The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-15

'Would
And is he extraordinary too?" Lee
titia Manton turned at the question
and fixed her round, blue eyes upon
nor" she said, with the frightened air
of a debutante, Il never know wheth-
CT you are in earnest or not"
Eileen O'Connor's fun red lips parted
wide in a smile displaying rows of
teeth dazzling in their whiteness. You
funny child" she said. "Of course I
expect to find everything in Washing
ton extraordinary"
We'll, he isn't" said Letitia, decid-
eddy, CHANGING at the subject of their
conversation. Mamma says matri-
IRONY is his profession"
How many times so far?"
ooh, not once-yet" said Letitia,
with charitable haste. "They say ne
is looking for a rich wife. He will
probably be very attentive to your
"And so you are forewarning my
vanity?" said Miss O'COnnor
Lelitia looked little bewildered.
Hes only a government clerk" she
said irrelevantly. But he owns a
plantation in Virginia and people here
cali him lie grand seigneur. for he's
considered so exclusive. I heard him
tell mamma that he had a horror of
the nOuveauX riches"
Miss O'ConnOr's large gray eyes mar
ToWed under their heavy lashes, and
for a moment she regarded Letitia sus-
piciously; but that persons eager lit
tie face was guileless. Then your
friendly fears for me are groundless.'
she said. gOOd-hun OTedly. viii you
kindly tell Mr.. What's-his name?"
Mr.. Philip Kerwin."
We'll, tell him, please, that I'm
from the woolly west. and that my
grandfather drove pigs in Ireland and
that my grandmother tended cows I'M
til they came to this country, and that
afterward she took in washing-I sus-
pect." She delivered these bits of her
family history without bitterness OF
apology. And when Mr.. Philip Kerwir
reached her place in the line and was
introduced TO her, she said. "I sup
pose l ought to continue my afternoon
conventionality and tell you that I'm
glad TO meet you, but I'll indulge in the
luxury of truthfulness. I'm sure we
shouldn't like each other"
Mr.. Kerwin showed neither surprise
nor embarrassment. Perhaps you are
rash in your judgments" he said pleas
antly, and the next moment he had
passed indiffeIently on.
Oddly enough, Miss O'COnnor was
thinking of this first meeting as she
stood on the rail Of a leaning fence
that outlined a dusty Virginia road
way Hers she was in a torn riding
habit, her hands scratched and bleed
ing, her hair disheveled, her silk hat
denied in the crown, standing like a
lone tramp amid strange surround
ings, without her horse and without
hope of company TO guide her on her
way.
AS she stood there she suddenly re-
nembered that Letitia had told her
that the old KeTwin home was five
miles from the Mantons' place, and in
spite Of her predicam6nt she began
idly TO wonder. as she had so often
done before, why this man had seemed
TO avoid her purDOsely whenever they
met in their social rounds in Washing
ton. If he were really looking for a
rich wife. her wealth ought to have
proved an attraction. for the daughter
of 'CrOesus" O'CCnnor-as her father
was called-was not unmindful of this
reputed attraction. Had she been ugly.
or stupid, or awkward, or less admired
by other men she would have accent
ed his neglect indifferently or humbly
and thought no more about it But as
it was he haunted her as a psychology
ical problem 1t was at this moment
that Philip Kerwin appt AIRED coming
around bend in the road, mounted on
a lean horse and leading her own.
His painting horse showed that he
had been riding hard.
You're not hurt?" he called out in
a relieved tone, as he caught sight of
her. You're not hurt?"
You speak regretfully." she smiled
clambering down TO meet him. No
I'm not hurt. I only feel like a heroine
in a second-class melodrama. or a re-
incarnation of Nine. Blavatsky prac-
ticing telepathy."
'Why?" he asked. with his usual
calm, descending from his horse.
Because I was thinking of you"
she said, with an Indifferent candor
that preciuded boldness. I'm LOST
was wondering about the natives. IT
suddenly occurred to me that your
house was near here and l thought I
might discover some of your family's
old retainers to guide me on my way
My horse fell and threw me into the
ditch"
And 7 caught him a mile down the
road he returned. Il recognized him
as one 1 have seen you ride in Wash
ington-I was afraidfthat you had met
with serious accident. Were you all
alone ."
Yes. 7 escaped this morning"
From where"
From Senator Manton s-they have
collected a house party-did you come
today as one of their guests?"
mo. / came yesterday to spend two
weeks of my holiday and to look after
things at home"
As he spoke sire noticed a subtle
change in him. He seemed younger,