The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-03-06

dreamed she'd take it so nicely, did
you?"
Ethel glanced at her mother. What
q darling mother she was, in her black
chiffon, with touches of real lace and
frosty pearls. She was a thoroughbred,
was that little mother.
Between the first and second acts a
steady stream of callers came into their
box. No seemed surprised to find
Tremayne there, and she wondered If
they knew. No. That could not be, for
no n offered congratulations. Be-
tween the second and third acts Ire
mayne excused himself. There was a
friend on the other side of the house he
wanted to see. In truth, he felt urgent
need Of a soothing cigarette. Dick Van
Alystine slipped into the chair behind
Ethel.
"Nice little girl, you are, Ethel, to
make yourself SO pleasant to Grey's
latest protege. What is it? The coming
Caruso? Or a second Whistler? Or
just a common Socialist"
Ethers cheeks burned.
Really, Dick, it seems the correct
thing for you boys to make fun Of any
II who works for his living"
Dick whistled softly.
$50 that's the game! You are not
thinking Of moving down to one Of the
settlement houses, are you? Rum cook
ing down there, the girls tell me-"
Ethel was glad when the curtain rose
on the last act, but there was still Sher.
rvs to face, and, in the great gold and
white salon, a stream Of we'll groomed,
clean cut men passing their table.
Each man seemed bent on stopping for
a chat! But it was Mrs. Rainsford who
really held court. Ethel was curiously
uncomfortable. The rose shaded lights
on their table did not soften the hump
on T~remayne's shoulder nor the sharp
edges of his manners under the trying
ordeal Of innumerable introductions
and the in%cessant fire Of repartee. She
could not understand why these men,
who had seen them riding together, did
not recognize the riding master. She
was glad when her mother gave the
signal to rise, CAD when the cool dark
ness Of Fosty-fourth street swallowed
their carriage, glad when Tremayne
told his host that he would like to be
dropped at the Circle, glad when she
was safe in her own room, with its
rose cretonne hangings shutting out
her mothers q~uizzical. half laughing
eyes.
Leonard Grey's private secretary
held the telephone receiver aloft.
while her right hand was laid care
fully over the %mouthpiece.
Mrs. Rainsford?" she announced
interrogatively.
you may go for q few minutes,
Miss Nettle," replied Grey, with an
odd smile, and he reached for his
desk phone.
Good morning"
"Oh, Leonard, is that you?" rippled
exultantly along the invisible wires.
ut has just dawned on me that you
are the cleverest man. Ethel is de-
termined to sail for Europe next week.
OF course l asked no questions-just
promised to get bookings, if possible.
Do you think it could be managed:'
certainly; anything can be man
aged if you go at it right"
Grey's smiling lips were very close
to the telephone and his voice was
soft and %caressing. Il feel quite sure
l could get a suit on the Amerika"-
"Oh, one large stateroom will do us
anything, so she never sees that
odious man again. The cure is con
plete."
.sRut what ahonr MOI 7 thint,
ought to have something to say about
my W wedding trip"
Over the wire foated u gasp.
Don't argue, Elizabeth" continued
Grey, with a certain ring Of deter
mination in his voice. you'll need
me ON the other side to fend off un-
desirable counts in Italy and impos-
sible pretty princes in Germany"
But a honeymoon with a grown
daughter as an accessory The
voice at the other end Of the wire
faltered even as Grey's gained in
frmness.
For the good of the cause l think
we could stand it-and, Elizabeth,
dear, rather than wait any longer I'd
well, it was an awful temptation to
tell Ethel and her riding master to run
of and be happy forever afterward"-
But they would not be happy
Exactly. and that is why I think
I deserve my reward-dearest'-
"Oh, not over the wire. Come up
tonight"
Grey smiled.
mo. at 3 for tea"