"
Sunday went by, and Tuesday, the day of the sale, came with a return of
the east wind and a cold downpour of rain. The Colonel and Billy were
busy late in the day; Mrs. Ann was tired; while John in some pain was
silent at dinner. The carriage took the Colonel and his wife to the hall.
He was now quiet and answered curtly the too frequent questions about how
he felt.
"We will send back for you, Leila," said her aunt.
"No, I want to walk there with John."
The Captain looked up surprised, "Why, yes, with pleasure."
She came down in her rain-cloak. "Take a large umbrella, John. How it
blows!"
As they set off in the face of a rain-whipped wind, he said, "Take my
arm, Leila--the other side--the sound arm."
"You were in pain at dinner, John."
"It is my familiar devil, the east wind, but don't talk of it."
She understood him, and returned, "I will not if you don't wish me to
talk of it. Where have you been all these uneasy days?"
"Oh, at the mills. Uncle refuses to speak of business and I am trying to
understand the situation--some one must."
"I see--you must explain it all to me later."
"I will. One of the mill men of my Corps needed help. I have asked Tom to
see him. How depressed Mr. Rivers seems. Gracious, how it rains!"
"Yes, he is at his worst.
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