Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-02-15
Mnrinn Pane


ed to go with them. ner eyes IOII0w-
ed Siward's figure, suddenly dark
against the door of the lighted bill
lizard room, then brilliantly Illuminated
as he entered, nodded acceptance to
Mortimers invitation and picked up
the cue just laid aside by Agatha
Caithness, who had turned to speak to
Marion.
His fiancees inattention was not
agreeable to Quarter. A dozen things
had happened since his arrival which
had not been agreeable to hin-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. f@,E
In a few years Indifference to ST.
ward had changed to passive disap-
proval, 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 it
was to fear the man he disliked. For
if 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 it for the time being
dictated his attitude and bearing to-
ward the man who might or might not
be capable of using viciously knowl-
edge which Quarter believed that he
must possess.
For that reason when it was not
possible to avoid Siward his bearing
toward him was carefully civil. ST.
lence was always desirable to Quar-
rier. Silence concerning all matters
was q trait Unborn and congenially
cultivated to a habit by him in every
affair Of life--in business, in leisure,
In the methodical pursuits OF such
pleasures as a limited intellect permit
ted him, in personal and family mat
tiers, in public questions and financial
problems.
He listened always, but never invited
condolences. He had no opinion to
express when invited. And he became
very, very rich.
And over it 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 physical effort was
automatically and methodically respon-
sive to certain fixed cues.
A sudden rain squall, noisy against
the easements, had darkened the room.
Then the electric lights broke out with
| a mild candlelike luster, and Quarter,
standing beside Sylvia's chair, discov-
cred it to be empty.
! 1t was not until he had dressed for
dinner that be saw her again, seated
on the stairs with Marion Page, new
appearance of intimacy for both wom-
en-. who heretofore had found nothing
except O 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 it was not good for dog
to be used by anybody except his mas"
: ter" said Sylvia carelessly.
"Only second raters suffer. Besides,
I have shot enough now with Mr.. 81
ward to use his dog as he does"
HE is an agreeable shooting COM
panion," smiled Sylvia
HE is perfect" answered Marion
coolly. 1.-THE only test for thorough
bred is the field. He rings true"
They exchanged carefully impersonal
views on Siward's good qualities for a
moment or two. Then Marion said
bluntly.- do yop know. anything In