Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-04-24

Perhaps, as ike recognizes IKE. he
recognized In her the instincts OF the
born drifter momentarily at anchor
the temporary inertia of the opportu-
mist the latent capacity Of an uniform
ed character for all things and any
thing. Add to these her few years.
her beauty and the wholesome igno-
rance so confidently acknowledged.
what man could remain unconcerned.
uninterested, in the development of
such possibilities? Not Siward. anus
ed by her sagacious and impulsive
prudence, worldliness and innocence in
accepting Quarter and touched by her
profitless, frank and unworldly friend
illness for himself.
Not that he objected to her marry
ing Quarter. He rather admired her
for being able to do 1t, considering the
general scramble for Quarter. But
let that take care of itself. Mean
while their sudden and capricious in
timacy had aroused him from the NOR
bid reaction consequent upon the cheap
notoriety which he had brought upon
himself. Let him sponge his slate
clean and begin again a better record.
fattered by the soicitude she had so
prettily displayed.
Whistling under his breath the same
gay, empty melody, he opened the top
drawer of his dresser, dropped in his
mothers letter and, locking the drawer,
pocketed the key. He would have
time enough to read the letter when
he went to bed. He did not just now
feel exactly like skimming through the
fond foolish sermon which he knew
had been preached at him through his
mothers favorite missionary, Grace
Ferrall. What was the use Of drag
ging in the sad Old questions again, OF
repeating his assurances Of good be-
havior, Of reiterating his promises of
moderation and watchfulness, Of ex-
planning his own self confidence? Bet
ter that the letter await his bedtime.
His prayers would be the sincerer the
fresher the impression, for he was old
fashioned enough to say the prayers
that an immature philosophy proved
Superfluous, for, he thought, If prayer
Is any use it takes only few minutes
to be on the safe side.
SO he went downstairs leisurely, pre-
pared to acquiesce in any suggestion
from anybody, but rather hoping to
saunter across Sylvia lands path be-
fore being committed.
She was standing beside the fire with
Quarter, one foot on the fender, ap-
parently too preoccupied to notice him.
So he strolled into the gunroom, which
was blue with tobacco smoke and arc
matte with the volatile odors from de-
canters.
There were few women there, and
the majority of the men, Lord Alder
dene, Major Belwether and Mortimer,
were at table by themselves. Stacks
Of ivory chips and five cards spread in
the center of the green explained the
natero OF their game, and Mortimer,
raising his heavy infamed eyes and
seeing Siward unoccupied, said Wheel
lily: "Cut out that widow and give
Siward his stack! Anything above
two pairs for a jack triples the ante.
Come on, Siward, there's q decent
chapw
So he seated himself for sacrifice |
to the blind goddess balanced upon her |
winged wheel, and the cards ran high |
so high that stacks dwindled or top
pied within the half hour, and Morti-
mer grew redder and redder, and Ma
Ior Belwether blander and blander,
and Alderdene's face wore continual
nervous smoker, showing every white
hounds tooth, and the ice in the tall
glasses clinked ceaselessly.
1t was late when Quarter "sat in,"
With an expressionless acknowledge
nent of Siward's presence and an
raid upon his neighbours
'esources with the first hand dealt, in
which he participated without draw
ng card.
And always Siward, eyes on his
.ards, seemed to see Quarter before
him, his aforementioned fingers caress-
ng his silky beard, the symmetrical
dark and thick as the win
er fur on a rat, tufting his smooth
plank forehead.
1t was very late when Siward first
began to be aware Of his increasing
deafness, the difficulty, too, that he
lad in making people hear, the annoy.
ng contempt in Quarters woman
ike eyes. He felt that he was max.
ng a fool of himself, very noiselessly
but with more racket than
le expected when he miscalculated the
distance between his hand and de-
.anter.
1t was time fer him to go unless he
hose to ask Quarter for an explana-
ion of that sneer which he found dis
asteful. But there was too much
loise, too much laughter.
Besides, he had matter to attend
o-the careful perusal Of his moth
RS letter to Mrs. Ferrall.
Very white, he rose. After an indie
erminate interval he found himself
ntering his room.
The letter was in the dresser. Sew
raj things seemed to fall and break,
ut he got the letter, sank down on the
eds edge and strove to read-set his
eeth grimly, forcing his blurred eyes
0 a focus. But he could make moth
NJ of 1t, nor of his toilet either, nor
{ Ferrall, who came in on his way to
ed, having noticed the electricity still
, full glare over the open transom,
nd who Strengthened out matters for