The Red Cloud chief., 1906-12-21

WIS quite lOISOltcl. ouc uoNtu
across to the couch, picked up the kit
ten and kissed it, Isn't this sweet"
She added.
She looked very graceful as she turn
ed, holding the little animal up. She
was woman of twenty seven, but she
looked girl The outline of her face
was pure, the pale gold Of her hair
almost ethereal, and her tall slight
figure still suggested the supplencss,
the possibility of future development
Alat belong TO youth. She wore a lace
eolored gown that harmonized with
the room and with the deicacy of her
skin.
Now sit down and rest or walk
about the room. | Shant mind which,
~ the crystal ball.
"What is the toy for?" Chilcote
icOkel at her from the mantelpiece
against which he was resting. He had
never defined the precise attraction
that Lillian Astrupp held for him.
Her shallowness soothed him; her in
consequent egotism helped him to for
XVI uliHScll. SDllt htNti
how he was, she never expected i'm
possibilities. She let him come and so
fsd act as he pleased. never demand
bag reasons. Like the kitten. she was
charming and graceful and easily
amused. 1t was possible that, also like
the kitten, she could scratch and be
tpiteful on occasion, but that did not
nisrI. xx,it i'm In nfit nv
pressed vague envy of the late Lord
Astrupp. but even had circumstances
permitted it is doubtful whether he
would have chosen to be his successor.
Lillian as friend was delightful, but
Lillian as wife would have been
different consideration.
What is the toy for?" he asked
again.
She looked up slowly. "How cruel
OF you, Jack! 1t is my very latest
hobby"
It was part of her attraction that she
was never without craze. Each new
one was as fleetlng as the last. but to
each she brought the same delightfully."-
insincere enthusiasm. the same pictur-
csque devotion. Each was pose, but
she posed SO sweetly that nobody lost
patience.
"You mustn't laugh" she protested,
letting the kitten slip to the ground
1--WE had lessons at gulneas eacl
from the most fascinating person-a
Professionalism I'm becoming quite
an adept. OF course l haven't been
much beyond the milky appearance
yet, but the milky appearance is every
thing. you know. The rest will come.
am trying to persuade Blanche to let
me have pavilion at her party in
March and gaze for all you dull politi-
cal people" And she smiled.
Chilcote smiled as WELL 'IIow Is 1t
eone?" he asked, mOmentarily amused.
"Oh. the doing Is quite delicious. You
sit at table with the ball in front Of
you. Then you take the subjects
hands, spread them out on the table
and stroke them very softly while you
gaze into the crystal That gets up
the sympathy, you know" She looked
p innocently. "Shall 1 show your"
Chilcote moved small table nearer
70 the couch and spread his hands upon
\, palms downward. "Like this, ehT'
ne said. Then righteousness seized
him, and he moved away. "Some other
day" he said quickly. "You can show
me some other day. I'm not very fit
mis- afternoon"
If Lillian felt any disappointment she
showed none. "Poor old thing!' she
said softly. "Try to sit here by me
and we won'r bother about anything"
She made a place for him beside her,
and as he dropped into it she took his
hand and patted 1t sympathetlcally.
The touch was soothing. and he bore
Il patiently enough. After moment
she lifted the hand with a little ex-
aamation of reproof.
"You degenerate person! You have
~eased to manicure. What has become
Of my excellent trainingT
Chilcote laughed. Run to Seed" he
said lightly. Then his expression and
tone changed. when man gets to
my age" he added, little social luxu.
ries don't seem worth while. The so
eial necessities are irksome enough
Personally | envy the beggar in the
street-exempt from shaving. exempt
from washing
Lillian raised her delicate eyebrows
The sentiment was beyond her percep-
ton.
"But manicuring," she said reproach,
fully, when you have such nice hands
1t was your hands and your eyes. you
know, that first appealed to me-" She
sighed gently, with a touch of senti-
mental remembrance. "And I thought
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