Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1908-03-04


! had nothing definite 10 refute.
could not even appear to understand
or notice. II was all done IN such a
horribly vague way But IL only made
me like him. and no doubt that actress
he took 10 the PATRONS is better COM
pany than he finds in nine places out
OF ten among his own sort"
"Oh. said Grace Ferrall slowly, IF
that is the way you feel | don't see
why YOU shouldn't play with Mr.. ST.
ward whenever you like"
''Nor |. I've been a perfect fool not
TO. Howard hates him."
"How do you know7"
"What question: A woman knows
such things. Then, you remember that
caricature-so dreadfully like Howard
Howard has no sense OF humor lie
detests such things. II was the most
dreadful thing that MIR. Siward could
have done 20 him"
"Meddled again" groaned Grace.
Doesn't Howard know that | did
that?"
"Yes. but nothing / can say alters
his conviction that The likeness was
intended You know it was n likeness
And If Mr. Siward had not told me
that it was not intended | should new
er have believed II 10 be an accident"
After prolonged silence Sylvia said
overcarelessly: II don't quite under
stand Howard With me anger lasts
but moment. and then I'm open to
overtures for peace. | think How
ards anger lasts
1T does" said Grace. HE was
muff as a boy-a prig with a prigs
memory under all his shallow. SNOWY
surface. I'm frank with you. | never
could take my cousin either respect
fully or seriously, but I've known him
to take his own anger so seriously that
years after he has visited II upon those
who had really wronged him. And he
is equipped for retaliation If he chooses
That fortune OF his reaches far. Not
that think him capable of using such
a power to satisfy mere personal dis
like. Howard has principles, loads OF
them, but the weapon is there"
SIS II true that Mr.. Siward Is inter
ested in building electric roads?' asked
Sylvia curiously. Mr. Mortimer said
So"
Then / suppose he is. I'll ask Kemp
II You like. Why? Isn't II all right
to build themf"
Il suppose so. Howard is In ii some
how In fact, Towards company is
behind Mr.. Siward's. | believe"
Grace Ferral turned and looked at
the girl beside her, laughing outright.
"Oh, Howard doesn't do mysterious
financial things. Besides that, II
Howard is in that thing no doubt
Kemp and | are too. SO your nice
young man Is in very safe company"
"You draw such silly inferences,"
said Sylvia coolly. but there was a
good deal of color In her cheeks. and
she knew it and pulled her big motor
veil across her face. fastening IL under
her chin, all Of which amused Grace
Ferrall infinitely until the subtler sig
nificance Of the girls mental processes
struck her, SOLDERING her own thoughts.
Sylvia, too. had grown serious I'm her
preoccupation. and the partie-a-deux
duet of silence over the teacups in the
gunroom.
A few moments later Sylvia. glanc-
ing over her shoulder noticed that O
fine misty drizzle had clouded the case
ments. That meant that her usual
evening stroll on the cliffs with Quar-
rier before dressing for dinner was OF.
And she drew little breath of uncOn-
scious relief as Marion Page walked
In, her light wooden shooting jacket,
her hat, shoes and the barrels of the
fowling piece tucked under her left
armpit all glimmering frostily with
powdered raindrops.
She said something 10 Grace Ferrall
about the mist promising good point
shooting in the morning, took the or
der book from a servant. jotted down
her request TO be called an hour before
sunrise. filed In the gunroom records
with her score-the species and mum.
Der bagged and the number of shells
used-and, accepting the tea offered.
drew out tiny cigarette case of sweet
bay wood heavily crusted with rose
gold
With whom were you shootlngf"
asked Grace, as Marion dropped one
well shaped leg over the other and
wreathed her dellcately tanned fea-
lures IN smoke.
stephen S1ward ard Blinky. They're
at It yet, but I had some letters tc
write She glanced leisurely at Sylvia
and touched the ash tray with the
whitening end of her cigarette. THAT
dog you let Mr.. Siward have is a good
one. I'm taking him to Jersey next
week for the cock shooting
Sylvia returned her calm gaze blank
ly.
An unreasonable and dlsagreeable
shock had passed through her.
"AIy North Carolina pointers are use
less for close work, observed Marion
- I. rlref.r-