Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-04-17
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observed Ferrall--"unless'--
looking questioningly at Siward.
T've a date with your wife," OBJ
served that young man, strolling to-
ward the hall.
The Page boys, Rena Bonnesdel and
Eileen Shannon were seated at caro-
table together, very much engaged
with one another, the sealed pack ~
ing neglected on the green cloth,
vast pink box of bonbons beside it not
neglected.
O'Hara and Quarter, with Marion
Page and Mrs. Mortimer, were I'M
mersed in the game, already stony
faced and oblivious to outer sounds.
About the rooms were distributed
girls en- tete-tete, girls eating bonbons
and watching the cards, among them
Sylvia Lands. hands loosely clasped
behind her, standing at Quarters ell
bow to observe and profit by an ex-
pert performance.
AS Siward strolled in she raised her
dainty head for an instant, smiled in
silence and resumed study of her
fiance'S game.
A moment later, when Quarter had
emerged brilliantly from the melee,
she looked up again triumphantly, sup
posing Siward was lingering some
where waiting 80 join her. And she
was lust trihe surprised and disap-
pointed to find him nowhere In sight.
She had wished him to observe the
brilliancy of Mr.. Quarters game.
But Siward, outside on the veranda.
was saying at that moment to his
hostess, II shall be very glad to read
my mothers letter at any time you
choose"
1T must be later, Stephen. Pm to
cut in when Kemp sends for me. He
has a lot of letters to attend to. Tell
me. what do you think of Sylvia Lam
dis"
Fl like her, Of course" he replied
pleasantly.
Grace Ferrall stood thinking mo-
ment. "That sketch you made proved
a great success. didn't it?" And she
laughed under her breath.
"Did IT'D I thought Mr.. Quarter
seemed annoyed
Really? What muff that cousin
of mine is. He's such a muff, you
know, that the very sight of his point
ed beard and pompadour hair and his
complacency sets me in fidgets to stir
him up"
81 don't think you'd best use me for
the stick next time," said Siward.
Hes not my cousin, you know"
Mrs. Ferrall shrugged her boyish
shoulders: by the way" she said Gu
riously, "who was that girl?"
what girlT,, he asked coolly, look
ing at his hostess, now the very incar.
nation of delicate mockery with her
pretty laughing mouth. her boyish sum
burn and freckles.
"You won't tell me, supposeP .
"Tm sorry
"Was she pretty, StephenY'
"Yes," she said sulkily. II wish you
wouldn't
Nonsense! Do you think I'm going
to let you off without some sort of con-
fession2 If had time now-but !
haven't. Kemp has business letters.
He'll be furious, so I've got to take his
cards or we won't have any pennies
to buy gasoline"
She retreated backward, with a gay
nod of malice, and turned to enter the
house and met Sylvia lands face to
face in the hallway.
"You mink" she whispered. Aren't
you ashamed"
Every much, dear. What forT And.
catching sight of Siward outside in the
starlight, OWNED perhaps something
of her hostess meaning, for she laugh
ed uneasily, like child who winces
under a stern eye.
"You don't suppose for a moment"
she began, that have
Eyes, do. You always do"
mot with that sort of man." she re-
turned naively. "He won't"
Mrs. Ferrall regarded her suspicious
". "You always pick out exactly the
wrong man to play with
They had moved back side by side
into the hall, the hostess arm linked
in the arm of the younger girl.
1.-THE wrong man" repeated Sylvia.
instinctively freeing her arm, her
straight brows beginning to bend In
ward.
II didn't mean that-exactly. You
know how much | care for his mother
and for him." The obstinate down.
ward trend of the brows, the narrow
ing blue gaze, signaled mutiny to the
woman who knew her so well.
what is SO wrong with Mr.. ST.
ward? she asked.
Nothing. There was an affair
This spring In town. know 1t. Is
that allT'
"Yes, for the present." replied Grace
Ferrall uncomfortably. Then: "For
goodness sake, Sylvia, don't cross ex-
anime me that way! care great deal
fer that boy
$50 do l. I've made him take my
dog"
There was an abrupt pause, and
presently Mrs. Ferrall began to laugh.
IL mean it, really" said Sylvia quiet
~. II like him immensely"
Dearest, you mean 1t generously,
with your usual exaggeration. You
have heard that he has been foolish,
and because he's so young. so likable,
every instinct, every impulse In you
is aroused toto be nice to HIM
"And If that were true
..yDt, .u1 ;s no harm dnQr't Mrs