Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-05-26
TheLn1pOrtanceOf
Being in Earnest
6y COasfsnce Smsdlsy and
PsSfi Humphrey
(CopyrighID

"Ckp gray AA1St icy oSSi A>SVSH
Der landscape, and q stiffness more
magical than that of q summer noon.
because more mysterious. held In cold
fingers the bare. brown trees and
hedges, the road that wound wetly
among them, and the pesrlsray coun-
try that stretched beneath brooiing
sky The voices and laughter OF q
merry party Of riders supplied the hui
man note Nelly. riding ahead with
q young subaltern. was IN the highest
spirits. 1t WAS the first house party
she had stayed at alone. and she
youthfully regarded the absence Of Mrs.
Martins asgis as removal OF bar
rier rather than the withdrawal OF q
protection. She had arrived only
that morning. and had Immediately
proclaimed her freedom from restraint
by roofing her habit out OF her trays.
and coming out for q ride when she
should undoubtedly have been resting
after an early start.
To this pleasant emancipation was
now added the Joy of a subject on
which she held views which she felt
to be sensible and worthy Of discus
sion. This was bridge. a game on
which the subaltern happened to be
rather keen: but he was listening to
the pretty iconOclast with much inter
est and some amusement. Nelly. who
had not arrived at the stage fever OF
even Q tolerable player. was not de-
TERED by this fact from delivering
herself as one who speaks with au-
thority.
AS they rode on, they laughed and
talked of all the possibilities OF free
speech till they reached home, and
left the ghostly twilight outside. The
gaiety OF freedom was on her. and she
was so radiant through dinner that
she laid for herself the foundation.
stone Of a very pleasant popularity.
When they rose and went into the
card -room. which they did as a mat
ter of course. Nelly observed Lady
Faljohnson. Mrs. Kex, her hostess and
Mai. Dalsey. consulting as to whom
they should invite for their fourth,
vice q very fine player. departed.
Nelly, who had watched the manners
and customs of the devotees. knew ex-
actly how much eagerness and how
much self-confidence to put into her
expression. She reflected that no one
there knew HOY she played. and the
alertness OF her face caught Mrs.
Kex's eye. She strolled over to the
trio.
DO you play the new queen call?'
asked Nelly. with q careless smile.
whereupon they said: "Oh. yes. In
delighted tones, and unanimously in
vited her to join them. AS she sat
down with the three best players In
the county. her heart sank a little.
but the subaltern, passing In through
the billiard room. threw her smile
which cheered her again.
She fell to the major as partner. and
he had the declare. He left 1t to
Nelly, who gaily declared no trumps.
Some surprise appeared upon the ma
jor's fan. but as the play went on. a
thunderous silence descended on the
group. When the score had been re-
corded, he turned to Nelly. May !
ask why you declared no trumps?" he
asked. with arctic politeness.
Why" responded Nelly. Il had No
suit to make trumps, and nothing
higher than q queen in my hand"
Couldn't you have declared
spadeso" demanded the major.
Il had only three little ones. and
spades are 50 dull" was his partners
rejoinder. Those reasons, given In
her clear, young voice. fell upon 90
utter . silence that the subsitern
heard them in the billiard-roOm.
whence he Immediately strolled. bear
ing the Pink I'm.
In the second hand the situation be-
came even tenser; the only sounds in
the room besides the nip Of the cards
being Nelly's bright prattle. and the
excited whispers of the spectators,
Who had been attracted by her con-
vincing reason for declaring no trumps
because her hand was 50 bad.
At last the hvid major leaped into
speech, Immediately on Neliy's gay:
Il double"
DO you know what you are doing!"
oh, yes" answered Nelly. But
don't look so concerned. After all, It's
only q game Of chance, and you can't
tell how the cards will CO."
Then you ought to. madam" re-
torted the major. in a voice the sub
aitern had often heard.
Hard lines. major" murmured .
sympathetic voice.
Nelly looked up. But IT'S only .
game OF pleasure" she said. 1T isn't
rs II it's q serious business. that mat
tered q; oil to anyone What b bridge
bu. . game?"
Please don't talk" detonated Lady
Fal.ohneoo.
The subaltern teiegraphed encour.
asement The major and Nelly were