Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-05-06

tween her and the man TO whom she
had denied herself.
Then n bitter impatlence swept her
and dawning fear. too. for she had
set her foot on the fallen mask, and
the impulse rendered her reckless.
"why don't you speak?' she said.
"Yes. have right to know. care
for him as much as you do. Why don't
you answer me2 l tell you | care for
himr'
"Do you:" he said In n dull voice
''Then help me out, IL you can, for
don't know what 10 do, and II | did
haven't the authority of friendship
as my warrant. He is in New York.
He did go TO the country, and Mt his
home the servants suppose he IS still
away, but he isn't. He is here alone
and sick-sck of his old sickness. |
saw him, and"-Plank rested his head
on his hand, dropping his eyes-"and
! he didn't know. me- IL do not think
I he will remember that he met me or
that spoke. And could do nothing.
absolutely nothing. And l don't know
where he is. He will go home after
awhile. / call every day to see-see
what can be done. but II he were
there | would not know what to do.
When he does go home | won't know
what to say, what TO try to do. And
that is an answer to your question,
Miss lands. | give 1t because you
say you care for him as do. VIII you
advise me what to do, you, who are
/ oil / IN EnnW
truth, because he has given you the
friendship which he has as yet not ac'
corded to meT
But Sylvia, dry eyed, dry Tipped,
could find no voice to answer, and aft
err little while they rose and moved
through the fragrant gloom toward the
sparkling lights beyond.
Her voice came back as they en-
tered the brilliant rooms. Il should
like to find Grace Ferrall" she said
very distinctly. please keep the 9th.
ers off, Mr.. Plank"
Fleetwood had missed his dance with
her, but she scarcely heard his eager
complaints. Quarter, coldly inquir.
ing, confronted them, was passed al
most without recognition and left be-
hind motionless, looking after them out
of his narrowing, black fringed eyes
Of a woman.
Then Ferrall came, and, hearing his
voice, she raised her colorless face.
twill you take me home with you,
Kemp, when you take GraceT" she
asked.
"Of course. don't know where
Grace is. Are you in hurry to gol
It's only O'clock"
They were at the entrance to the sup
per room. Plank drew up chair for
her, aud she sank down. dropping her
elbows on the small table and resting
her face between her fingers.
"Pegged out, Sylvan exclaimed Fer.
rail- incredulously. you? What's the
younger set coming TOT" and he mo.
toned a servant to fill her glass. But
she pushed il aside, with a shiver. and
gave Plank a strange look. which he
scarcely understood at the moment
"More caprices. All sorts OF 'em on
the programme" muttered Ferrall,
looking down at her from where he
stood beside Plank. 80 Temporal. q
Sylvial Plank, would you mind hunt.
ing up my wife? I'll stay and see that
this infant doesn't fall asleep"
But Sylvia shook her head, saying.
please go. Kemp. I'm a little tired,
that's all. When Grace Is ready I'll
leave with her" And at her gesture
Plank seated himself. while Ferrall.
Struggling his square shoulders. saun.
tered off in quest of his wife, stopping
a moment at a neighborlng table 10
speak TO Agatha Caithness, who sat
there with Captain Voucher. the collar
OF superb diamonds and aquamarines
on her slender throat a pale blaze OF
splendor.
Plank was hungry and he said so in
his direct fashion Sylvia nodded and
exchanged a smile with Agatha. who
turned at the sound OF Plank's voice.
For awhile. as he ate and drank large
ly, she made the effort to keep up a
desultory conversation. particularly
when anybody to whom she owed an
explanation hove darkly in sight on
the horizon. But Plank's appetite was
In proportion to the generous lines on
which nature had fashioned him, and
she paid less and less attention to con-
vention and a trifie more to the beauty
OF Agatha's Jewels, until the silence at
the small table in the corner remained
unbroken except by the faint tinkle OF
silver and crystal and the bubbling
hiss Of glass refilled.
Major Belwether, his white. fluffy.
chop whiskers brushed rabbit fashion,
peeped In at the door, started TO tiptoe
out again. caught sight OF them and
came trotting back. beaming rosy eff
fusion. He leaned roguishly over the
table his moist eyes a-twinkle with
suppressed mirth, then, bestowlng a
sprlghtly glance on Plank. which said
very plainly. I'm up TO one of my ir-
repressible jokes again. he held up
tmooth. white and overmanicured fore
finger.
II was in Tihfanys yesterday" he
said, "and saw a young man i'm there
who didn't see me. and | peeped over
his shoulder. and what do You think he
was doingY"
She lifted her eyes little YEARLY.
1T don't know" she said.
II do" he chuckled. "He was choos-
Ing a collar OF blue diamonds and
es-te-he-probably 10 wear
hlmself-te-he! Or perhaps he was GO
ing to be married-he- he he-next win
ohor, bo ho