Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-12-18

friend, Hope Ar1nadale"---
docs language fail TO describe herf'
asked Forsyth with quiet irony as Craig
paused abruptly in his description.
ayes, il does--that is, any language
can command. She is very fascinat-
ing
"Ah, sof Alan crnis's hour has struck
them
"You and l won't joke on tho subject,
Victor. I--I-don't think I've ghost
Of chance with Miss Armadale. Every
man at the beach is more or less in love
with her"
"And sheS7
"Weit until you SEQ her. Sine is to
dine with us this evening"
"a formal dinner sighed Forsyth.
"Cfot up in your honor, my philos-
opher. But here is Craig cottage"
turning toward the spaoious Queen Anne
villa that stood in dull red outlines
against the gray sky, with clumps Of
blue hydrangeas massed in the center Of
tho smooth green lawn. at is scarcely
Eve o'clock he added, land l propose
to smuggle you into your quarters and
leave you alone until seven"
Thanks" said Forsyth, adding. 'I
little knew into what vortex l was
plunging. IL is fortunate that have a
dress suit"
"The vortex will do you good" was
the reply. In month those two sig
nifcant lines between your eyebrows
viii have disappeared. No, no, Victor;
it is too soon for us to begin to grow old"
Forsyth found himself established in
chamber overlooking the sea, with
dressing room attached. His cases had
been opened and toilet articles arranged,
his steamer trunk unpacked the con-
tents placed in the wardrobe with sooth-
ing dexterity by an accomplished valet,
and an hour remained to him before he
must dress.
He had not taken this wearisome Jour
ney for the sake of studying dinner cards
and doing thoagTeeable to his next neigh
Dor. He felt bored in advance, and spent
the time wondering how he could con-
trive TO cut short his visit. And as he
sat by the open window listening to the
beat of the waves against tho rocks he
could hear from time to time in the in
tervening silence the thud of tennis
racket, a succession of rapid soprano tx
clamHtions and baritone protests, and
finally the laughter Of the chorus.
For heavens sake" no muttered, "is
this same sort OF thing going on still!
Has Alan kept at itsteadily for the three
past yearsy'
By and by silence fell. The tennis
players had dispersed. 1t was half an
hour before dinner.
Promptly at seven Craig tapped at his |
friends door, and they went together |
through the winding corridors, down |
the broad stairs. The fading summer |
daylight mingled with the soft glow Of |
shaded lamps, and tho damp salt air
made the scent OF burning pine knots
grateful.
"What ore You going TO do with mey'
Forsyth asked.
"You win zee. Ny sister is only .
waiting our appearance to give the sig
nal for dinner
Mrs. Macy, a handsome blond, like
her brother Alan, held out a cordial
hand sparkling with costly rings.
welcome home and to Craig cot
tage Mr.. Forsyth"
"IIow do7 | shall examine Won later.n
from Glare Craig, extending one finger
tip as she glanced with big black ewes /
over her bare shoulders and returned to 1
her companions story.
"Aliss Eliot, permit me-Mr. Forsyth
Forsyth found himself bowling silently
for the third time, with the oppressive
sense of tho necessity Of pulling himself I
together and doing the agreeable.
Miss Eliot ceased moving her fan. |
She wore a oontentcd smile, as though /
life on the whole was very pleasant az |
fair, while in her large blue eyes was a |
Intent wonder as to whether there
might not be In existence some posdbili- |
ties not comprised by dinners and drives
and sails and calls.
The diuner signal was given, and For |
6yth and Miss Eliot were drifting TO 4
their places among the sixteen others |
who assembled around the table with |
tho centerpiece Of ferns, the branching .
silver candlesticlIs, tho thin stemmed !
glasses, and over all tho becoming rose
colored light.
or course, rs the soup in the royal
Woree5ter plates and the ices in The |
cut glass cups eamo and went, thew /
talked about Indian Beach, and then
about Berlin, about uudertows and |
thronerooms, all IN the subduod way Of
people who are bound TO keep up this
sort Of thing, as the resigned dog keeps
up the tread upon the platform which |
Is attached 10 tho churn.
Suddonly--Forsyth had really become
a little interested in his conversation.
Miss Eliot was so calm, 80 unaffected.
30 intelligent - suddenly, therefore,
warming somewhat in his own talk. he !
nat upright and glanced, as he was
speaking, down the table. Craig sat At
the end, and on his left was lady npon
whom Victor Forsyth's intense eyes
rested for Il moment-iust a moment.
from which his whole after lifo bore the
impression. as 1esh bears scar. Tho
Indy was leaning forward speaking 10
some one opposite, Being on the same
side with Forsyth, It was her aide face
that he saw. She had the low Greol,
brow, but no straight Greek line from
eyes to chin Ind ever tho seduction that
lurked in this slight inward curying
tirdnla fha dalgeats, ,,-s.st 81. a t,slst. 10