Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-10

home the servants suppose he is stu
away but he isn't He is here alone
| and sick-sick OF his old sickness. |
saw him, and Plank rested his head
on his hand. dropping his eyes land
he didn't know me. IL do not think
he Will remember that he met me or
that spoke And | could do nothing,
| absolutely nothing. And ! don't know
where he is. He Will go home after
awhile. call every day to see--see
| what can be done. but if he were
there l would not know what to do.
When he does 80 home won't know
| what to say, what to try to do Ana
| that is an answer to your question,
| Miss lands. I give 1t because you
say you care for him as do. VIII you
| advise me what to do. you, who are
more entitled than am to know the
truth. because he has given you the
| friendship which he has AS yet not ac-
corded to me?"
But Sylvia. dry eyed, dry Tipped,
| could find no voice to answer, ana ait
err a little while they rose and moved
l Tue ant Sloohi to'''AA sNN
sparkling lights beyond.
Her voice came back as they en-
tered the brilliant rooms. II should
like to find Grace Ferrall." she said
very distinctly Please keep the 9TH
ers off. Mr.. Plank"
J Fleetwood had missed his dance with
| her but she scarcely heard his eager
complaints. Quarter codly inquir-
| ing. confronted them, was passed al
most without recognition and LETT be-
hind motionless, looking after them out
Of his narrowing, black fringed eyes
of u woman.
Then Ferrall came, and, hearing his
voice. she raised her colorless face.
"Will you take me home with you,
Kemp, when you take Grace" she
asked
"Of course don't know where
Grace is. Are you in a hurry to go?
| It's only o'clock"
They were at the entrance to the sup
per room Plank drew up chair for
her. aud she sank down. dropping her
elbows on the small table and resting
her face between her fingers.
"Pegged out, Sylvia?" exclaimed Fer
rail- incredulously. You? What's the
younger set coming to-" and he mo-
toned a servant to fill her glass. But
she pushed it aside, with SILVER, and
| gave Plank strange look, which he
scarcely understood at the moment.
More caprices. All sorts Of 'em on
] the programme" nuttered Ferrall,
| looking down at her from where he
stood beside Plank. 20 Temporal! o
Sylvia! Plank, would you mind hunt
ing up my wife7 I'll stay and see that
| this infant doesn't fall asleep"
But Sylvia shook her head, saying:
please go, Kemp. I'm little tired,
that's all. When Grace is ready III
leave with her. And at her gesture
Plank seated himself, while Ferrall,
struggling his square shoulders saun-
tered off in quest of his wife, stopping
moment at n neighboring table to
speak to Agatha Caithness, who sat
there with Captain Voucher, the collar
of superb diamonds and aquamarines
/
splepdor.
Plank was hungry, and he said so in
his direct fashion. Sylvia nodded and
exchanged smile with Agatha, who
| turned at the sound of Plank's voice.
For awhile, as he ate and drank large
| ly, she made the effort to keep up a
desultory conversation, particularly
when anybody to whom she owed an
explanation hove darkly in sight on
the horizon But Plank's appetite was
in proportion to the generous lines on
which nature had fashioned him, and
she paid less and less attention to con-
vention and trifle more to the beauty
of Agatha's jewels, until the silence at
the small table in the corner remained
unbroken except by the faint tinkle Of
i silver and crystal and the bubbling
hiss of a glass refilled.
Major Belwether. his white, fluffy,
chop whiskers brushed rabbit fashion,
out again, caught sight of them and
| came trotting back, beaming rosy eff
fusion. He leaned roguishly over the
table, his moist eyes a-twinkle with
suppressed mirth, then, bestowing q
sprightly glance on Plank, which said
very plainly. I'm up to one of my ir-
! repressible jokes again!" he held up u
smooth, white and overmanicured fore
| finger.
II was in Tiffany's yesterday" he
said, "and saw young man in there
| who didn't see me, and 1 peeped over
| his shoulder, and what do you think he
was doing?"
She lifted her eyes little YEARLY.
81 don't know" she said.
II do he chuckled. Gle was choos-
| ing collar of blue diamonds and
aquamarines-te-he -probab!y to wear
himself-te-he! Or perhaps he was go
| ing to be married-he he-he-next win
ter-ahem-next Observation-Disclosures!
don't know, I'm sure, what he meant
to do with that collar l only
Something in Sylvia's eyes. stopped
him. and, following their direction, ne
turned around to find Quarter stand
ing at his elbow, icy and expression
less.
ooh" said the aged jester, little
disconnected, I'm caught talking out
in church, l see! 1t was only harm
less little fun, Howard"
"Do you mean you saw me-" asked
Quarter, pale as sheet. "You are III
error. I have not been in Tiffany's in