Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-03-27

borses-well. I've admitted how | De-
have. and, being SO shamelessly aifec-
tionate by disposition. why cant DC
nice to babies? I've hazy but dread
full notion that there's something
wrong about me, Mr.. siward."
He scrutInized the pretty features
anxiously. 81 can't see It," he said
"But I mean it-almost seriously. !
don't want to be so aloof, but don
like to touch other people. 1t Is rather
horrid of me. suppose, to be ike
those silky. plumy, luxurious Angora
cats who never are civil to you and
who always jump out of your arms at
the first opportunity"
He laughed. and there was malice
in his eyes, but he did not know her
well enough to pursue the suo]ect
through so easy an opening.
! 1t had occurred to her, too, that her
smile might invite elaboration, and
she sensed the laugh In his silence and
liked him for remaining silent where
he might easily have been wittily 9th
erwise.
This set her so much at ease, left her
so confident, that they were on terms
of gayest understanding presently, she
gossiping about the guests at Shot
over House, outlining the diversions
planned for the two weeks before
| them.
"But we shall see little Of one an
other. You will be shooting most OF
the time" she said, with the very
! faintest hint Of challenge-too delicate,
too impersonal, to SAVIOR Of coquetry.
But the germ of it was there.
"Do you shootT
eyes. Why?"
81 am rsfonciled to the shooting
then"
She laughed and started to flick her
whip. but at her FIRST motion the horse
gave trouble.
1.-THE bit doesn't fit." observed ST.
ward.
"You are perfectly right" she re-
turned, surprised. 81 ought to have
remembered. 1t Is shameful to drive
horse improperly bitted." And aft
err q moment: "You are considerate to-
ward animals. 1t is good in a man."
"Oh. it's no merit When animals
are uncomfortable 1t worries me. It's
one sort of selfishness. you see."
"What nonsensep' she said. and her
smile was very friendly. "Why doesn't
a. nice man ever admit he's nice when
told sop
1t seems they had advanced that far,
for she was beginning to find this
young man not only safe, but promis-
ing. She had met nobody recently half
as amusing. and the outlook ut Shot
over House had been unpromising
with only the overgrateful Page twins
to practice on, the other men collec'
lively and individually boring her.
And suddenly. welcome as mamma
from the sky, behold this highly agree
able boy to play with-until Quarter
arrived! Her telegram had been ad,
dressed to Mr.. Quarter.
1t was perhaps the reaction Of her
gayety that recalled to her mind her
| telegram. The telegram had been her
promised answer after she Lad had
time to consider suggestion made to
her by Mr. Howard Quarter. The
last week at Shotover permitted re-
Election, and, while her telegram was
no complete answer to the suggestion
he had made, 1t contained material or
interest I'm the eight words, II will con-
slider your request when you arrive"
~ wonder II you know Howard
Quarter" she said.
After seconds hesitation he re-
piled: "Yes, little. Everybody does"
"You do know himT
"Only at the club"
"Oh, the Lenox"
"The Lenox and the PATRONS"
Preoccupied, driving with careless.
almost inattentive, perfection. she
thought idly of her twenty-three years,
wondering how life could have passed
so quickly, leaving her already strand
ed on the shoals Of an engagement 10
marry Howard Quarter. Then her
thoughts, errant, wandered half the
world over before they returned to 81
ward, and when at length they did,
and meaning to be civil, she spoke
again of his acquaintance with Quar-
rier at the PATRONS club, the club 1t
self being sufficient to settle Siwards
status in every community.
"I'm trying to remember what 1t Is
I have heard about you," she contin-
ued amiably. "You are
An odd expression in his eyes ar
rested her long enough to note their
color and expression, and she con-
tiuued pleasantly: "You are Stephen
Siward, are you not? You see, l
know your name perfectly we'll Her
straight brows contracted a trife. She
drove on, lips compressed, following
an elusive train of thought which
vaguely, persistently. coupled his name
with something indefinitely unpleas-
ant. And she could not reconcile this
with his appearance. However, the
train of unlinked ideas which she pur-
sued began to form the semblance OF
a chain. Coupling bis name with Quar-
rier's and with a club aroused mem
DRY. Vague uneasiness stirred her to
glimmering comprehension. Siward-
Stephen Siward? One of the New York
Siwards then-one Of that race
Suddenly the truth flashed upon her
the crude truth, lacking definite de-
M|