Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-03-06

seated on the edge of the ppM nAd
sharing a pint OF ginger ale with syi-
via lands. shook his head at the sus-
gestion and resumed his division Of
the ginger ale.
Plank and Leila Mortimer came
down to congratulate them. Sylvia.
always instInctiyely and particularly
nice 20 people OF Planks sort whom
she occasionally encountered. was 50
faultlessly amiable. that Plank. who
had never before permitted himself
the privilege OF monopoliins her.
found himself doing IL so easily that
Il kept him in a state Of persistent
mental intOxication.
Siward. inclined TO be amused by
the duration Of the trance into which
Plank had fallen, watched the prog.
ress OF that bulky young mans infatu-
alton rs he sat there on the pools
marble edge. exchanging trivial views
on trivial subjects with Mrs. Leroy
Mortimer.
Once In their history. during her
early married life. Siward had been
very sentimental about her. hut nei-
Their he nor she had approached the
danger line closer than 10 make dnr-
Ing eyes at one another across the
frontiers y good taste. And their
youthful enchanuuent had faded so
naturally. 80 pleasantly, that always
there had remained TO them both an
agreeable after taste-a sort OF gay
understanding which almost invarla-
bly, led TO mutual banter when they
| encountered. But now something APP
peared TO he lacking In their rather
listless badinage-something OF the
usual flavor which once had sailed
even a laughing silence with signiii-
canoe. Siward. too. had ceased 10 he
amused at the spectacle OF Plank's
calfike infatuation. and Leila Morti-
mers bored smile had lasted SO long
that her o'i,e-pink cheeks We're St
| and she relaxed her fixed features
with little shrug that was also some
thing of a SILVER. Then. looking pru
IDENTIFY around. she encountered 81
wards eyes. and during a moments
hesitation they considered one another
with an increasing curiosity that
slowly became tentative intelligence.
And her eyes said very plainly and
wlckedly TO Slwards: "Oho. my friend
So II horcs you TO see Mr. Plank mo,
nopolizing an engaged girl who be-
longs 10 Howard Quarrier"
Then without appearing TO she took
Plank away from temptation so skill
fully that nobody except Siward uu-
dersto0d that the young man had been
mcontinently removed. lie, Plank
never doubling that he was u perfect.
~ free agent decided that the time
had arrived for triumphant retirement
Sylvia turned TO Siward. glanced NJ
at him. hesltated and began 10 laugh
consciously:
what do You think OF my latest sen
timental acquisitions
"Ile'u be an ornament to stock
farm" replied Siward. cut Of humor
How brutal you can be- she unused
smiling
Nonsense! He's plain bounder
isn't het'
81 don't KNOWS he? He struck mi
a trifle appealngly. even pathetlcally
They usually do, that sort. AS thongl
the trouble they took could ever .b'
worth the time they lose"
She sat, smiling maliciously down a
the water. smoothing out the soake,
skirt of her swimming suit and swing
ing her legs refect>ely.
Are you reconcicd?" she aske,
presently.
"'ro WHAT"
"To leaving Shotover To-day is GU
last day, you know. You may he herr
again, but IL shall not be II eve
come to Shotover again"
Her stockinged heels beat the devil'
tattoo against the marble sides of tn
pool. She reached up above her head
drawing down n towering branch u
japanese orange, and careSsed her dell
cate nose with the white blossom
dreamily then mlschIevously, I'm ac
customing myself to this most sic
nlticant perfume" she said. locking Il
him askance. And she deliberatel
hummed the wedding march. watchin
the color rise in his sullen face.
'If you had the courage of spar
row you'd make life worth somethin
for us both" he said
She crossed her knees, one slende
ankle imprisoned In her hand. leanin
forward thoughtfully above the waite,
Our last day she unused, for W
shall never be Just you and again
never again. my friend. after We leav
+ this rocky coast Of Eden | am to b
married n year from Nov. l."
, He looked up at her in dark surpris,
;, for he had heard that their weddin
, date had been set for the coming viii
. ter
"A years engagement" he repeated
!. unconvinced.
Z 1T was my wish think that
$ sufficient for everybody concerned
p Then, averting her face. which ha
| suddenly lost little of Its color, :"
b year is little enough" she said imp,
y tiently. "l-what has happened TO L
: requires an interval-a decent interv;
a for It's burial, Stephen Siward, VIII;
do you think of me now?'
r 81 am learning" he replied simply
G "What, if you please?"
Learning little about what | al
:, losing"
e "You mean me?"
9 "Yes."
!. She bent forward impusively, ba
t ancing her body on the pools Ri
b with both arms. dropping her knee III
s. til her ankles swung interlocked abo,
:. the water. Listen" she said in a loy