Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-03-29
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CHAPTER VIu.-(Continued.)
By II. s. MEHREMAN

Now ! remember, interrupted MISS.
Winter, with her pleasant laugh; of
course Please don't tell me any more.
My stall was humber-number two hun
dred and sixty"
-Four" suggested Tyars in such
manner that it was in reality no sugges-
tion at all.
Yes; two hundred and sixty-four.
There was an empty seat on my right
hand"
And an old gentleman occupied that
on your left"
MY father" she explained, simply;
but IN the tone of her pleasant voice
there was something which made Iyars
look gravely at her with a very slight
bow as if in apology. Oswin Grace
glanced at his sister with raised eyebrows,
and she nodded almost imperceptibly. He
had not heard Of old Mr.. Winters death.
In less skilled hands this incident
might have led to an awkward silence;
but Agnes Winter had not spent ten
years of her life in a whirl of society for
nothing. She knew that ones own feel
ings are of a strictly individual value.
You" she continued, took the va
cant seat"
ton in her glance. Oswin Grace did not
look pleased and his eyes turned from
one face to the other searchingly. Then
she seemed suddenly to have received an
answer TO her query, for she turned to
Helen and launched into narration gayly.
Il will tell you" she said, why these
details are engraven so indelibly upon
such a poor substance as my memory.
1t was rather a grand night; royalty
was present, and the theater was almost
full. In front of me were two men who
id not appear to be taking an absorbing
interest in the play, for one was draw
ing something which | took to be map
upon his program"
1T was a map" confessed Tyars, light
ly.
While he whispered earnestly at in
tervals to his companion. ! came to the
conclusion that he was trying to persuade
him to go and look for Livingstone, which
suggestion was not we'll received. At last
he turned round. | thought he was ad-
miring, or at least noticing the new
diamond star in my hair, but subsequent
events proved that he was looking over
my head. | was disappointed" she added
aside to Tyars.
II both noticed and admired" he ex-
claimed in sef-defense. There were
two diamond stars, one much larger than
the other.
All except Oswin laughed at this feat
of memory.
We'll" continued Miss Winter, "at
the first interval this irreproachable
young man left his seat, came round,
furpnd bo tho oboir pnvt tO and
shook-hands with the man in the pit :"
The pith of the story lay in its narra-
ton, which was perfect. The lady knew
her audience as an able actor knows
his house BY some subtle trick of voice
the incident was made to rebound to
Tyars' credit, while its tone was distinct
ly against him. The easy, CHEEKY, honest
humor of voice and expression was ire
sistible. Even the Admiral laughed-as
much as he ever laughed at a joke not re-
lated by himself.
''IIe was" explained Tyars in his I'M
satisfactory ", "a friend of mine"
AT this mo nent the door was opened
by Salter, v1o announced that dinner
was ready. ~ they were moving toward
the door Osvn suddenly stopped.
Where is Muggins?" he asked.
ION the mat replied Tyars. HE
was rather shy and preferred waiting
for a special invitation. He is not quite
at home on carpets yet"
Il have heard about Muggns." said
Helen to Tyars as they went downstairs
together, land am quite anxious to make
his acquaintance
SO Muggins was introduced to his new
friends, standing gravely on the dining
room hearthrug with his sturdy legs set
we'll apart. his stump of a tail jerking
nervously at times, and his pink trimmed
eyes appraised appealingly to his masters
face. He was endeavoring to the best of
his ability TO understand who all these
well-dressed people were. and why he was
forced into such sudden prominence.
Moreover, he was DESTROYS of acquitting
himself WELL and that smell of oxtail
soup was somewhat distracting to a sea
farar.
He formed The subject of conversation
while this same soup was being discuss
ed. and Tyars was almost enthusiastic
on the subject, somewhat to the amuse-
ment of Miss Agnes Winter, who was not
a great lover of dogs.
The dinner passed off very pleasantly,
and many subjects were discussed with
greater or less edifcation. Miss Winter
seemed to take the lead, in virtue of her
seniority over the young hostess, touch
ing upon many things with her light and
airy precision, her gay philosophy her
gentle irony.
Admiral Grace was the only person who
succeeded in getting a piece of personal
information from Tyars, and this by the
blunteSt direct question
IL once" said the old gentleman. was
on committee with a west country baro-
net of your name--a Sir Wilbert Tyars
lis he any relation of yours?"
YES" Tyars answered. with Just sufi-
cient interest to prove his utter indiffer-
ence. YES; he is my uncle"
There was short pause; some further
remark was evidently expected.
Il have not seen him for many wears =
he added, closing the incident.
When Mis- Winters carriage was an
nounced at a quarter to eleven Tyars rose
and said goodnight with an Unconditional
ease which might equally have marked
the beginning of intimacy or the consum-
nation of a formal social debt
When Agnes Winter came downstairs
arraycd in Il soft diaphanous arrange
ment of Indian silk he was gone. aud
the three young people as they bid each
other goodnight in the hall, were con-
scous OF feeling of insu!ficiency, None
of the three attempted to define this
sensation even to themselves. but it was
not mere curiosity. 1t is worth noticing
that Claud Tyars' name was not mention
ed again in the house after the front door
had closed behind him. And yet every
person who had seen him that evening
was thinking of him; upon them all the
impress of his singular individuality had
been left.
Amt wot I'd call sailor man. eth
err" muttered old Salter, thoughtfully
scratching his stubby chin with 4 two
shilling piece which happened to be in
his hand as he returned to the pantry
after closing the front door And yet
there's grit in him. Sort O bad weather
man, I'm thinkin'."
Oswin's reflection as he slowly prepsr-