Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-05-10

wondered why he should have deliberately
made missta tement. She felt indefinitely
guilty. as if Oswin's visit had been sur
reptitious. Suddenly she became aware
Of the quick. fitting glance of her com
panion's eyes, noting everything each
tiny flicker Of the eyelids, each indrawn
breath, each slightest movement.
How am l to do it," he asked, limo
Gently. - note to Miss Grace or a yer
bal invitation to her brother?"
"A note" replied Miss Winter, with
a gravity equal to his own, Ito Helen,
saying that you have secured the stage
box for Wednesday evening" and hope
that she and her brother will accept seats
in it."
He nodded his head, signifying compre
hension, and rose to go.
That" said Miss Winters, skipping
away from the subject under discussion
with all the inconsequence of her sex and
kind, reminds me of something l heard
said Of you the other evening. 1t was. in
fact. said to me-"
CHEEKY gallantry, Il should like to hear it.
Had it been said to any one else 1 allow
that | should have been indifferent"
He stood with his hands clasped behind
his back, looking down at her with a smile
upon his wistful little face.
''Do you know Mr.. Santow?"
The smile vanished and the dancing
eyes at once assumed an expression of
alert keenness, which was almost ludi-
crOus in its contrast.
THE Russian attache-unaccredited
he replied, giving back question for ques-
ton. Moo" he said, slowly, Il do not
think know him by sight"
Il have met him on several occasions.
l rather like him, although l cannot I'M
derstand him. There is an inward Mr.
SantOw whom l have not met yet; only
know a creature who smiles and behaves
generally like lamb"
'Santow,' said Easton, deliberately, sis
altogether too guileless.''
Miss Winter countered sharply
Il thought you did not know lr1mY
Il do not" answered Easton, imper-
turably.
Except by reputation?"
Precisely"
He is reputed," said Miss Winter, ito
be a great diplomatist."
$50 believe-hence the lamblike man
ners"
Easton's face was a study in the art of
suppressing curiosity.
DO you think that he is a wolf in
lambs clothing?" asked the lady with
laugh. Il will tell you what he said about
you"
THANK you"
1--WE were talking about Russia-it is
his favorite topic-and he said that at
times he felt like the envoy from some
heather country, so little is Russia
known by us. By way of illustration. he
asked me to look around the room and
tell him if it did not contain all that was
most intellectual and learned in England.
| admitted that he was right. He said.
And yet there are but two men in the
room who speak Russian Then he point
ed you out. There is one he said: he
knows my country better than any man
in England. If he were a diplomatist [
should fear him! What is he? L asked.
and he merely shrugged his shoulders IN
that guileless way to which you object"
Matthew Mark Easton did not appear
to be much impressed. He moved from
one foot to the other, and took consider
able interest in the pattern of the carpet
And" he inquired, did he mention
the name of the second accomplished per-
son? ~
NO"
Il wonder what it was?" said Easton.
Mr.. Tyars, suggested the lady, calmly.
Possibly. By the way, / thought of
asking him to join US on Wednesday at
the Epic"
Il hope" said Miss Winter, with a
| vY.o rspn 1I4tIo hN
to come"
Dear Miss Grace began Easton,
solemnly, as if repeating a lesson, L have
secured the stage box at the Epic for
Wednesday exening next, and l hope that
you and your brother will do me the
pleasure of accepting seats in it, Will
that do?"
''Very nicely"
And may | count on your"
Eyes, you may count on me-"
THANK you,' he said simply, and took
his departure.
As he walked rapidly eastward toward
the club where he was expecting to meet
Tyars his quaint little face was wrinkled
UP into a thousand interrogations.
Yes" he said at length, with know
ing nod, lit was warning; that spry lit
tie lady smells a rat How does she
know that Tyars speaks Russian? He is
not the sort of fellow to boast of his
accomplishments. She must have heard
it from Grace, and to hear from him she
must have asked because Grace is more
than half inclined to be jealous of Tyars,
and would take care not to remove the
bushel from his light"
For some time he walked on, whistling
a tune softly. Cheerfuness is only a hab-
it. He did not really feel cheerful nor
particularly inclined for music. Then he
began rejecting in an undertone again.
Here | am" he said lin a terrible
fright of two women; all my schemes
may be upset by either of them. and |
do not know which to fear most-that
clever little lady with her sharp wits. OF
that girls eyes. l almost think Miss Hell
ems eyes are the most dangerous l am
sure they would be if it was my affair
if it was me whom those quiet eyes fol
lowed about. But it is not; it is Tyars
Now, | wonder-I wonder if he know:
it?"