La Junta tribune., 1908-02-15

wn> always there. now mo,ding battes
with swift touches Of her deft nn9ers,
now pulling up tiny marAudInx weedA
from the thrifty flower i.ds. And, w
always. her talk. beginning where II
might. ended with the JscrI,etnally far
einating topic Of the city. Again AMI
again he WAS forced 10 describe II for
her. While Esmeraala listened with un.
tagging attention. but when. 10 amuse
her. he talked lightly and cievcriy of
the summer colony at Berkeley shr
paid little heed TIL he mentioned the
flower tOiillcn. and then she was like
. child IN her eagerness.
Would you like 10 go!" asked Fam
shaw without waiting to consider tho
wisdom Of the Impulse.
Esineralda was radiant. though Mrs.
Farley was dubious concerning clothes.
Yet when Fanshaw rode over next
morning It appeared that the question
had been joyfully settled. and Esmer-
aida called to him from the upstairs
window that II he would only wait she
and Mrs. Earle! would he down. Aft
er n short pause they came. Mrs. Far
ley first In a brown silk dress whose
sleeves and pannicrs had graced fash
ions that held sway some ten years
ago. while Esmeralda's pale blue cash
mere belonged TO an even Garner
period.
They were so innoccntly pleased with
what Mrs Farley termed their FIX
ings'' that Holiistcr Faushaw had not
the heart to protest. He tactfully sug-
gested that the road to the hotel was
long and dusty and would work havoc
with such finery and that the simple
sprigged muslins that Esmeraldn wore
every day would do equally well.
whereat Mrs. Farley merely smiled
and produced two long black bomba-
zine cloaks antcdating even the brown
SILK and blue cashmere. These, she
said, would cover them from head to
foot so closely that not n spcck Of dust
could penetrate.
For u moment Fanshaw weakened.
He had n. hecting vision Of these two
absurdly old fashioned figures among
the ultra smart crowd at the iIillbrook.
Then his eyes met Esmeralda's. so
a-sparkle with anticipation. and he In
wa-tlly called himself Il coward and
snob Whatever the outward symbol
OF dress mig..t he. there was not girl
at Hillbrook who could compare with
this princess OF cu.is and cream.
The night of the dance was clear
and cool A breeze swept across up
land and meadow. Even the loqua-
cIous Mrs. Farley seemed TO feel the
summer silence and on the way from
the farm to Hillbrook spoke hardly
word Esmerada. too. was quiet.
From the folds OF her al enshroudlng
black bombazlue cloak her neck rose
white and slender. Her checks were
family flushed her eyes like stars.
Never. thought Fanshaw. had she look
ed more beautiful.
Some people ~ the broad hotel
veranda paused curiously to watch the
arrival OF IIoiistcr Fanshaw and his
guests.
The moment that passed while Mrs.
Farley and Esmeraida removed their
wraps was n miserable one for him.
The world was full of snobs. Suppose
his dairy divinity should he sighted.
patronized.
"Jove.' cried man Mt Fansbaws ell
bow. II thought that Miss Van Rem
syn was at Newport"
Fanshaw stared. There. coming to.
ward him. was a princess OF curds and
crcam-the cream Of white. glistening
satin. the curtls Of billowing lace.
oh he ,,roaned beneath his breath.
"what mn ulmitigntcd fool I've been
more stupid than the dullest dullnrd.'
"Yes." said Miss Van Rcmsyn. nod
ding. dull enough to prefer the socie-
~ Of n poor little country girl-dul!
enough TO he chivnlrous, TO ignore her
incxpcriencc. her ridiculous attempts
nj dress"
'Dull enough TO he madly In love
with her. cried Fanshaw in hnlf saw.
agc hopclcssness.
II shouldn't call that dull" murmur-
ed Miss Van Remsyn. with n humor.
Gus upward glance.
do you mean that there'd be
ghost OF n chance for me?' stammered
I'anshaw. suddenly joyful.
"Oh. Hollster. are you quite. quite
blindj" said Esmeruda the second