The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1903-12-04
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
!; In THE WAKE OF A :
|; SIDE COMB :
BY SYLVIA LEE
Copyright, 1908, bU T. c. Mcclure {
Copyright, 1905, by T. C. Mcclure
BY SYLVIA LEE

think it would be so lovely to have
diamond side combs instead of soli
tairc, if you don't mind DEAR" and
bushes
Well. one buys the side combs with
out Il question, and later perhaps one
reflects. But then it's too late.
1t thus befell with Harkncss, and
Lcda wore the two starry bands so
dcftly posed amid the knottcd tangles
of her sunny curls that they suggested
a diadcm ana in nowisc led any man
TO the conclusion which time honored
custom has drawn from the solitaire.
In fact before the bctrothal was Il
week old darkness 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 Il moonlight row around the
pier with him and Lcdu accepted and
went darkness not only wondered, but
grit his teeth as we'll No man who
has spent ten years dancing attend
ancc on other mems iiancccs and other
mems wives is going to enjoy life
while his own personal fianccc and
future wife is off with 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 darkness fam
lily, and when they did rcappcar the
,t 4, 4
of the wide stair and claimed tho
young lady for the next waltz. Wry-
croft, happily oblivious TO his crime,
strollcd off. and darkness led the girl
around the wide promenade to Il place
which was quiet and retired enough
for private conversation. He was boil
ing within, but nothing could have
been more swcctly calm than the way
in which lie put his arm about her and
asked With careless placidity:
did YOU row far. dcar?'
81 didn't row ut ALL" said Lcda "He
rowcd"
darkness kissed her with exceeding
gcntlrncSs. did YOU land anywhere,
darlington the Point. for instance?"
"N-u-u-o," said Lcda.
ii''l N'I''o l'HSENt illS iliSCi Wv u I'LL
pretty hair in silence for few min
utcs, and then he suddenly gave
sharp exclamation:
Good God. Leda, you've lost one Of
your combS,'
I.cda put both hands to her head and
almost shriCkcd as she realized the
truth.
''pcrhapS YOU forgot to put one in?"
said her lover
NO; | had them both, I'm sure"
She began To cry. Hardness scratched
matches. and they both looked all over
the floor. i'Ht not Il diamond glttcred
in thc genera! gloom of the hour.
Very mich later in the evening while
darkness Was twostcpping with Mrs
Lancaster sudden turn showed him
Lcda speaking earnestly to Wrycroft
Wrycroft looked terribly used up, and
darkness smiled Grimly
"Oh, what Il smile" said Mrs. Ian
caster. It's both impressive and
frightening. You make me afraid Of
YOU. and yet admire the smile"
IIarknCSS wondered if lie wasn't q
fool 70 be contemplating the addition
of another wife to the asscmblagc.
You loo! like IL cross between Meph-
istophclcs and Machiavclli." went on
Mrs. Lancaster, who was slender and
never lost her breath. (Which do you
favor:"
II 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
a ,,, L..
retired. and n half dozen men were
still lounging on the piaZzas when the
first gray strcaks of dawn appeared
above the Point. Hardness sprang up
when lie perceived them and yawned
vigorously.
''Tm going to bed" he declared, "and
shall not tarry long upon the order
Of my sleeping, either"
Young Wrycroft stood up too, and
passed his hand over his forehead.
Il don't feel very fit" lie said slowly
81 believe I'll 30 for little row and
maybe take q dip from the Point"
lie went down the steps as Hardness
entered the house. Later curiosity led
the latter TO wander to the window and
look to sec if Wrycroft was really car.
rying out his purpose.
a rowboat lay on the sandy stretch
opposite, and the rosy light of the ris-
ing sun il!umncd figure which paced
rcstlessly up and down the rustic paths
skirting the shore.
81 Shouldn't call that exactly swim.
ming?' said darkness TO himself n liz.
tie grimly. lie pulled down the shade
with q violent jerk and got into bed
1t was quite noon when lie awoke.
The day was glorious, and the bosom
Of the lake was dotted with sailing