Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-04-10


we're a uar!hcr OF people there--Mrs,
Leroy Mortimer very fetching With
her Japanesa.llke colofing, black hair
and eyes that slanted just enough;
Rena Bonnesdel, smooth. violet eyed,
blond and rather stunning In a pecul-
iarly innocent way; Miss Caithness.
very pale and SHINY attractive. and
the Page boys. Willis and Gordon. de-
ligEtfuIly shy and interested and hav-
ing a splendid time with any woman
who could afford the intellectual lei
sure.
Siward spoke pleasantly to them all.
Other people drifted down-Marion
Page, who looked like a schoolmarm
and rode like d demon; Eileen Shan
non, pink and white as q thorn bios
som, with the deuce to pay lurking in
her gray eyes; Kathryn Tassel and
Mrs. Vendenning, whom he did not
know, ard finally his hostess, Grace
Ferrall with her piquant, almost boy
ish, freckled face and sweet. frank
eyes and the figure of an adolescent.
She gave Siward one pretty sun
Drowned hand and laid the other above
his, holding it moment in her light
clasp.
stephen, Stephen" she said under
her breath, sits because I've q few
things to scold you about that I've
asked you to Shotover."
81 suppose know" he said.
81 should hope you do. I've letter
tonight from your mother"
"From my motherY'
81 want you to go over it-with me-
If we can find q minute after dinner"
She released his hand, turning partly
around Kemp, dinners been an
nounced, so cut that dog story In two.
! VIII you give me your arm, Major
Belwether? Howard" to her cousin
Mr. Quarter, who turned from Miss
Lands to listen, will you please try
to recollect whom you are to take IN
and do it?" And as she passed Siward
In q low voice, mischievous and slangy,
sylvia lands for yours. as she says
sha didn't have enough of you on the
cliffs"
The others appeared to know how to
pair according to some previous no.
tice. Siward turned to Sylvia lands
with the pleasure of his good fortune
so plainly visible in his face that her
| ,,x
"You see," she said gayly, "you can
not escape me. There Is no use In
looking wildly at Agatha Caithness"-
he wasn't-"or pretending you're pleas
ed" slipping her rounded bare arm
through the arm he offered. You
can't guess what I've done tonight.
Nobody can guess except Grace Fer
rail- and one other person And II you
try to look happy beside me may tell
you-somewhere between sherry and
cognac-oh, yes, I've done two things
I have your dog for your
"Not Sagamore?" he said incredulous-
" as he was seating her.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. ] said to AR.
Quarter, 4 want Sycamore and when
he tried to give him to me | made him
take my check. Now you may draw
another for me at your leisure. Mr..
Siward. Tell me, are you pleasedT'
for she was looking for the troubled
hesitation In his face, and she saw 1t
dawning.
"Mr. Quarter doesn't like me. you
know
"But do" she said coolly. IL told
him how much pleasure 1t would give
me. That is sufficient, Is 1t not, FOR
everybody concerned?"
"He knew that you meant to-
"No; that concerns only you and Inc.
Are you trying to spoil my pleasure In
what have done"
II can't take the dog, Miss Lands"
"Oh," she said, vexed, 81 had no idea
you were yindictive."
There was a silence. He bent for
ward trife, gravely scrutiniZing
hand painted" name card, though II
might not have astonished him t
learn that somebody's foot had held
the brush. Somewhere In the vicinity
Grace Ferrall had discovered a woman
who supported dozens Of relatives by
painting that sort Of thing for the
summer residents at Vermilion Point
down the coast. So, being charitable
she left an order and. being thrifty
insisted on using the cards spite Of
her husbands gibes.
People were now inspecting then
with more or less curiosity. Siwart
found his hand painting" so unat
tractive that he had just tipped it ovel
to avoid seeing it, when burst Of
laughter from Lord Alderdene made
everybody turn. Mrs. Vendenning was
laughing; SO was Rena Bonnesdel, look
ing over Quarters shoulder at caro-
he was holding-not one Of the hand
decorated, but a sheet of note paper
containing q drawing Of man rush
ing after gun shy dog.
The extraordinary cackling laughter
OF his lordship obliterated other sounds
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