The Somerset reporter., 1907-08-01
The Conquest
OF Cutler.
By LOUISE MERRIFIELD.

Tenant saw her first when she
rounded the hotel point and headed for
the open bay. She was alone. but the
little naphtha launch belonged to Cut
Ter. There was no mistaking that
With its polished brass rails, its red
morocco cushions and its trim. slender
lines, 1t was the smartest bit of sailing
craft on Lake Glenora.
And for over three weeks Muriel Ar
den had had the sole exclusive use of
1t and had exercised the privilege at
every opportunity. To Tenant 1t was
more than mere girllsh willfulness. 1t
was frankly Haunting In his face her
conquest of Cutler and her defiance of
himself and preference for things be-
longing to said Cutler.
He watched her as she neared the
pier. If she saw the tall. moody figure
In gray flannels, she made no sign.
Hatless, the wind blowing her brown
hair back from her tanned, clear cut
face she held her way steadily toward
the open bay, one hand on the little
brass tipped pilot wheel, and looked
neither to the right nor the left.
Phil Tenant muttered something
under his breath and turned quickly on
bis heel toward the hotel. 1t was after
T. If he hurried he could still catch
the night boat for Chicago. Perhaps
he could even get away before she re-
turned. 1t was growing late. Up at
the hotel they were lighting the colored
Japanese lanterns around the veran-
das. There was to be hop that night
He remembered Muriel had told him
she was going to II with Cutler. He
avoided the main entrance. with its
palms and pretty girls. and slipped up
20 his own room to pack his suit cases
On the way upstairs he met Cutler.
who looked anxious and annoyed.
did you see the little girl any
where?"
Tenant turned on him hOtly.
"Whom do You refer tor
Cutler laughed easily, without malice,
and ignored the resentment in the 9TH
er's tone
There's q storm coming up, and
didn't want her to so out In my boat
alone
AS he passed on downstairs leisurely
Tenant paused and looked after him,
his fists clenched tightly. He would
have enjoyed flinging him down the
whole flight for those words. 1.-THE
little girl" 1t was the easy proprie-
tary familiarity that cut. That any
man on earth should dare to use that
tone In speaking Of Muriel-his Muriel!
Then like flash came the memory of
that straight. cold little figure In the
launch as 1t had passed the pier, Of
the proud little face that would not
turn his way, and he went on upstairs
with a logged, bitter sense of all things
gone wrong Perhaps she was Cutters
"llttle girl"
The Chicago boat was due at the
Glenora at $50. At the music of
the Hungarian string orchestra came
softly from the palm hidden ballroom.
For a moment Tenant hesitated on
the veranda listening to it. Muriel was
In there he thought. She had proba-
bly, returned and was dancing perhaps
with Cutler. while he was going away
from her forever. He had been q fool
to come at all. 1t had been her half
laughing challenge, that last night on
the roof garden. They were with the
Wllburton party. Cutler had been
there also, but Muriel had sat next to
Tenant and he had fancied that last
instant on the stairs that she had
meant more than a mere Irritation
be a member of the summer colony at
Glenora.
He had taken her at her word and
gone to Glenora, and what Miss Arden
had begun on the roof garden she fin
ished at Glenora. But Tenant was
slow, slow to fall In love, slow to be-
lieve that he had the ghost of a chance
with girl like Muriel Arden, slower
yet to risk that chance In one last
throw. And while he had waited, sure
Of himself. but doubtful of Muriel, Cut
Ter had come down with his launch, his
motor car, his coach and all the other
accessories of half a dozen million or
so, and Muriel had seemed to waver
The night air was still and heavy.
Suddenly a sweep of cool, keen wind
blew In freshly from the bay. It
caught the frail Jap lanterns and tossed
them like leaves TO and fro. The bam-
boo curtains at the long French win
dows rustled and swung inward, and
out on the lawn the palms and viii
lows bent before it with 1.-THE, swift
obeisance.
Tenant damned his hat low over his
eyes and started on a run for the pier.
The rain splashed In his face, and
glare of dazzling light shot across the
northwest heavens. He ran faster. II
he could make the boathouse before
the storm broke, he could take the
steamer. Just as the thunder burst
In low report from the gray edged
black clouds he passed Cutters boat
house. and as the next flare of quick