The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1907-11-30
Ruth Bently's "Dream Lover"

Bv Priscilla Craven.


+, the iced tea. Fancy! I've wasted a
whole hour just talking to you"
Thank you laughed Josslyn. ANY
one would think we were husband and
wife" Mrs. Spencer rustled across
the yeranda with newly-wed would
| be-matronly air of dignity. The big
St. Bernard dog gazed after his mis-
tress, but even he was too hot for exer-
else, SO ne contented himself by lay
ing his huge head on Josslyn's knee.
Josslyn closed his eyes. The heat
made him drowsy and the perfume of
the lilies lulled him to sleep. He must
| have fallen into a doze for he was
startled to hear Ladies' deep toned,
terrifying bark and woman's little
scream.
He looked up and saw Laddie stand
ing at the top Of the steps which led
up to the house from the road barking
at something or somebody who evil
IDENTIFY stood below.
! He hurried to the rescue. Its all
right" he shouted. Ladies' as gentle
|
At this moment Mrs. Spencer ap-
peared on the veranda "Oh. you poor
darling, how hot you must be! You
must be regular grease spot" she
said, speaking rapidly in her rather
high voice well, now, l declare,
you look as cool as a cucumber, doesn't
she, Josslyn? l shall be dead soon,
and you'll have to bury a grease spot.
You can't cremate that, can you? But,
come right in at once and sit down;
and, let me introduce my cousin"
The introduction was duly acknowl-
edged
! It was a gay and animated scene
that Ruth Bentley and Josslyn surveyed
from their chairs under big tree that
cast grateful shadow. The tennis
and croquet grounds OF the Albion
club were spacious and altogether ad-
mirable. All the tennis nets were &C.
cupied and girls in short skirts and
rolled up sleeves were playing as Wig
orously as though it we're not 80 in
the shade Ruth could see Ena Spen-
Ger, her feet twinkling from one side
Of the court to the other, laughing and
shouting directions to her partner, and
hammering away at the balls for all
she was worth.
"Oh! for a book and q shady nook, p
quoted Josslyn.
Ruth smiled. "Ah! well, you know.
we all have own own way of translat-
ing old Omar's words
"'Ah! make the most Of what we may
| yet spend,
Before we, too, into the dust descend.
you and may be wrong. Ena may
be right"
You don't really think So" he
said.
She laughed merrily. mo, not real
ly. Enas meat would certainly be my
poison. But there's one advantage
that accrues to US by Ena's energy. It
makes US feel all the cooler, doesn't
itw
He nodded absently, his eyes fixed
on the bunch of beautiful red roses
that she wore in an antique silver belt.
He had given them to her just as they
were about to start for the club. She
took them with a slight yet perceptible
hesitation and a faint word of thanks
he could not hear Did their red glow
ing hearts whisper any message to
her? Did their perfume breathe Ais
love? He could not tell.
Il am going away at the end of the
week." he said abruptly.
He fancied that a sudden shadow
chased the light from her eyes for a
second, but he could not be sure. When
she spoke her voice was calm and
friendly.
Must you?" she said. Il thought
you were enjoying the rest"
Il know, but l have been very lazy
the last few weeks. My publishers are
beginning to stir me up about book
have promised them for the autumn
can't write here-my mind is too dis
tracted. IL, who laughed at Ena-l
am becoming restless. Curious, isn't
it? Let's stroll homeward" They
started in silence.