Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1901-12-27

For vivid, frank enjoyment there
were few faces TO compare with one
girlish one-a little flushed, with shin
ing blue eyes and soft curly brown hair
clustering about 1t.
She was a little country mouse, hav-
ing Il peep at the enchanted fairyland
OF London. and at her pleasure the
grave face Of her companion relaxed
and he forgot for the moment to find 1t
all WEAKNESS to the flesh and vanity
and vexation to the spirit.
The girl wanted to know who every
one was and all about them; she
thought them charming, and regretted
that she did not live in London.
Father hates II So" she sad
"Your father had long spell Of it,
the man said. "But'-and he smiled
very pleasahtly-''we shall very soon
have you among us, hope. for more
than flying visit"
The girl bushed and grew shy, and
then uttered an exclamation.
"Who is that!" she asked eagerly.
"I.ook ut her, there! That woman with
the beautiful face and dark hair"
"rhat is Miss St Quentin. She writes.
you know. Writes well, too; her new
book Is an immense success, being
neither cheap nor nasty"
49, I've read It," Hilda Carson said,
the pink flush deepening in her cheeks.
"And l liked it ever so much. l read
1t out Of doors, too and it interested
me all the time"
''Do You consider that n severe test!'
every! And am glad to have seen
her. She is wonderful, with that clear,
colorless skin and those great eyes.
Think think" She hesitated Il
little
"Well!"
IL think she Is n woman nobody could
help loving If they knew her"
He laughed. Her fresh enthusiasm
was amusing, and he rather enjoyed IT
for change, but before he could speak
again two or three people joined them
and he lost sight of Hilda for little.
A good many people admired Miss st
Quentin, but very few even dimly
guessed that, while writing the stories
of others, her own life hid one away
In an inner and very sacred chamber.
They said she was not bit impress
sionable," and, for all her beauty, very
unlikely to break her own heart or any
one elses.
There were just two or three people
of whom Mr.. Sinclair was one-wht
doubted this dictum, and wondered Il
h. al ~ Il Z,
not hide at least as much of her natur,
as 1t revealed.
But even those who had so much dis
cernment did not know-nobody knew
OF that summer eight years ago. whel
she and Jack Tremain had met in TIN
old Suffolk mansion. Nobody knew 0
the long, long mornings In the orchard
talking over everything and anything
or sometimes sitting in the silence tina
is only possible between friends.
And nobody knew OF the afternoon
on the river. or the evenings in tn
mOonlit garden. or the sudden, shar
ending to 1t all.
He was wrong and she was righ
and they were both very proud. SO sh
let him go. forgetting how hard Il thin
II is to be forgiven.
And there had been times when SUI,
cess seemed II small thing to her. an
life very desert of loneliness. becaus
she missed one voice In the chorus {
praise that greeted her and one face |
the many friendly ones that smile
upon her. For Mary st. Quentin Ia
the virtue of her defects. and she wa
terribly faithful.
Six months ago Maj. Tremain ha
come home, but society had seen yer
little OF him SO far. though 1t was Gag,
10 lionize him, and raved over the de.
that gained him that coveted V. c.
Miss st. Quentin had not seen him
all. though she knew he was, for Il
moment. In town, and scanned the fac,
In the park and street. and party.
the hope she was half ashamed of-th
OF seeing his.
She was always center OF attr.
ton. and had not been many minutes
Mrs. Siuclalr's rooms before she w
surrounded with little crowd. She I
signed herself 10 the inevitable. al
was trying to forget her one insiste
desire when her hostess came up wi
q bronzed. dgnihed man at her side.
'Mlss st. Quentin, may introdu
Maj. Tremain to your" she said, a
then there was Il little exclamation
mutual recognition. and ten minute
ordinary chat. and-that was ALL
All, yet not all. Who could say whe
Il might end-the story begun In I
EnMolE on rxlan md infnrrlnf.,d thx