHAPTER XI
TERMS
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account