The Washington times., 1905-08-20

arm. Anna. I've always wanted you to
know Mr. Strobe May l introduce him
nog.?f'
Anna smiled and the stranger bowed.
| There was courteous Difference in his
bearing. vitality and strength in the
Iclearness of his eyes and the healthy tan
Of his skin. She was noting each item
when Mrs. Maxtead spoke again.
Mr. Strobe is favored by fate" she
said He is delightful by nationality.
! Half his life has been spent in Canada,
half In Cornwall; he can express an Eng
Isnman's sincerity with an American
charm"
Anna smiled again. and Strobe
laughed.
I'm afraid he said, that Mrs Max
tead's rather like a lightning fash. She
| drops into dingy corners. then imagines
they were never dark" His voice was
| easy and assured, his manner had a
faint deliberation, his eyes an attentive
| way of resting on his listeners face that
| marked him from other men.
/ Involuntarily Anna returned his
glance Jeanne has the secret of popu-
larity." she said; "she sees people as
they would be seen"
Which implies" His lips took a
| humorous turn.
Before she could answer, Mrs. Max
| tead bent forward and touched her arm.
| My dear. good people, you must find
your implications for yourselves. 7 see
a new arrival" She swept away from
| them. then turned with a characteristic
smile. Popularity is an invalid that
| requires a good deal of nursing. Anna, 3"
she said. with q little nod.
Strobe laughed as she disappeared in
the crowd. "A brilliant woman is rath-
er wonderful" he said slowly. but
don't think that I'd care to marry one
'Twould be like living in conservatory
the temperature always abnormal and
always artificial; one would grow afraid
to open the door,
Anna looked across the screen to the
gay groups beyond. Her lips were part
ed, her eyes shone: she felt an exhilara-
ton in this strangers presence,-his
youth. his health, his quiet assurance,
all affected her. He typified a new civil
Lzation-he was the product Of a newer
world where the worn OUT and the in
capable move 10 the wall. where the
race. and the prize of the race. are 20
the few and the strong. She turned 10
him. unconsciously speaking her
thought.
X "
Il fancy you would open any door,"
she said quickly; Il don't picture you
trembling on the inner side"
He smiled That's verx charming of
you; but I don't quite know that I de-
serve it all It's difficult to Measure one
self. don you think?''
She looked again across the room.
4 hardly know; at best OF times. it's
finds oneself so very small. But let US
talk of something else She turned
once more and met his eyes. and the
contact gave her an uniooked-for thrill.
Have you known Jeanne for long? Are
you one of the set?'' She indicated the
groups with movement Of her fan.
He laughed. "Oh. absolutely not I'm
an outsider-an off-season friend. When
Mrs Maxtead comes TO Trescar. she
takes compassion upon me. We are
neighbors there, you know. From the
tower of my house l can see the wood
bine climbing round her chimney-stacks.
We introduced ourselves on the strength
of that woodbine." He laughed again.
But I thought Jeanne said Canada?''
She raised her eyes.
"She said CornwelI as well" He smil-
ed. Il lived at Trescar till was fifteen
years old; then my father died. and my
uncle in Canada thought that trade IN
q new country was better for me than
tradition III an old, and I was shipped
to America much against my viii. 1
was twenty-one before I saw home
again. You cen guess 1 counted tie
years"
Anna looked down critically at her
gloves. You returned when you came
of age?"
u sailed on my birthday" He laugh
ed I'm afraid I rather stick at things;
no place will ever be quite Cornwall TO
me; l look 10 returning permanently one
day.-when my pile Is made" He
laughed once more.
"And in the mean time?" Anna
smoothed her gloves.
"Oh. In The mean time I grind hard at
scopper mining and when trade and my
uncle can spare me. 1 run across. But
why do you never come to Trescar?
Don't you like the sea?"
She looked up quickly Il loved the
sea before l ever saw it, now 1t is sort
of fetish to me. But I've never seen
Tresca"-or Jeannes White Cottage.
Like you. I've been out Of England for
many years"
''Studying?"
studying" She smoothed her glove
again; then again she looked up. Yes:
also like you. I want to make my for
tune some day-some distant day. For
the present I'm content TO hear other
| people talk of theirs
! There was a pause; scraps of con-
versation f1oated to them. the sound of
| passing skirts on the opposite side of
| the screen, the sway of the music from
| the hall outside. Strobe moved nearer
| to her by a step.
I wish you'd come TO Cornwall" he
said impulsiyely. Il don't know why.
! but I feel we'd grow to know each
| other there There's something about
the sea that levels things-prejudice and
fOrmality and things He stopped and
| smoothed his fauItlessly smooth hair.
His speech had the slight mannerism.
his voice the deliberate intonation that
in the new country the Englishman en-
deavors to acquire and the American
does his best to discard
Anna looked at him. That's tery