Corliss. Goin' my way?"
"Miss Welse is." Corliss touched the visor of his cap and half-turned on
his heel.
"Where're you off to?" Dave demanded.
"Got an appointment," he lied.
"Remember," Frona called to him, "you must come and see me."
"Too busy, I'm afraid, just now. Good-by. So long, Dave."
"Jemimy!" Dave remarked, staring after him; "but he's a hustler. Always
busy--with big things, too. Wonder why he didn't go in for dogs?"
CHAPTER XV
But Corliss did go back to see her, and before the day was out. A
little bitter self-communion had not taken long to show him his
childishness. The sting of loss was hard enough, but the thought, now
they could be nothing to each other, that her last impressions of him
should be bad, hurt almost as much, and in a way, even more. And
further, putting all to the side, he was really ashamed. He had
thought that he could have taken such a disappointment more manfully,
especially since in advance he had not been at all sure of his footing.
So he called upon her, walked with her up to the Barracks, and on the
way, with her help, managed to soften the awkwardness which the morning
had left between them. He talked reasonably and meekly, which she
countenanced, and would have apologized roundly had she not prevented
him.
"Not the slightest bit of blame attaches to you," she said.
Pages:
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166