The Press., 1893-02-16

the smooth green lawn. It IS scarceIy five o'clock" he added, "and propose to smuggle you into your quarters and leave you alone until seven."
 'sThanks," said Forsyth, adding. Il little knew into what vortex I was plunging. It is fortunate that have dress suit"
 ''The vortex will do you good was the reply. s'In B month those two sig nificant lines between your eyebrows will 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. weariso1ne jour- ney for the sake of studying dinner cards and doing the agreeable to his next neigh bor. 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 the rocks he could hear from time to time in the in tervening silence the thud of a tennis racket, a succession of rapid soprano ex- clamations and baritone protests. and finally the laughter of the chorus.
 "For heavens sake," he muttered, lis this same sort of thing going on still? Has Alan kept at it steadily for the three past years?"
 By and by silence fell. The tennis players had dispersed. It was half an hour before dinner.
 Promptly at seven Craig tapped at his through the winding corridors, down the broad stairs. The fading summer daylight mingled with the soft glow of shaded lamps, and the damp salt air made the scent of burning pine knots grateful.
 "What are you going to do with me?'' Forsyth asked.
 "You will see. My. sister is only waiting our appearance to give the sig nal for dinner
 Mrs. Macy, a handsome blond, like her brother Alan, held out 8 cordial hand sparkling with costly rings.
 "Welcome' home and to Craig cot tage, MT. Forsyth
 "How do? shall examine you later, from Clare. Craig, extending one finger tip as she glanced with big black eyes over her bare shoulders and returned to her companions story.
 Miss Eliot, permit me-Mr. Forsyth. ; Forsyth found himself lowing silently for the third time, with the oppressive sense of the necessity of pulling himself together and doing the agreeable. Miss Eliot ceased moving her fan. She wore contented smile, as though life on the whole was very pleasant af- fair, while in her large blue eyes was a latent wonder as to whether there might not besin existence some possibili- l ties not compassed by dinners and drives 1 and sails and calls.
 The dinner signal was given, and For syth and Miss Eliot were drifting tc their places among the sixteen others who assembled around the table with the centerpiece of ferns, the branching silver candlesticks, the thin stemmed glasses, and over all the becoming rose colored light. | Of course, as the soup ill the royal Worcester plates and the ices in the cut glass cups came and went, they talked about Indian Beach, and ther about Berlin, about undertows anG l thronerooms, all in the subdued way o1 l people who are bound to keep up this sort of thing, as the resigned dog keeps up the tread upon the platform whicf is attached to the churn.
 Suddenly-F Forsyth had really become little interested in his conversation Miss Eliot was so calm. so unaffected so intelligent - suddenly, therefore warming somewhat in his own talk, ht sat upright and glanced, as he wa. speaking, down the table. Craig sat al the end, and on his left was lady upo1 whom Victor Forsyth's intense eye. from which his whole after life bore tho impression, as flesh bears scar. Int lady was leaning forward speaking tt some one opposite. Being on the same side with Forsyth, it was her side face that he saw. She had the low Greel brow, but no straight Greek line iron eyes to chin had ever the seduction tha lurked in this slight inward curvins profile, the delicate, spirited nostrils, tha babyish mouth, the protruding chin, thu swelling throat, the bare shoulders Her dress was of the simplest-sof creamy silkagathered about her form al if to merely drape it. She wore nt jewels or ornaments; her dark brow1 hair was twisted to conform to the shape of her head. fringy ring or two strayine upon her forehead, curling against the ! w1,ito nara oP har ,,oclz