Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-01-26

white lace, with the glitter Of diamonds
upon her neck and arms.
"Punctual to a minute" she cried gay
ly, a. she preceded him into the drawing
room. "Ah, how 1 do love people who
come punctually to dinneri How do you
like my dress, RoyT'
1T Is perfect" he said gravely, look
Ing not at her dress, but at her.
81 dare say shall not dance much,"
she went on in a sort of hurried manner
that puzzled him, "only with you and
with Brian" Then, after a little pause,
she added In rather a strained voice:
by the way, after all, you will have
to put up with only me for dinner, Roy;
have had a note from my husband, in
which he states he will be unable to get
back to dinner, being detained by bnsi-
ness. / hope you will not find it dull
alone with me. Shall we go DOWN.
He offered his arm In grave silence
and they went downstairs to dinner.
How odd it seems to be sitting down
to dinner alone with you like thisr' she
cried, with a brave effort to seem gay
and happy. DO you remember our
luncheons by the river and the sand
wiches ana cherry pies l used to coax
old Keziah into making, so that l might
bring them out to you In the corner of
the meadow under the willow trees?"
How nice 1t was! the softened lamp
light, the fruit and the flowers, the dim
background of pictures and old oak in
the empty room-for the servants had
left them-and Kitten, in her white
dress, with the light shining upon her
corn-gold head, sitting opposite to him
while they capped each others reminis-
cences of those happy days long ago
in which Brian Desmond had had no ex-
istence!
Brian will be here very soon now,"
she said glancing at the clock. How
l wish he would come back; let us go
upstairs and wait for him in the drawing
room"
There was sound of wheels at the
door, and the bell rang. For one mo-
ment Kittens face was radiant; If 1t had
not been for very shame she would have
flown downstairs to greet her returning
prodigal, but the consciousness of her
matronly honors prevented her from do
ing anything SO very undignifed.
There seemed to be little delay
downstairs; no manly feet, conscious OF
outrageous lateness, came tearing up the
stairs two at time-instead, there was
a measured tread of heavy steps followed
quickly by the swish of woman's silken
skirts against the banisters; the foot.
man threw open the door, and there en-
tered-Gertrude Talbot in amber satin
and black lace, with a huge bouquet In
her hand.
"Ah, my dear little womanv' she said,
affectionately and gushingly, "here l am
again, you see! how too-too lovely and
delicious you look In that perfect dress
How well it suits you. have just come
from Felicia's dinner party-I thought
would drive round by your door, and car
ry you off with me to Lady Hunters
your brougham, see, Is waiting for you
dear, so l can dismiss mine and we car
60 together, and you must follow US II
hanson, Sir Roy"
"But-you are very kind, Mrs. Tai
bot; but l cannot 60 with you; my hus
band will be coming back" stammeret
Kitten, confusedly.
Gertrude smiled more than ever, show
ing all her cleaning teeth, and fingint
up her black gloved hands with an ex
pressive gesture.
"Oh, my dear child, how delinciousl!
young and fresh you are! Don't you SCI
that-that naughty husband Of your
had no more notion Of going to Lad!
Hunters tonight than your footmaI
had?"
"What can you mean-have you seel
him." faltered Kitten.
"Ah, l understand men better thai
you do, child; they are all alike, ever.
one of them-dear creatures, and W
can't do without them, the more's .th
pity, but unreliable all of them! Seel
him, my dear, of course l have; | passe,
him a few minutes ago, walking with
very good-looking woman-it was hi
sister, no doubt" she added, looking
little away from her victim.
Eyes, it was his sister," answered Kit
ten, very calmly, half turning to Roy
"it was stupid of me to forget it, bu
of course, l remember now. Brian tol
me that he was dining with her tonight.
"Then had we not better go on to tn
ballT said Gertrude, considerably take
aback; Brian Desmond had no sister, an
. she knew it, but the young wife's COO
! ness and courage struck her dumb.
"Yes; we will 60 together to the ball,
assented Kitten, and she went.
"Do you want to break her heart
whispered Roy, angrily to Mrs. Talbc
as they went downstairs.
"Oh, dear, no! only to open her eyes,
she answered, with careless shrug
, , her beautiful white shoulders.