Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-08-07


though their gaze. meeting, seemed
lost ID dreamy devotion or drowned Id
the contemplation Of the spiritual and
remote
Plank came docilely from his Dutch
Reformed church to sit beside Leila.
AS for Mortimer, once vestryman,
he never came at all. There was a
new set of men among whom he had
recently drifted, to the unfeigned dis
gust of gentlemen like Major Bel
wether-"club" men in the commoner
and more sinister Interpretation OF the
word.
Mortimer stayed out at night very
frequently now; also he appeared to
max. his money go further or was
luckicr ut his card killings" because
he seldom attempted to bully Leila,
being apparently content with his al
iowance.
Once or twice Plank saw him with
an unusually attractive girl belonging
to world very far removed from
Leila's. Somebody said she was an
actress when she did anything at all
lone Lydia Vyse, somewhat celebrat-
ed for AN audacity not too delicate.
But Plank was no more interested
than any man who can't afford to en-
danger his prospects by closer ac'
ouaintance with that sort OF pretty
woman.
Meanwhile Mortimer kept away from
home, wife and church. and Plank ire
Quented them, so the two men did not
meet very often, and the less they
met the less they found to say to one
another.
Though the opera was over. theaters
questionable, formal functions sus-
pended and dances ended. the pace
still continued at discreet and dec
orous trot, and those who had not fed
to California or Palm Beach remained
to pray and play bridge with an
JUNCTION most edifying.
And all this while Sylvia had not
seen Siward.
Sylvia was changing. The character
istic amiability, the sensitive reserve,
the sweet composure which the world
had always counted on in her. had be-
come exceptions aud no longer the
rules which governed the caprice and
impulse always latent An indiHer-
ence so pointed as to verge on inso-
lence amazed her iDtimates at times.
A sudden, flushed impotence startled
the habitues of her shrine There was
new, unseeing hardness In her eyes,
in her attitude the faintest hint OF
cynicism. For the first time slight
sense of fear tinctured the general ad-
miration.
In public her Indifference and grow
Ing impotence with Quarter had not
reached the verge of bad taste, but in
private she was scarcely at pains to
conceal her WEAKNESS and inattention.
That he noticed it was evident even to
her, who carelessly ignored the conse-
uuences Of her own attitude.
At the Mi-careme dance given by the
Slowa Hunt Quarter, who was M. F.
H.. led the cotlllon with agreeable pre-
cision and impersonal accuracy, favor
ing her at intervals. She returned TO
town next morning with Grace Ferrall,
irritable, sulky, furious WITH herself.
All hot with self contempt, she lay
back in the comfortably upholstered
corner of the brougham, staring
straight before her. sullen red mouth
unresponsive to the occasional incon-
sequent questions Of Grace Ferrall.
"After awhile" observed Grace, "peo-
pie will begin to talk about the discon-
tented beauty of your face"
Sylvia's eyebrows bent still farther
inward.
"A fretful face, but rather pretty"
Grace maliciously. at
won't do, dear. Your role is dignifed
comedy. Oh, dear! Oh, my!' She
stined a yawn behind her faultlessly
gloved hand. "Oh, dear, how do
yawn! And Lent only half over! Syl-
via, what are you staring at? Oh, !
see."
They had driven south to Washing
ton square, where Mrs. Ferrall had de-
sired to leave note, and were now re-
turning. Sylvia had leaned forward
to look at Siward's house, but with
Mrs. Ferrall's first word she sank
back, curiously expressionless and
white, for she had seen woman en-
tering the front door and had recog-
nized her as Marion Page.
"Well, of all indiscretions" breathed
Grace, looking helplessly at Sylvia.
"She has courage" said Sylvia, very
white.
Courage! Do you mean foolhardi.
ness"
"No; courage-the courage lacked.
/ knew he was too iii to leave his
room, and lacked the courage to go
and see him."
"You mean aloneY'
Certainly alone
"You dare tell me you ever contem-
plated''-
"Oh, yes. I think should have done
1t yet, but-but Marion
Suddenly she bent forward, resting
her face in her hands. and between the
fingers a bright drop ran. glimmered
and fell.
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