The Salamander

surprising moments of the night. From her pillow the flushed clock-face of the Metropolitan Tower came bulging into the room. She watched it with a contented numbness of the senses, striving to fo

ominion. She drew her arm under the pillow ... and her embrace was tightening about his neck again. She felt herself caught, rudely imprisoned, struggling-

es of nature will decide

imes roughly it had repelled her to great distances. This abrupt disorder which she could call forth with a tone of her voice, a quick lingering glance or a certain reclining languor, had excited her curiosity. There was a certain mental exhilaration in it, the cruel teasing of the feline, playing with its prey. It gave her an excited sense of power ... that was all. The slightest acquiring advance

a light word would have seemed a sacrilege. She waited, irritated and nervous, until her

problem, encircling it, trying it from a hundred points of view. What did it mean? Was her liberty, her freedom of action suddenly jeopardized? And the thought of this overpowering new force made her violentl

. But he had not stayed-and she had not allowed him to return. She said it to herself victoriously ... il

again would she be so vulnerable.... It had been the unknown-the thing

ully attractive force over her will and her vanity, but the other ... the Massingale who had

nged to see him again, to have the dragging night end, to awaken to the morning and to hear his coming,... to go hurriedly with him out of the discor

er. Instead, she projected herself into this submission, and her imagination, volatile as a dream, whisked her from one fancy to another. She imagined what it would be like to fill a feverish letter, each night after he had gone, with all the tender, passionate, jealous, or yearning fancies that he had left tumultuously stirring in he

year out-was it possible? Could she resign herself? No more excitement, no more gambling with opportunity, no more dramatizing herself to each new situation, no more luring and evasion, no more sporting with du

nstantly, bending forward, listening. She had heard a sob, muffled but unmistakable, from

go," she said to her in a

or, and opening it quietly

asked a frig

rd you," she said, gropin

wer, buried itself face down in the co

ndeavoring to calm her, wonde

ustn't!" she said helplessly. "Winona

ittle animal sound of sorrow. Between Salamanders real confidences are rare. What did she know of this life which only a wall divid

row!" And as the girl, buried in her pillow, continued to struggle against the sobs, she shook h

the use!" exclaimed the girl, twisting in the bed

't throw awa

I'll give up. I'll go back!" She continued, repeating herself endlessly, beating the pillow with her fist; and as she abandoned herself to despair, old errors of speech, forgotten

u mean? Bac

her throat, si

you t

engaged herself bruskly, sitting up, twisting her fingers i

y-he-what d

a favorable incident, exaggerated the

s Zeller! He's crazy to steal you! You'll see! Everyth

onvinced, grasping at straws. They remained talking deeply of difficulties and discour

to talk out everything-tell me ever

resisting, ans

now! Some d

er effort. She dre

quiet you," s

strange sensation came to Doré at the touch of the body clinging to her, these unseen arms so tenaciously taut: it seemed to her almo

stop a

I can sleep," said the g

n. Back in her bed, huddling under the covers, she recalled Winona with a feeling of horror. To lose one's courage like

all," she said, thinking of W

eam that had come to her in an uncomprehended moment, of submitti

finding different answers. At times she let herself go deliciously, stretching out her arms, conjuring up that first penetrating embrace. At others, fiercely aroused, she resisted him wit

and no calm. What there was, was all disorder, and the insistent drumming

t the faded blue of the carpet. She was about to spring to them when she perceived Snyder watching her. She contained herself with a violent effort, waiting, with eyes that were averted not to betray their eagerness, until they were brought to her. She was certain that he had written, and somet

fairy godmother?" said Snyder. "S

aggerated pang of disappointment, she had an affectionate inclination to the e

to be a

pe

r that boy; I

letter after midnight, from his club. It would come in the late morning mail. Or perhaps he had preferred to telephone. It must be that! Of course, that was the explanation. He wished to hear her voice, as she longed for his, and then they would take rendezv

in the least. When anything was offered, her invariable tactics were to accept-provisionally. For her tactics were simple, but formed on the basic strategy of the Salamanders: acceptance that raises hopes, then an excuse that brings tan

to come to him girlish, without artifice. She felt so gaily elated that she turned tenderly toward the happiness of others. Winona would sleep un

ever shown me," she sa

spring. Inside was the fac

ou

es

y! What's

et

r, looking at the uncomp

e is

my m

going to tak

ev

s half woman, half girl, who continually perplexed

turned, as if the conversation were distasteful. "C

only that Snyder was divorced-a child, a broken home. Yet persons often divorced for the absurdest reasons; perhaps it ha

e a f

ha

Betty; bri

ch that she came near pus

ly-you wa

ot? I adore

her, surprised at the e

py!" she thought, and taking courage,

but, despite the obje

sband. Are you sure it couldn't be pat

t-it's ended!" said Snyder, s

ly as

to talk!" Snyder broke in,

?" said Do

o her swiftly, with an appealing look,

her finger a

ast is ready

nd you; you hurt me!" sai

cking and unlocking her hand

got my rut!" She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm

her side. She took her in her arms,

ible shake of her head, her body stiff against

any minute, now, certainly he must summon her. Snyder made an excuse and went out. But she ceased

This sensation of suspense and waiting, which she had so often dealt out to others, was new to her. It disarranged her whole self, aroused fierce resentful thoughts in her.

Blood," she said all at once, choking wi

she went hurriedly to Ida Summers' r