Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1908-06-24
CHAPTER vi.

0TlEE ! Ell Vie
When We met at breakfast the mex
morning there were no signs of tn
breach between Vincent and mysel
except his unusual pallor, which sug
gested to me that he, too, had spent
sleepless night.
The girls we're inclined to Joke ouI
solemn faces, but SO long as the nlea
passed of without disclosing tha-
something was amiss between us die
not care. All day wet saw nothing Of
each other, but this was not unusual
as we always pursued different
courses. ] spent most of my time
with Agatha Fourth, the only honor
able, whom found to be really de-
lightful girl and certainly the. posses
sor OF remarkable musical talent.
In the evening the others went out
to row on the lake and left Agatha
Fourth alone with me. She sat at the
piano and played everything she
could think Of, while / lay on broad
divau where I could watch her and
listen to the soft music.
sunpose that my bad night had
something to do with the fact that
l was boor enough to fall asleep while
the beautiful Agatha Fourth was play
Ing for me. Certainly | know that I
was guilty OF that appalling rudeness,
for ! was suddenly brought to a state
OF consciousness by the sound OF a
clock striking. I counted the strokes
mechanically-there were 12. must
have slept for hours, and, sure enough.
the room was dark except for the fire.
light, and my slighted hostess was
gone from the piano stool. AS | was
about to rise heard voices. and, turn
ing, saw on the other side Of the
piano man and girl. The man was
Vincent, OF course, and l thought. as
looked at him sitting full in the
bright freight that he had never
looked SO handsome, His evening dress
showed off his superb athletic form
to the best advantage, and his face
was fresh and strong, with the bronze
OF his tan extending to the roots of his
hair, which was cut close to conceal
a wave in the gold of 1t. 1t occurred
to me at once that his face had lost
huch of its boyishness and he looked
every inch a man. But it took me
some time to realize that the girl who
sat with him was none other than the
secretary.
At first ! could not tell what it was
that had so changed her, whether it
was her shimmering white evening
/,
gown, or the cleaning bracelets, until /
1t last 1t came to me in fash that it
was nothing more nor less than the
glory Of her hair that had wrought the
| had never seen the
secretary with her hair done amy way
tut plainly and unbecomingly, but
low It was dressed as knew it should
rave been dressed long ago. She wore
t low on her long, slender neck, rolled
i the sides and ripping loosely back
rom her forehead, in shining waves
md little willful rings held in place
With big shell combs.
And when at last it dawned upon
ne that 1t was really the secretary
rho was Vincent's companion. SO
reathless was / with amaze that at
rst ] hardly realized that / could
ear perfectly what they were saying,
md when 1 did realize It, / wanted to
lse and let them know that was
here, but on second thought saw
nat must have been there for 80 long
nat they would never believe that / ,
ad not heard the whole OF their con-
ersation. Furthermore, 1t occurred
! me that It might be wen il / STAYED !
hear what Miss Marsh had to say !
herself. \
rAnd SO calmly took the dress and !
Ut It on, Just to amuse myself" I
BARD the secretary saying, "and Ndid I
y hair the way the others do theirs. !
~ know. And It was 50 late / thought !,
one would nnd me here" ]
And II I hadn't left my pipe on the !,
bic no one would have found you, I,
d think what I should have I,
issed!" Vincent's voice was elo-
Ient., ",
"0f course, It was very vain OF me, Il
yy vain" she went on; 'but YOU
Iow when q Kirl has to earn her own i,
'ing sho gets little tired OF ali NJ
'rk and no play, and sometimes tho 4,
pulse to pretend she's fortunate ana N
ppy and--and pretty''--the secretary ~
shed under Yincent's gaze IL she
tered the last word, and hurried On n
and like the others--is so strong NJ
II Il tenpts her 70 deck herself out
borrowed pIumes and ut In an al
pty drawing room AZ IA o'clock III AZ
'ht enjoying the Illusion FOR brief m