Oakes Republican., 1904-11-11

OLA ASSI tdll, very OEOdU SuOuAO0ESU,
and that black hair and gray eyes go
we'll with pale pink.
Before her departure from town for
the summer Eloise's carved chest con-
tained many treasures of masculine
wearing apparel. Among other things
eix shirts-it had taken her forenoon
to select them, and it had almost been
her undoing-had Joined the pink bath
robe.
1t was really the 'swagger'' mono.
gram on the sleeve that had convinced
her that she could not be happy until
che added them to his troussean. as
she called 1t. She had decided every
detail-that Ola the pale gray one the
monogram should be in dark red, on
the tan in dark brown, etc.-when the
clerk, who had learned to know her
and whom she guiltily permitted to
address her as "Mrs. Van Orden,"
paused, pencil suspended above his Or
der book, as IL waiting for some fur
ther instructions. She regarded him in
surprise.
'"That's ALL" she said at last
"But Mr.. Van Orden's initials-for
the monogram, you know" he prompt
ed smilingly.
Eloise gasped. Never once had it
occurred to her that in order to have
that fascinating monogram on tile left
sleeve some initials would be required.
The floor showed no disposition to
open and swallow her up, and the clerk
sat watching her as If he might tap
his forehead significantly to his fellow
clerks once her back was turned and
shake his head sadly. What should
she say? The possible man
"Oh, T. p. NJ" she flung out with
hysterical relief as thought occurred
to her.
''T. P. NJ" the clerk repeated, ey-
ing her reproachfully.
"Right-er-they're not for Mr.. Van
Orden," she observed firmly, giving
him look for look.
Neckties and scarfpins were added
to her collection without difficulty, but
when it came to the purchase of a
waistcoat that lured her with its dash
and style the question of size again
cropped up. By this time, however,
the clerk had learned to think of her
as the eccentric Mrs. Van Orden" and
was prepared for the vagueness Of her
orders. Not even when she dreamily
selected pair Of gray socks with dark
red clocks, to match the gray shirt,
and demanded them of size to match
No. 18 collar did he make any de-
mur.
The time for leaving town had ar
rived, and the contents of the carved
chest were carefully arranged for the
last time and then locked up with the
sweet scented bags of lavender.
| Eloise sighed at the thought of leav-
ing the things, for they had come to
have sort of personality Of their own.
They were beautiful in themselves, and,
besides, the one who was to wear them,
should they ever be worn, would be for
her the king Of the world.
She sometimes tried to picture him,
but his face eluded her. Yet the face
Of her dream often bore startling
resemblance to Philip Hamilton, and
that gentleman himself was becoming
q more and more prominent fact in her
life.
More than once she had surprised a
strange, tense question in his eyes-a
speculative look that made her happy,
yet afraid. She half wished that he
was not going to his Cousins for the
summer, since that would place them
in the same little colony for the next
three months.
But in the weeks that followed, when
riding, golf and moonlit evenings on
the broad piazzas brought them con-
stantly together, her feelings under
went a change, and she was appalled,
at the desolation she felt when he ran
up to town for few days, as he did
now and then.
It was on one of these occasions that
she found herself alone on the porch
one evening, when brisk step sounded
on the gravel.
She rose as Philip Hamilton sprang
up the steps and came toward her in
the soft moonlight, the tumultuous Joy
that she supposed hidden in her heart
shining in her eyes and dancing on her
lips.
He looked down at her for one mo.
ment with eyes before whose mastery
her own wavered and fell. Then, with
low, contented laugh, he drew her
to him, whispering, '"There are some
things, my darling, that one does not
need to ask"
It was one rainy evening soon after
the return from their wedding trip
that Eloise told her husband the story
Of the trousseau it had amused her to
provide "a tale that he listened to with
| a gust of laughter.