The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-28

quite so insolently self satisfied when
she reads that" he said, and stamped 1t
with q jubilant fist.
On a snowy night a week later John
dropped in unannounced at his cousins
to dine there en- famille.
I'm so glad" said Margaret, as he
warmed himself by the sitting room
fire. Now you'll have chance to
meet Hester Glendenning- Shes in the
library with Tom"
''Eh?" asked John fatty. ''H'm!" he
added and looked at the rug. L don't
think I'll stay after all, Margaret"
Not stay? Why. jack Why do you
always fight shy of Hester? What's the
between ourselves. I don't imagine
I'll like her"
Margaret looked him over in cousinly
scorn.
You'll be hard to please if you don't
I hope you're not getting an awfully big
opinion of yourself, Jack oh, here they
arel"
A moment after it seemed to John
that the room swung before his eyes
and the rug went up to meet the ceiling.
Margaret was introducing him to some
one he had never seen before-a tall
graceful girl in simple black. with dark
hair. a pale. rather thin face. lighted
with wonderful, comprehensive, hazel
eyes; with a manner that was almost
boyishly frank and unaffected. and a
voice so sou ana Dedutllul II dNAhCAiS0
all the poetry in him.
Only once during that comfortable
dinner did she touch upon the secret
thought that troubled him-when Mar
garet spoke of the coming tableauX.
There was half hidden laughter in her
gaze as it met his in the shaded candle
light.
Il was sorry you could not help us,
Mr.. Murray. Your suggestions about
the other book viii never forget, how
ever But 1 couldn't follow them. we
found the moon didn't work and Mr..
Briefly. the treasurer, said snowstorms
| were too expensive"
John remained cautiously silent. He
wanted tete-a-tete explanation, and
| the chance for this did not come till
coffee was served in the library. He
went to the corner where Miss Glen
denning sat banked up by pillows. She
made room for him beside her.
You must think me fool he said.
1.-The madness attributed to genius would
| explain everything" she suggested. After
that letter feel sure you have tremen-
dous future"
ribly. L want to ask pardon for that let
.Well. I give it. though it certainly was
startling and so unkind I asked for bread
and you flung macarOons at me. Tell me
why and all about it. I'm consumed with
She nestled comfortably among the pill
lows while John told the story and snow
ed Ene % cent piece. her eyes, wondering
then comprehending and laughing, kept
pace with the recital
Little Dora Corteau," she said at last.
you must have wanted to shake her-al-
most as much as l did when 1 got the
book. You see, I meant to go to Bermuda
before this, and she wanted to be nice and
entertain me. She has-far more than she
dreams Of"
Il might have known" said John with
impotence, but, curiously enough, that
key to the puzzle did not occur to me
once during this most uncomfortable even
ing"
so you thought Dora was t. she said
with delight. oh. I hope she went in her
brougham-and did she wear her sables?
They're the finest in New York. / dom
want you to have missed anything. You
must have thought me very beautiful and
very rich"
Shall L tell you really what I thought?
asked John. leaning nearer. his smile meet
ing hers confidently. 4 thought you an
awful little fool"
The big ruby which graced the fourth
finger of Testers hand by the end of that
winter was a dear and proud possession,
but there was something she priced more
the % cent piece riveted to her little fob.
Only she and John knew why.-New York
Daily News