Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-04

helples5ly.
She stepped under a wide umbrella OF
- marble, decately carved, and sat on
the stone bench beneath it. Instantly circle OF
tiny fountains sprang from the turf about IL ana
shower of water descended from the umbrella 8
sIopng sides and spangled the green, momentarhy
yelling her pretty and more commonplace race.
Eve stepped back with little cry OF pleasure
How charming!" she said. 1T makes rain
bows"
Young Hartley, his thin shoulders ana Sharply
brdged nose constituting the high lights OF his out
line, frankly stared, holding his chin In his hand
What an invincibIe novelty" he said in his mon
otone. But he said everything on monotone and
he said that most things were invincible.
Mrs Winkler rose and the waters ceased and
she ducked gracefully under the still dripping UNI
brella and faced her two guests.
"Charming!" she repeated in distaste. "Oh, very
/ have no doubt, In barbaric, Turkish, roofgar-
den way But in modern summer home,
reality like a lumber camp must say that 1t inn
presses me as unconventionaly out of the picture
Eve saia nothing. but she was sorely tempted to
reflect that. as to the conventional Mrs winkler
would have worn live white doves on her head IL
they had been decreed
IF this were ALL" said the little hostess i'm
pressiveiy. "As IL 1t were not queer enough andA
mad enough for my brother to have shut himself
mp here for weeks, with out this nonsense. For
years he has hardly known that he owned a lum-
ber mill, and now he has taken 1t up. fancy, as
one takes up fad. Trick umbrellas and lumber
camps and indoor lagoons and that kind of thingl"
Mrs. Winkler said to the horizon.
Dear, dear" observed young Hartley "a lumber
camp. Amt that place where some most awful
whistle goes of at some most awful hour?"
And now a strike threatened at the MILL"
"A striker" said young Hartley. "Ain't that
where the supers growl In their throats In the
wings7 And the pine knots fare on collarIess
necks---no?"
And as for the lagoon" Mrs. winkler mounted
to her climax. 'that has to- be piped from tank
top otethe hill and We may all be drowned in our
BEDS moment by moment"
Then she looked anxiously toward the drive.
THE others ought to be coming" she said. You
mustn't breathe word OF this to them One or
two OF my guests have absolute electric buttons
for nerves.
$50, really. in spite OF the beauty OF the place
with the woods near. did hesitate good deal
when he asked UP here this summer. don't
know where Alex is. haven't seen him since
came. though l had a welcoming note from him
Frightening up with news of the probable strike
in the mill. But / know you understand, and
know can depend on you two in anything trying.
And | simply cannot tell all the rest the peculiar
truth"
Eve looked at her smiling little bit, but wholly
fondly. Mrs. Wtnkler entirely like a me-
chanicai toy that was tempted to forget that
she morally responsible for her wires
Here the rest now" she cried as wheels
sounded below. Not word about the list of
skeietons"
Through the terrace shadows the Hospitality dis
tracted little woman went Eve followed her leis-
urely and young Hartley followed Eve. his chin in
his hand
Eve" said he, won't you let her announce
engagement at dinner to-night?"
What epicure you are" the lady said lightly.
Cant you enjoy plain dinner without an engage
ment?"
"Eve," said young Hartley. with all his might.
She looked at him with the most tolerant seren-
ity.
mot II you ask me hundred thousand times.r
she made it clear.
That night when the rest at coffee on the
veranda Eve slipped the terrace in the dusk
to where we'll out of range of the house, the trick
umbrella on the little slope of green was marked
by single glimmering point OF light. Instantly
she seated herself there rose about her three
four feet from the umbrella seat. the thin wall OF
water row OF tiny fountains set closely togeth-
or that they ieaped one upon another. The isola-
fion was instant and thorough
"Ah,' Eve reflected. why doesn't everyone have
one instead of a music box and teakwood room?"
Almost at once some spoke to her outside
the fountain fence.
How charming of you to be amused" he said
with these little contrivances."
This Eve thought with shade OF annoyance
would be OF the house party escaped from coffee
But 1t is the contrvances that are charming" she
returned. wondering who 1t would be- Not young
Hartley at all events, whom she had left glowering
apart. Very likely Toby Slocum. who was always
ambling about.
lyon really think so2" whoever 1t was, remark
ed inored1lousiy. "And-how does one amuse one
self in there, may ask?"
1t was so exactly like toy castle and kind of
game that. zone pretends." she answered gravely.
-'Often q stupid performance" the mans voice
swered with some frankness of belief But pre-
tending what. If one may press the matter?"
She could not have helped her answer.
Perhaps that one is princess and that orgies
are imminent" she said.