Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-06-05

DOWN 10 cOnSTdlutdtc tuCA. oSi' 49,
always instinctively and particularly
nice to people Of Plank's sort whom
she occasionally encountered, was SO
faultlessly amiable, that Plank, who
had never before permitted himself
the privilege of monopolizing her.
found himself doing 1t so easily that
it kept him in state of persistent
mental intoxication.
Siward, inclined to be amused by
the duration of the trance into which
Plank had fallen. watched the prog
ress Of that bulky young mans infatu'
alton as he sat there on the pools
marble edge, exchanging trivial views
on trivial subjects with Mrs. Leroy
Mortimer.
Once in their history. during her
early married life, Siward had been
very sentimental about her, but nei-
Their he nor she had approached the
danger line closer than to make dar-
ing eyes at one another across the
frontiers of good taste. And their
youthful enchantment had faded so
naturally, so pleasantly, that always
there had remained to them both an
agreeable after taste-a sort of gay
understanding which almost invaria-
bly, led to mutual banter when they
encountered. But now something APP
peared to be lacking in their rather
listless badinage-something Of the
usual flavor which once had sailed
even laughing silence with signifi'
canoe. Siward, too, had ceased to be
amused at the spectacle OF Plank's
calflike infatuation, and Leila Morti
mer's bored smile had lasted so long
that her olive-pink cheeks were stil
and she relaxed her fixed features
with little shrug that was also some
thing of SILVER Then, looking pru
deltly around, she encountered ST.
wards eyes, and during moments
hesitation they considered one another
with an increasing curiosity that
slowly became tentative intelligence
And her eyes said very plainly and
wickedly to Siward's: "Oho, my friend!
So it bores you to see Mr.. Plank mo
nopolizing an engaged girl who be-
longs to Howard Quarter"
Then without appearing to she took
Plank away from temptation so skill
fully that nobody except Siward IN
derstood that the young man had been
incontinently removed. He, Plank.
never doubling that he was a perfect
ly free agent. decided that the time
had arrived for triumphant retirement
Sylvia turned to Siward, glanced up
at him, hesitated and began to laugh
consciously:
"What do you think of my latest sen
timental acquisition"
"He'd be an ornament to stock
farm" replied Siward, out of humor.
"How brutal you can be!' she unused,
smiling.
Nonsense! He's a plain bounder,
isn't hep"
81 don't know-is he? He struck me
a triHe appealingly, even pathetically.
They usually do, that sort. AS though
the trouble they took could ever be
worth the time they loser
She sat. smiling maliciously down at
the water, smoothing out the soaked
skirt of her swimming suit and swing
ing her legs refectiyely.
"Are you reconciled?' she asked
presently.
ITO what?"
'To leaving Shotover. Today is our
last day, you know. You may be here
again, but II shall not be if ever
come to Shotover again."
Her stockinged heels beat the DEVILS
tattoo against the marble sides of the
pool, She reached up above her head,
drawing down a towering branch Of
japanese orange, and caressed her deli
cate nose with the white blossoms
dreamily, then mischlevously, "Tm ac-
customing myself to this most sig
nificant perfume" she said, looking at
him askance. And she deliberately
hummed the wedding march, watching
the color rise in his sullen face.
eff you had the courage of spar
row you'd make life worth something
for us both," he said.
She crossed her knees, one slender
ankle imprisoned in her hand. leaning
forward thoughtfully above the water.
"Our last day" she unused. "for we
shall never be just you and again
never again, my friend, after we leave
this rocky coast of Eden. / am to be
married year from Nov. l."
He looked up at her in dark surprise,
for he had heard that their wedding
cate had been set for the coming win
ter.
"a years engagement he repeated,
unconvinced.
at was my wish. I think that is
sufficient for everybody concerned"
Then, averting her face, which had
suddenly lost little Of its color. "A
year is little enough" she said impa-
tiently. "I-what has happened to us
requires an interval-a decent interval
for its burial. Stephen Siward, what
do you think of me nOw"
81 am learning" he replied simply.
"What, If you please%
Learning a little about what ! am
losing"
"You mean mew
"Yes."
She bent forward impulsively, bal
ancing her body on the pools rim
with both arms, dropping her knee un-
til her ankles swung interlocked above
the water. Listen" she said In low,
distinct voice. what you lose Is no
other mans gain. If warm and ex-
pand in your presence, If say clever
things sometimes, If / am intelligent,
..A,,ri.,or II 10 haoaIlsQ