Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-28

drawing up her young inquire placed her
hands independently ON her hips.
Its not half bad, is it?''
"No." with slow doubtfulness that
ended in sigh Of content.
"And it's aesthetic from the front
door to the attic Windows" continued
Marian, with an egregious self satisfac-
ton that was contagious. II selected
everything myself and kept the Philis-
tines from leaving their trail upon the
place. But the fun of it is that the peo-
pie in the other houses don't know what
to make Of me. I've always come yelled
and rushed. in and out quickly. want
them to think me q horrid woman,
thoroughly undesirable.
"And why, pray:" asked Mrs. Vent
nor drowsily.
$50 they won't force their acquaint-
snce upon me. I've come to escape peo-
pie. I don't want to love my neighbor. s"
II dare say they ara all very ordina-
~, have never been of their native
heath-no breadth Of vision, probably!
II can fancy their faces if they
CHANGED upon you with cigarette and
one Of Zola'sp' And Marian held up her
hands as she drew off her gloves.
Fancy people living who take the
trouble to object to such things! 1t must
be great bother to have principles. +"
And as Mrs. Ventnor swept around to
examine piece Of dim tapestry on the
wall she gave an unctuous sigh.
II don't know how you feel, Marian,
darling, but I'm hungry. Do insinuate
dinner upon the table. hope you have
something fit to eat!''
II promise you sweetbread Del
couldn't improve ON. For your sake
searched far and near until found q
good cook. Come along and dress
Marian passed her arm round her
companions ample waist, and SO for
the first time they went up the stairs
together.
A little later Mrs. ventnor was strug-
Cling into q close fitting bodice of bro
cade and jet.
what nonsense to dress, and We all
alone in this wilderness, but Marian is
fanciful creature. SO fond of effect"
Her large. lazy eyes, with little pouch
es under them, indicating years and
high living. glanced complacently around
the beautiful room. What could be more
inviting than the wood fire keeping off
the March chill, the sheepskin rug, the
gray Grape hangings embroidered with
green butterflies, the heap of novels on
the little Chippendale desk that mir
rOred the flame in its polished wood?
Marian had forgotten nothing.
"How long will this fancy last?' che
thought as she busted her chin with rice
powder. Its silly of me. But it's
sheer madness ON Marian's part
She paused to rub little black cos
metic to the rim Of her heavy lids, and
then stepped back to observe the effect.
with her beauty and youth, to bury
herself like this! She has queer streak
in her. This is March. Ten to one we'll
DO on an ocean steamer in July. Monte
Carlo after this experiment will possess
the refreshing qualities of o Roman
punch in the middle Of o heavy dinner T"
A white hand drew the gray green
portiere at the door aside, and Marian
stepped in.
She was supremely lovely in dead
white draperies. No stiff bodice hid the
beauty Of her bust, around which she
had tightly wrapped a Grape scarf heavy
with silver embroidery, and from this
to her feet the sheer, crinkled stuff fell
down in folds that might fittingly have
covered the limbs Of q goddess. White
throat and arms were bare Of jewels,
but a diamond star burned in the dusky
masses of her hair.
| There was something strange, almost
repellant, in her beauty. Her mouth
was both scornful and laughing, the up