Ellsworth American., 1903-12-02
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
in TIE WAEE OF A
, SIDE C9aD
BY SYLVIA LEE
"a -. "a. n {. c. aIsclers

never lovu before throws her arms
about on:'s neck and says "And
thInS it would be so lovely to have
diamond side coTabs instead Of a seli-
talre, if you don't mind. dear" and
blusbes-
Well. one buys the side combs with
out question. and later perhaps one
reflects But then it's too late.
Ii thus befelI with Hardness. and
Leda wore the two starry bands So
deftly posed amid the knotted taagles
of her sunny curtis that they suggested
a diadem and In nowise led any man
TO the conclusion which time honered
custom has drawn from the solitaire.
In fact. before the betrothal was a
week old Harkness himself began TO
wonder.
And when, at dance at the Lake
side club. young Wrycroft. the very
famous half back. invited Leda to go
out for moonlight row around the
pier with him and Leda accepted and
went Hardness not only wondered. but
grit his teeth as well. No man who
has spent ten years dancing attend
ance on other mems flancees and other
mems wives Is going to enjoy life
while his own personal fiancee and
future wife is of with a fellow whose
name has headed newspaper columns
and whose chest can hardly find space
for all his medals. The couple were
gone an hour and seven minutes by a
watch which had come down through
three generations of the Harkness fam
lily. and when they did reappear the
owner Of the watch stood at the head
of the wide stair and claimed the
young lady for the next waltz. Wry-
croft. happily oblivious to his crime.
strolled of. and Harkness led the girl
around the wide promenade to a place
which was quiet and retired enough
for private conversation. He was boil
ing within. but nothing could have
been more sweetly calm than the way
in which he put his arm about her and
asked with careless placidity:
did you row far. dear?"
II didn't row at all" said Leda. .He
rowed"
Hardness kissed her with exceeding
gentleness. did you land anywhere.
darlington the Point. for instancer'
''N-u-u-o." said L.eda.
Hardness passed his finger over her
pretty hair in silence for a few min
utes. and then he suddenly gave a
sharp exclamation:
Good God. Leda. you've lost one Of
your combs.'
Leda put both hands to her head and
almost shrieked as she realized the
truth.
perhaps you forgot to put one in?"
said her lover.
mo; had them both. I'm sure"
She began TO cry. Hardness scratched
matches. and they both looked all over
the foor but not diamond glittered
in the general gloom of the hour.
Very much later in the evening while
Hardness was twostepping with Mrs.
Lancaster sudden turn showed him
Leda speaking earnestly to Wryeroft.
wrycroft looked terribly used up. and
Harkness smiled grimly.
"Oh. what smiler' said Mrs. Ian
caster. ITS both impressive and
frightening You make me afraid OF
you. and yet | admire the SMILE
Hardness wondered if he wasn't q
fool to be contemplating the addition
of another wife to the assemblage.
"You look like cross between Meph-
istopheles and Machiavelli.' went on
Mrs. Lancaster. who was slender and
never lost her breath. (which do you
favor?"
Il can't spell either" replied Hark-
ness shortly. He felt inclined to join
the next expedition to the north pole.
The dance endured exceedingly late
1t was quite when the last woman
retired and half dozen men were
still lounging on the piazzas when the
first gray streaks of dawn appeared
above the Point. Hardness sprang up
when he perceived them and yawned
vigorously.
I'm going to bed" he declared. "and
/ shall not tarry long upon the order
If my sleeping. either"
Young Wrycroft stood up, too. and
pdsSeu HIS manu- over hts iOfeuedu-
Il don't feel very fit" he said slowly.
81 believe I'll go for little row and
maybe take a dip from the Point"
He went down the steps as Hardness
entered the house. Later curiosity led
the latter to wander to the window and
look to see If Wrycpoft was really car
rying out his purpose.
A rowboat lay on the sandy stretch
opposite. and the rosy light of the ris-
ing sun illumined a figure which paced
restlessly up and down the rustic paths
skirting the shore.
Il shouldn't call that exactly swim
minG?" said Hardness to himself lit
tie grimIy. He pulled down the shade
with violent jerk and got into bed.
1t was quite noon when he awoke.
The day was glorious. and the bosom
OF the lake was dotted With sailing