E greeting of the other young men. And Puss, whose tongue was loosed again,
talked rapidly of entertainments to which Stephen either had not been invited, or from which he had stayed away. The rest of the company
were almost moodily silent. Profoundly depressed, Stephen sat straight in the velvet chair, awaiting a seasonable time to bring his visit to a close. This was to be the last, then, of his intercourse with a warmhearted and lovable people.
This was to be the end of his friendship with this impetuous and generous girl
who had done
so much to brighten his life since he had come to St: Louis. Henceforth this house
would be shut to him, and all others save Mr. Brinsmade's. Presently, in one of the intervals of Miss Russell's feverish talk, he rose to go. Dusk was gathering, and a deep and ominous
silence penetrated
like the shadows into the tall room. No words came to him. Impulsively, almost tearfully, Puss put her hand in his. Then she pressed
it unexpectedly, so that he had to gulp down a lump that was in his throat. Just then a loud cry
was heard from without, the men jumped from their chairs,
and something heavy dropped on the carpet. Some ran to the window, others
to the door. Directly across the street
was the house of Mr. Harmsworth, a noted Union man. One of the
third story windows was open, and out of it was
|
