The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-12-31

Mon I must go"
best" she conHuded. with a satisfied
sigh and dropped into chair besid
her brother
II should say" observed Selwyn.
that she's equipped for the slaughter
of man
Yes. hut | am selecting the vic.
tim, replied his sister demurely.
"Oh' Are your AlreadyY
"Tentatively"
"WhoY
sudbury Gray. I think, with Scott
lnns for an understudy. perhaps the
Draymore man us alternate-I dou't
know; there's time"
Plenty" be said vaguely. staring
into the fire. where log had collapsed
into incandesccnt ashes
She continued to talk about Eileen
until she noticed that his mind was on
other matters. His preoccupied stare
enlightened her She said nothing for
awhile
But he woke up when Austin came In
and settled his big body in chair
"Urina. the little mink, called me
back on some dlmsy pretext," he said
relghting his cigar Il forgot that
time was going and she was willy
enough TO keep me talking until Miss
FALSELY canght me at 1t and showed
me out tell you" turning on Sci
wyn, children are what make Iife
worth VIII fle ceased abruptly at
gentle tap from his wife's foot. and
Selwyn looked up
Whether or not he OWNED the inter
ference. he said very quietly: I'D ruth
or have had children than anything ia
the world They're about the best
there is In life | agree with you
Austin"
His sister. Watching him askance
was relieved to see his troubled fac,
become serene though she OWNED the
effort
Kids are the best" he repeated
smiling at her Failing them tor
second choice I've taken to the labora
tory Some day III invent something
and astonish you. Nina
"Well III you up a corking labora
tory" began Austin cordially There
is
you're very good Perhaps youl
all be civil enough to move out of the
house If need more room for bottles
and retorts
"Of course Phu must have his laDora
tory" Insisted Nina There UuGs
of unused room In this Dig barn, onl!
you don't mind being al the top OF the
house, do you philf
Yes, | do | want to be IN the
drawing room or somewhere so that
you all may enjoy the odors aud gel
the benefit OF premature explosions
Oh. come now. Austin II you think
I'm going to plant myself here on
you
Don't notice him. Austin, said
Nina; "he only wishes to be implorcd
And by the same token you'd both
better let me impIore you to dress
She rose and bent forward In the tire
light to peer AT the clock Goodness
Do you creatures think I'm going tU
give Eileen half an hours start with
her maid and | carrying my twelve
years handicap tooi No. indeed! In
decreplt, but I'm going to die lighting
Austin. get up You're horribly SLOW
anyhow Phil, Austin man such Il,
he is will be at your disposal. anG
your luggage is unpacked.
In the hallway Selwyn and Austin
encountered a radiant and bewildering
vision awaiting them Eileen IN all her
glory
Wonderful" said Gerard, patting
the visions rounded bare arm as he
hurried past Fine gown. fine girl
But I've got to dress. and so has Phil
ip." He meant well.
do you like It. Captain SelwynT
asked the girl, turning to confront
him where he had halted Gerard
Isn't coming. and-l thought perhaps
you'd be interested"
The formal, half patronizing compli-
ment on his tongues tip remained
there unsaid He stood silent, touched
by the faint underringlng wistfulness
In the laughing voice that challenged
his opinion. and something within him
responded In time:
"Your gown is a beauty; such won
derful lace. OF course anybody would
know it came straight from Paris or
from some other celestial region"
She colored enchantingly and. with
pretty, frank impulse, held out both
her hands to him.
"You are dear, Captain selwynl 1t
is my first real dinner gown. and I'm
quite mad about it, and somehow
wanted the family to share my mad
ness with me Nina will. She gave II
to me, the darling. Austin admires 1t,
too. OF course. but he doesn't notice
such things very closely. ana Gerald
Isn't here. Thank you for letting me