The Washington herald., 1907-10-14

happened 70 acquire the TanCn. went
into land purchase with some friends of
mine, and the first thing I knew I had
ranch. and I don't yet quite understand
how I came by IT, I didn't know what
to do with It, out went out there and
found 1t a gloriously lonely place, with
an adobe house and a courtyard. stuck
up on the side of the mountain. The
people out there told me to stock the
plaee-I have the title to a good part of
the big valley-I got a manager, and.
strange 10 say. I haven't been swindled.
Every year or two I try to go out there
for six weeks. It's Il superb climate, and
I live on horseback. as / did when l was
a boy. I should like so much TO show
you the ranch which found In my pocket
one day"
Alicia smiled and shook her head,
There is so much to see, and one can't
stay in America forever; il is so ex-
pensive."
Senator March looked at her with secret
pity He thought what a nasty freak of
Fate II was that this exquisite creature
should want what he would so easily have
given her but could not
Alicia Vernon, with a woman's subtlety,
noticed and liked this attitude of the
American toward women-the eternal
readiness 10 give. 1t was distinctly diff
ferent from an Englishman's attitude.
who is strictly just to his womankind,
but is not expected to be generous, and
the normal woman hates Justice as much
as she loves generosity. Alicia, with a
sigh, recalled the storms concerning
money in which her married life with
Guy Vernon had been passed, and the
laborious subterfuges which she was
forced to employ TO keep her father from
knowing the exact state of her finances.
And here were two Americans, strangers
10 her and with oceans of money. who
were ready 10 give II to a wife as they
would give suEar-plums TO childrenl
Colegrove determined TO see more of his
charming vis-a-vis, and went up boldly
to Gen. Talbot and asked permission to
call on him. Gen Talbot, the kindliest
of men under his English reserve, cor
daily invited him.
Il was remarkably pleasant dinner 10
everybody, with one exception-Sir Percy
Carlyon His pride. his self-respect, his
self-Iove suffered cruelty every moment
that Lucy Armytage was in the company
of Alicia Vernon. He had taken Lucy in
to dinner and he could not but see the
advance she had made even IN the short
time, IN tact and self-pOssession. Not
Self-consciOus word or look escaped her
as she sat talking charming nOthings 10
the man whose lips had been upon hers
only the night before, and no one would
have dreamed that Sir Percy CarlyOn was
upon any different footing with her than
any other woman at the dinner.
The next week was the week of grand
opera. Senator March took box for the
whole week, and three nights during that
FrT
his guests As Mrs Vernon sat in the
shadow of the box, listening TO the en-
chanting voice of one of the greatest
tenors in the world, it dawned upon her
mind how privileged was the position of
an American woman where men were
concerned. The social customs, which
permitted men 10 lay almost at the feet
of a woman, were entirely new 10 her,
and when this was done with the tact
and high breeding OF Senator March, he
appealed TO the craving for luxury In her
which had been her undOing. He had
asked her TO name which operas in the
weeks repertoire she would Ike to hear.
and when she had made her selection he
called in his carriage for her and her
father, and she found a beautiful bOu-
quet waiting for her in the opera box
and a supper after the opera
Whittier Senator March was drifting
was plain 10 everybody except himself.
He had grown accustomed 10 consider
himself as a bachelor for life He did
not, himself, know the cause Of his bach
elorhood. Few women pleased him thor
oughly, and he had put of from year TO
year the search for the other half OF his
being and suddenly he found himself a
middle-aged man. He disliked the idea
of an inequality In age and felt no desire
TO make any of the sparkling young girls
he knew Mrs. Roger March, and the
women who were suitable in age did not
often retain the power to please his aes-
thetic sense. He had no fancy for widows
and did not care to be the object Of a
womans second love. When he heard
Alicia VernOn's history, however, il OC-
CURED to him that a woman s. second
husband might possibly be her first love.
These things all came to him before
the soft spring days which Alicia YER
ron her father and Sir Percy Carlyon
spent at his country place Senator
March had particularly desired Lucy
Armytage's company. He had been
fond of her from childhood, and she
was one OF the few young girls who
did worry him with the insistencies of
youth. but Lucy. after having accepted
the fret suggestion Of the visit with
enthusiasm. was not now able TO come /
Senator March explained why at din
ner the first evening Of his house |
party, which was as large as his mod |
est house could accommodate. and |
numbered two ladies besides Alicia |
Vernon.
I regret very much that my young |
friend, Miss Armytage, is not one Of |
US, but she found herself obliged to |
go out 10 Kentucky for a fortnight's |
visit TO some relatives" he said. Il |
believe in Kentucky people are in |
bondage TO their relations. However,
shall hope &c have Miss Armytage at |
our next reunion. for we must come |
here often. Congress promises TO sit |
into the summer and we must take |
refuge IN the country as often as we
can"
Alicia Vernon. sitting on Senator |
March's right hand, with Sir Percy |
Carlyon on her left, turned toward /
him with d look which held a mean |
ing 1t was Sir Percy who would /
not let Lucy stay under the same roof |
with her. Alicia Vernon. No repulse /
he had ever given her stung like this |
For the first time she felt an impulse |
of fury toward him and desire to make |
him suffer. She lay awake IN her bed |
that night. hot and cold with rage.
The next day was Sunday, and in /
the afternoon the usual Sunday walk |
along the mountains was proposed. |
Senator March was too accomplished q /
host to devote himself to any lady Of /
the party, and as there were not |
enough to go round the gentlemen, |
he attached himself to Gen. Talbot |
for the afternoon. A little clever man. |
agement on Alicia's part. in the pres |
ence of her father. secured Sir Percy |
Carlyon as her escort. Sir Percy made |
no effort to escape. He knew that |
strange liking which women have for |
nnening the grave Of q dead nassinn |