The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1907-01-04

walked quickly to the hall door Of No.
a3.
rs Lady Astrupp at homer he ASK.
ed sharply as the door swung back In
answer to his knock.
The servant drew back deferentialfy.
Haer iadyship has almost finished
lunch. sir" he said
For answer Chilcote stepped through
the doorway and walked halfway
across the hall
"All right" he said. "But don't dis
turb her on my account I'll wait In
the white room till she has finished ~
And, without taking further notice of
the servant, he began to mount the
stairs.
In the room where he had chosen to
wait pleasant wood fire frightened
the dull January afternoon and sof-
tened the thick white curtains, the gilt
furniture and the venetian vases filled
with white roses. Moving straight
forward. Chilcote paused by the CRATE
and stretched his hands to the blaze;
then, with his usual instability, he
turned and passed to couch that
stood yard or two away.
On the coach. tucked away between
a novel and n crystal gazing ball, was
white Persian kitten, fast asleep
Chilcote picked up the ball and held it
between his eyes and the fire, then he
laughed superciliously, tossed it back
into its place and caught the kittens
tail. The little animal stirred, stretch
ed itself and began to pur. At the
hn
opened.
Chilcote turned around. "I particu-
larly said you were not to be disturb
ed." he began. Have I merited dis
pleasure" He spoke fast, with the
uneasy tone that so often underran
his words.
Lady Astrupp took his hand with
confiding gesture and smiled.
Never displeasure," she said linger-
ingly, and again she smiled. The smile
might have struck close observer as
family artificial. But what man in
Chilcote's frame of mind has time to
be observant where women are con-
cerned? The manner of the smile was
very sweet and almost caressing. and
that sufficed. ~
What have you been doing?" she
asked after moment. II thought
was quite forgotten" She moved
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 suppleness,
the possibility Of future development.
that belong to youth. She wore a lace
colored gown that harmonized with
the room and with the delicacy Of her
skin.
"Now sit down and rest or walk
about the room. I shan't mind which,"
She nestled into the couch and picked
up the crystal ball.
What Is the toy forT' Chilcote
looked 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
get himself. She never asked him
how he was, she never expected i'm
possibilities. She let him come and go
and act as he pleased. never demand
Ing 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
spiteful on occasion. but that did not
weigh with him. He sometimes ex-
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 a
different consideration.
"What is the toy forT' he asked
again.
She looked up slowly. "How cruel
Of you, Jack! 1t Is my very latest
hobby"
1t was part Of her attraction that she
was never without craze. Each new
one was as fieeting as the last. but to
each she brought the same delightfully."-
insincere enthusiasm, the same pictur-
esque devotion. Each was a pose, but
she posed so sweetly that nobody lost
patience.
"You mustn't laugh!' she protested.
letting the kitten slip to the ground
"Tve had lessons at guineas each
from the most fascinat ting person-a
rofessional--and I'm becoming quite
an adept. OF course I haven't been
much beyond the milky appearance
yet. but the milky appearances is every
ihlng. you know. The rest will come.
I am trying to persuade Blanche to let
me have pavilion at her party In