Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-11-22


conversation at the moment was not
brisk. and Joanna could hear every
word. For an instant. indeed, his pres
ence OF mind failed him. and he cast an
appalled, glance round the table. But
then be bent TO his task. Mrs. Galan-
tine" he murmured swee:ly, conf
dentially, ''pray-pray beware Of becom-
ing potatoF
The lady dropped her knife and fork
with chatter. How horridl A potato.
Mr.. wibberleyi What do you mean'
"What | say" he answered, simply.
You see my plate! 1t is picture, Mrs.
Galantine You have there the manly
beef, and the feminine peas, so young. so
tender And the potatol The potato is
the confidante 1t is insipid. Do you not
agree with meY"
bravo Mr.. Wibberleyl But am 10
apply your parablef she asked sharply
gancing across the table with Ter fork
uplifted. and pea upon it. Am to be
the potatof"
"rhe choice is with you" he replied
CALAMITY. shall it be the potatoi or
the peast
Mrs. Burton Smith, seeing him so alb
sor bed in his companion, grew puzzled.
LOON as Oiltn as SUI Ultknl NJ bhAuUd,
she saw no sign Of jealousy or sel.-con-
seriousness in the girls face. Joanna
seemed to be getting on perfectly with
her partner, to be enjoying herself to the
full, And as much interested as any one at
table Mrs. Burton Smith sighed, if the
truth be known. She had the instinct of
matchmaking. And she saw clearly now
that there was nothing between the two;
4 Il. -.
at Temple Rothley neither of the young
people had put out a hand-or a heart
beyond recovery.
But this success of Wibberleys with
Mrs. Galantine had its consequences
After the ladies had Withdrawn he grew
lust a little presumptuouS Bysill-uck.
too. the Hon. Nereker May had reached
that period OF the evening when India
as seen through the glasses of his mem
ory-was accustomed to put on its rosiest
tints. and the two facing one another fell
to debating on a subject of which the re-
turned civilian had seen much and
thought little. and the private secretary
had read more and thought not at all.
They were, therefore, about on
par as TO information. and what
the Younger man lacked of obstin-
acy he made up by readiness. 1t
was in vain the a bob clustered. asserted,
contradicted-fn finally grew sulky, silent,
stertorous Wibberley pushed his little
triumph, and soon, as we shall see, paid
dearly for it.
1t happened that he was the last to en-
ter the drawing room. The evening was
chilly. The ladies had grouped them
selves about the fire, protected from as
sault, so to speak, by a couple of gypsy
tables bearing shaded lamps Tae in
corners. one by one. passed through these
outworks-all but Wibberie5. He cast a
glance of comic despair at Joanna who
was by the fireplace in the heart
Of the CITADEL and then. resigning him |
self TO separation. he took low clair by |
one OF the tables. and began indolently |
TO turn over the books which lay on tine |
latter There were but half dozen. He
scanned them all, and then his eyes fell |
on bracelet lying by them ON the olive
green plush, a sketchy gold bracelet, |
with one big boss-Joanna's
He looked up at the party-himself sit
ting little aside. as we have said-with |
a stealthy glance There were none OF /
them facing his way. They were discuss
inc a photograph on the over-man-
tel UuDlDkTdpu u NAAAdA0A " Il
He stretched his hand out
softly and covered the bracelet He would
take it for a pattern, and tomorrow
Joanna should ransom it He tri ed, as
his fingers closed on it, to catch her eye.
He would have liked to see her face
change and her color rise It would have
added to the faint charm he felt in the
boyish, foolish act he was committing If
she had been privy to it-yet unable to
prevent it.
But she would not look, and he was
obliged TO be content with his plumber.
He slid the gold trifie deity under the
fringe of the table and clasped it round
his arm mot a very lusty one-thrusting
it as high as it would go. that no move
nent OF his shirt-cuf might disclose IT.
He had keen sense of the ridiculous,
aud be would not for all the world that
any one besides Joanna should know OF
the act; that doddering old fossil May,
for Instance. who howav-S VA safe