The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1908-08-29
CHAPTER vi.

When we met at breakfast the next
morning there were no signs of thel
breach between Vincent and myself
except his unusual pallor, which sug
gested to me that he, too had spent
sleepless night.
The girls were inclined to JOKE our
solemn faces. but so long as the meal
passed of without disclosing that
something was amiss between us did
not care. All day we saw nothing OF
each other, but this was not unusual,
as we always. pursued different
courses. 1 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 1 lay on broad
divan where 1 could watch her and
listen to the soft music.
1 suppose that my bad night had
something to do with the fact that
1 was boor enough to fall asleep while
the beautiful Agatha Fourth was play.
ing for me. Certainly l know that ]
was guilty of that appalling rudeness
for was suddenly brought to a state
OF consciousness by the sound of
clock striking. I counted the strokes
mechanically-there were IL. must
have slept for hours. and, sure enough.
the room was dark except for the fire
light, and my sighted hostess was
gone from the piano stool. AS 1 was
about to rise heard voices, and. turn.
ing, ! saw on the other side of the
piano a man and girl. The man was
Vincent, of course, and I thought, as
l looked at him sitting full in the
bright freight, that he had never
looked so handsome. His evening dress
showed OF 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
Q wave in the gold of it. 1t occurred
to me at once that his face had lost
much 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 frst could not tell what it was
that had so changed her, whether 1t
was her shimmering white evening
gown, or the 8 aa1: !. D e, - II
1t last it came to "a =: ,--ac it
was nothing more n. IA the
glory Of her hair that had wi ought the
transformation. had never seen the
secretary with her hair done any way
bat plainly and unbecomingly, but
now 1t was dressed as / knew it should
have been dressed long ago. She wore
It low on her long, slender neck, rolled
&C the sides and ripping loosely back
frem her forehead, in shining waves
aad little willful rings held in place
vita big shell combs.
And when at last 1t dawned upon
ne that it was really the secretary
who was Vincent's companion, so
breAthless was I with amaze that at
Arst I hardly realized that 1 could
hear perfectly what they were saying.
And when did realize It, I wanted to
rise and let them know that 1 was
there. but on second thought I saw
that must have been there for SO long
that they would never believe that ]
lad not heard the whole of their con.
VerSatiOn. Furthermore, 1t occurred
to me that IL might be well If 1 stayed
to hear what Miss Marsh had to say
for herself
And 30 1 calmly took the dress anA
put 1t on, just to amuse myself" ]
heard the secretary saying, and did
my hair the way the others do theirs
you know. And It was so late thought
no one would ind me here
"And II hadn't left my pipe on the
table no one would have found you,
and think what 1 should have
missed!" Vincent's voice was olo
Quent-
OF course, It was very vain of me,
very vain," she went on; but you
know when q girl has to earn her own
living she gets a little tired OF AL
work and no play. and sometimes the
impulse to pretend she's fortunate and
happy and-and pretty"-the secretary
flushed under Vincent's gaze as she
faltered the last wor5 and hurried on
and like tbs others-is so strong
that It tempts her To deck herself out
In horr~vaA pirynO- and SIT in an /