Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-03-04

her the analr had been sOrtened by
a delicate hint of intimacy delight
he was TO take IN something that had
once been hers had given her a faint
taste OF the pleasure OF according
pleasure TO a man. And this Is what
he had donel
In ones and twos the guests reported
as the dusk curtained fog closed In on
Shotover. Quarter came. dry as a
chip under his rain coat. but his silky
beard was wet with rain. and moisture
powdered his long, soft eyelashes and
white skin. and his flexible fingers as
he drew off his gloves seemed startling
In their Wilderness through the gather
ing gloom.
IL suppose our evening walk Is out
OF the question" he said, standing by
Sylvia, who had nodded greeting and
then turned her head rather hastily to
see who had entered the room. 1t was
Siward. only a vague shape In the
gloom, but perfectly recognizable to
her. At the same moment Marion
Page rose lelsurely and strolled to-
ward the billiard room.
"Our walk" repeated Sylvia alb
sently. It's raining, you know" Yet
only day or two ago she had walked
TO church with Siward through the
rain, the irritated major feeling oblig-
ed to go with them. Her eyes follow
ed Slward's figure. suddenly dark
against the door of the lighted bill
lard room. then brilliantly Illuminated
as he entered. nodded acceptance to
Mortimer's invitation and picked up
the cue just laid aside by Agatha
Caithness, who had turned to speak to
Marion.
His fiancee's inattention was not
agreeable TO Quarter. A dozen things
had happened since his arrival which
had not been agreeable 10 him-her
failure TO meet him at the Fells Cross
Ing and the reason for her failure and
her informal acquaintance with 81
ward. whose presence at Shotover he
had not looked for. and her sudden in
timacy with the man he had never
particularly liked and whom within
six months he had come to detest and
TO avoid.
In a few years Indifference TO ST.
ward had changed to passive dsap-
prevail that again to an emotionless
dislike. and when the scandal at the
PATRONS club occurred for the first
time In his life he understood what II
was to fear the man he disliked For
II Siward had committed the insane
imprudence which had cost him his
title to membership he had also done
something, knowingly or otherwise.
which awoke in Quarter a cold, slow
fear, and that fear was dormant. but
present now, and II for the time being
dictated HIS attitude and bearing to-
ward the man who might or might not
be capable of using viciously a knowl-
edge which Quarter believed that he
must possess.
For that reason when IL was not
possible to avoid Siward his bearing
toward him was carefully civil. ST
lence was always desirable 10 Quar-
rier Silence concerning all matters
was a trait Unborn and congenially
cultivated to habit by him In every
affair Of lifc-in business, in leisure.
I'm the methodical pursuits of such
pleasures as a limited intellect permit
tel him, In personal and family mat
ters. en- public questions and fnancial
problems.
lie listened always but never invited
condolences. He had no opinion 70
express when invited. And he became
very, very rich.
And over II all spread a thin mem.
brane OF vanity, nervous. not intel.
lectual, sensitiveness. for all sense OF
humor was absent in this man. whose
smile when not a physical effort was
automatically and methodically respon.
sive to certain fixed cues.
A sudden rain squat. noisy against
the easements. had darkened the room.
Then the electric lights broke out with
q mild candlelike luster. and Quarter,
standing beside Sylvias chair. discov
cred 1t to be empty.
It was not until he had dressed for
dinner that he saw her again. seated
on the stairs with Marion Page, a new
appearance of intimacy for both WON
en-, who heretofore had found nothing
except passing civility in common
Marion explained that Siward was
too busy TO do any southern shooting
which was why he was glad to have
her polish Sycamore on Jersey wood
cock.
81 thought il was not good for dog
to be used 10y anybody except his mas.
ter" said Sylvia carelessly.
"Only second raters suffer. Besides,
/ have shot enough now with Mr.. 81
ward to use his dog as he does"
lie Is an agreeable shooting com
panIon," smiled Sylvia.
"He is perfect answered Marion
coolly. "The only test for thorough
bred Is the field. lie rings true
They exchanged carefully impersonal
views on Siward's good qualities for q
moment or two Then Marion said
bluntly. do you know anything IN
particular about that PATRONS club
AFFAIR."
NO" said Sylvia. nothing in par.
ticular"
Neither do l, and | don't care TO
l mean that / don't care what he did
and wish that gossiping old major
would stop trying 10 hint Il TO me-"