The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-12-16

~eAo expected to encounter
NT VI Alike again somewhere,
~ though what he had
" " been preparing to see
heaven alone knew, but
certainly not the supple, laughing girl
he had known, that smooth, slender,
dark eyed, dainty visitor who had
played at marriage with him through
a troubled and unreal dream and was
gone when he awoke-so swift the
=. brief two years had passed, as swift
in sorrow as in happiness.
4 Luncheon had not been served when
hey returned. Without lingering on
he landing, as usual, they exchanged
formal word or two. Then Eileen
4 mounted to her own quarters and Sell
wyn walked nervously through the Ii
brary, where he saw Nina evidently
yprepared for some midday festivity,
for she wore hat and furs and the
brougham was outside.
"Oh, Phil" she said, Eileen prob
ably forgot that 1 was going out. It's
a directors luncheon at the exchange.
Please tell Eileen that 1 can't wait for
her. Where is sheT'
Dressing. 1 suppose. Nina. T.
lone moment, dear. 1 promised the
children that you would lunch with
them in the nursery. Do you mind
1 did it to keep them quiet. I was
weak enough to compromise between a
fox hunt or fudge, so 1 said you'd
lI1rAch with fhnU1 NilI SD
t'Certainly. And, Nina, what sort of
a )man is this George Fane?"
'"Fane?"
"Yes-the chinless gentleman, with
gentle brown and protruding eyes and
the expression of tame brontosaurus." !"
"Why-how do you mean, Phil?
What sort of man? He's a banker.
He isn't very pretty, but he's popular" !"
"Oh, POPULAR he nodded, as close to
a sneer as he could ever get.
''He has a very popular wife too.
Haven't you met Rosamund? People
like him. He's about everywhere; very
useful, very devoted to pretty women.
But I'm really in a hurry, Phil" Her
voice dwindled and died away through
the hall; the front door changed.
He went to his quarters, drove out
Austin's man, arranged his own fresh
linen, took sulky plunge and, an IN
lighted cigarette between his teeth,
completed his dressing in sullen IN
trospection.
When he had tied his scarf and bit
ten his cigarette to pieces he paced
the room once or twice, squared his
& shoulders, breathed deeply and. un-
bending his eyebrows, walked off to
the nursery.
"Hello, you kidsr' he said, with an
effort. "Tye come to luncheon. Very
nice of you to want me, Drina."
AZ wanted you, too," said Billy.
I'm to sit beside you"
$50 am l." observed Drina, pushing
Winthrop out Of the chair and sliding
In close to Selwyn. She had the cat,
Kit-Ki, in her arms. Kit-Ki, divining
nourishment, was purring loudly.
Josephine and Clemence in pinafores
and stick-out skirts sat wriggling, with
Winthrop between them; the five dogs
sat in a row behind. Katie and Bridget
assumed the functions Of Hibernian
Hebes, and luncheon began with a
clatter of spoons.
1t being also the children's dinner,
supper and bed occurring from to G,
meat figured on the card, and Kit-Krs
purring increased to an ecstatic and
Wheezy squeal, and her rigid tail as
she stood up on Drina's lap was con-
stantly brushing Selwyn's features.
''The cat is shedding, too," he re-
marked as he lodged her caudal ap-
pendage for the twentieth time. at
viii go in with the next spoonful OF
cranberry sauce, Drina, If you're not
careful about opening your mouth"
j After luncheon Selwyn and Miss
Enroll met in the living room, big
square, sunny place, in golden greens
and browns, where a bay window
overlooked the park.
Kneeling on the cushions of the deer
8 window seat, she f1attened her dell
cate nose against the glass, peerine
out through the lace hangings.
Everybody and his family are driv
ing" she said over her shoulder. 'ATht
rich and great are eornering the fresh
air supply"
For awhile she kneeled thef silent
~ intent on the passing pageant with
all the unconscious curiosity OF q
child Presently, without turning:
They speak OF the younger set-but
what 10 Its limit? So many, 90 many
people! The hunting crOwd-the silly
G0Wd-the wealthy set-the dreadful