Daily camera., 1901-07-29

Saratoga, and in dumb show intimated
to her sister that she wished that open
eyed, open-eared domestic elsewhere.
But Mrs. McLane was blind to any
signals. Indeed she seemed at the mo-
ment to find il necessary TO supervise
some Of Annet,e's work, noting which
symptom Mrs. Parry's scruples van
ished.
Fanny, you know perfectly well
that's the last place on earth you should
go 10 now, and Mr.. McLane not year
in his gravel"
4 redder spot burns in each fair
cheek. as the young widow turns quick
ly and faces her accuser.
"And why not, pray? The Graftons
are the oldest, dearest friends have
al least she is"
And Randy Merriam-isn't there, I
suppose-nor his plain wife,"
"Mr. Merriam's whereabouts is mat
ter of entire indifference 10 me, rs you
ought TO have the decency 10 know,
Charlotte"
cough, TO be matters Of Indifference,
concede, but I have grave doubts as
TO whether they are, as you say"
Then keep your doubts and suspi-
cions TO yourself, Charlotte" said Mrs.
McLane. with brimming eyes and burn
ing cheeks. This is no place to speak
of such matters" and the brimmiuR
eyes-which their owner tried hard
10 induce TO blaze instead OF brim--
] 81 .1,. ~ 70
busily packing and assiduously feign-
ing unconsciousness. and then almost
deiiantly turn back TO her sister,
Il know perfectly well what you
mean, Frances" responds the elder, and
when charlotte" and Frances" were
adopted instead OF Lot" and Fan" i;
meant that the sororal relations were
more than strained.
Il gave you every signal ingenuity
could suggest, but you wouldn't see.
You didn't want to see, because you
thought that and here Mrs Parry in
dicates the kneeling Annette with
nod of her. very stylishly coifed head
that would keep me from speaking.
But this is n case where duty cannot be
neglected. Fanny, are you in your right
senses"
"In every one OF the seven. Charlotte
and ! don't mean to listen 10 abuse.
You know perfectly well DR.. Mellon
said needed change"
We'll. then. go to New Orleans, go TO
Bermuda, go TO ST. Augustine-go TO
st. Petersburg, Fan-anywhere on
earth rather than Fort Sedgwick-any-
where under heaven except where Ran
dolph Merriam happens TO be-unless
you would have me believe you los,
to"
But here, with solemn mien, enters
the male biped who officiates as butler,
hall boy and major domo at the Clar-
endon fiats-a card upon the salver in
his pudgy hand, and Mrs. Parry nearly
chokes in the necessity for sudden stop.
ASK Mr.. Swlnburne up" says Mrs.
McLane, promptly, barely glancing at
the black -bortlered card and evidently
glad Of the interruption. Now, Char
loite, not another word. unless you wish
me to show how indignant am to every
visitor who comes in" and Mrs. McLane
is busy bathing her flushed cheeks al
ready. ''How does my hair look?" she
adds, turning inquiringly toward the
defeated elder, sure that whatever cause
of quarrel there may be, that, at least, is
subject for truce,
"Your hair is all right" responds her
sister, with marked emphasis and as
marked sense Of baffled purpose II
wish the rest Of your head were as well
balanced. You don't expect me to see
Mr.. Swinburne, I snppose?"
"Mr. Swinburne certainly doesn't ex-
pect to see you: He is coming mainly
on business"
"fou might far better listen to his
business, as you call it, even this soon,
than go near Randy Merriam"
Charlotte, 1 will not listen to you. II
you cannot stay here without insulting
me with every other word you would
much better go home and stay home pp-
til you can speak-sensibly." And with
this Mrs. McLape darts past her sister
into the passageway, and SO On to the
parlor front of her suite of apartments,
that the elevator has stopped and that
some one is at the entrance door. 1t is
Swinburne, q well-preserved, mutton.
chop whiskerea, carefllly-groomed fell
low OF IS, and Swinburpe bows delight
edly over the slender white hand OF the
pretty and youthful widow and disap-
pears with her within the cozy parlor.
"How long has Mrs, McLane been
Packing? asks Mrs. Parry, presently,
Of the maid.
"How long, mum? Oh, two or three
days only, though we got down the
trunks. mum, on Wednesday last" is
Annette's reply.
-Four trunks and four days packing
to spend week or sa at frontier
post" says Mrs. Parry to herself, with
increasing wrath. Then turning, she
sweeps through the hallway with the
mien Of an offended queen, passes the
parlor door with barely glance at
the bright, CHEEKY interior, let's herself
out with snap and q slam, and stands
angrily tapping her daintily booted
foot on the rug ip trent of the cage un-
I'll the elevator neiselessly answers her
signal and then lowers her to the mo-
saic pavement Of the ground floor. ITO
Mr.. Parry's Office" she says to the
coachman, as she enters the waiting
carriage, and is whirled rapidly away
down the avenue, past the dancingI
waters Of the lake.
Med" she cries, 20 minutes later,.as