Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-07
Nv.

Mary Hadding came forward easily, q
distinctly graceful figure, clad in the soft
est tints, for her costume was the har-
monious creation of a Partisan artist. Her
\ complexion was clear and pale. the gold In
l her hair showed above her low forehead,
her eyes were Swallowed by thick dark
lashes. So elusive was the quality of her
attraction that not one OF the group look
ing at her could tell whether she was actu-
ally beautiful or not
MY dear Miss Hadding. I am so glad to
see you." said Harriet Cheever. and turned
to make the introductions.
Mary. from the moment of her entrance,
had felt perfectly at her ease; she smiled
at the two pretty women by the tea table,
she responded graciously to Portucarrero's
formal salutation. and she turned pleas
ant look upon Col. Foxboro. He had q
genial old face, he was thoroughly the sort
Of man a woman can appeal to; Mary saw
it at a glance and met his look through his
eyeglasses with her sweetest smile.
He greeted her with old-fashioned cour-
tesy. Miss Hadding?' he repeated after
Harriet Cheever. Miss Mary Hadding, a
niece Of my old friend. Mrs. Whiting?"
Mary assented. suddenly conscious Of a
discord. The old mans searching glance,
the gravity Of his greeting checked her
confidence. a throb of uneasiness stirred
her quietude.
she asked gently, clasping Ter hands tight
ly in her mum to hide the culver that
shook them.
For thirty-five years" said the colonel.
letting his eyeglasses drop and swing by
their cord; take this chair. Miss Had
ding" he added. indicating his own.
But Mary had retreated to the further
side of the tea table. a sudden color deep
ening in her cheeks.
Meanwhile. under the cover of the
col oners commonplace, Molly Lane leaned
over and whispered to Christine Jerome:
Look at the ambassador-he has seen
ghost!"
Christine Jerome cast a swift glance
across the tea table and was startled by
the expression on Portucarrero's face For
the moment the mask seemed to have
lifted. the heavy-lidded eyes were open and
fixed upon the new arrival; the pallor of
his face had increased and the veins on his
temples stood ont. the lines about his
mouth had hardened: it was almost look
of excitement.
ION guard" breathed Molly wickedly
Christine laid a warning hand over hers
and glanced at Mary herself. The girls
heightened color and quick breathing were
easy to understand, and might be readily
attributed to embarrassment at her advent
among perfect strangers but it was not
SO easy to explain the sudden constraint
which had fallen on the group or the fact
spoon industriously in cup that he had
drained in the first moment Of the de-
movement.
1t was Mary who. with natural tact. re-
leyed the situation; she asked for a cup
of tea and looked around at the others
with a smile. I'm afraid interrupted an
interesting discussion she said; pray go
on and forget me-
said Harriet Cheever gently, land we are
called to repentance
Col Foxboro dropped his spoon with a
clatter: a gaucnerte that was SO unusual
that Molly Lane laughed.
Don't be frightened colonel" she said
wickedly. ut was only the Fennels and
everybod in the world has discussed the
Fennels. Have you seen her?'
Heaven Forbid" said the colonel devout-
ly "she's a female suffragfst. and what
else was she. Harriet a manicure?"
The women all laughed softly
mot quite so bad. colonel; trained
nurse"
''When I'm i'll I shall be sent to a
Catholic hospital" said the colonel decis-
lively: las for these young things with bibs
and butterfly caps and matrimonial inten-
TONS I'll none of EN-!
Now I've always intended to take care
of you myself. dear colonel" said Molly
mallciously.F
be worse than a nurse. because I've been
in love with you for twenty-five years"
"Why, 1 wasn't born then!' cried Molly
in vexed tone.
You're getting the worst of 1t. Molly
laughed Christine: "let Col. Foxboro alone;
he has the most inconvenient memory; he
always knows your age"
MY dear lady. 1 couldn't tell yours to
save my life" declared the colonel: II only
remember that you were old enough to in
terrupt my courtship of your mother"
Of shall tell herr cried Christine. this
is news to me-"
TT wouldn't be to your mother" re-
marked the colonel dryly, "she refused me-
My dear Miss Hadding," he added abrupt
ly, "how long were you in PARISH
Mary hesitated moment; she had to try
to remember the length of May Haddings
stay and she blushed with annoyance.
1.-TWO years" she said at last. land 1 am
very ford OF Paris
Portucarrero. who had been silent, turned