Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-08-21


cies.
Mortimor's health was excellent.
The races had not proved remunera-
tive, however, and his new motor car
was horribly expensive. SO was Ly-
dia. And lie began to be seriously
afraid that by the end of August he
would be obliged to apply to Quarter
once more for some slight temporary
token of that gentleman's good will.
He told Lydia this, and she seemed to
agree with him. This pleased him.
She had not pleased him very much
recently. For one thing she was be-
coming too friendly with some Of his
friends, Desmond In particular.
Plank, it was known, had opened his
great house at Black Fells. His sery-
ants, gamekeepers, were there, his
stables, kennels, greenhouses, model
stock farni-all had been put in Inn
maculate condition pending the advent
of the master. But Plank had not
appeared. His new seagoing steam
yacht Siwanoa still lay In the East riv-
err, and at rare intervals a significant
glimmer of bunting disclosed the own.
er's presence aboard for an hour or
two.
The Ferralls were at Shotoyer with
their first installment Of guests. Syl-
via was there, Quarter expected, be-
cause Kemp Ferralrs break with him
was not social one, and Grace's real
affection for Sylvia blinded neither
her nor her husband to the material
and social importance Of the intimacy.
Siward was not invited. Neither had
an invitation to him been even dis
cussed In view Of what Grace was
aware of and what everybody knew
concerning the implacable relations ex'
listing between him personally and
Howard Quarter.
Bridge, yachting and motoring were
the August sports. The shooting sci
hal not yet arrived Of course-in fact,
there was still another relay expected
before the season opened and brought
the shooting coterie for the first two
weeks. But Sylvia was expected to
last through and hold over with a brief
interlude for a weeks end ut Lenox.
So was Quarter, and Grace, always
animated by a lively but harmless
malice, hoped to heaven that Plank
might arrive before Quarter left.
ooh, to see them together In small
room," she sighed ecstatically In Syl.
Was ear. I'D certainly poke them up
II they only turned around sulkily In
the corners Of the cage and evinced q
desire to lie down."
what mischief maker you are!'
said Sylvia listlessly.
There seemed, in fact, little to inter
est her that summer at Shotoyer
House. Her interest, too, In people
had seemingly been extinguished.
Once or twice she did inquire as to
Marion's whereabouts and learned that
Miss Page was fishing in Minnesota
somewhere, but would return to Shot
over when the shooting opened. Some
body, Captain Voucher perhaps, men
toned to somebody In her hearing that
Siward was still In New York.
The hot month dragged on. Quar-
rier came. Agatha Caithness arrived a
few days later-scheme of the Fer
rails involving Alderdene-but the ST.
wanoa did not come, and Plank re-
NAMED invisible. Leila Mortimer ar
rived from Swans HarbOr toward the
middle of the month, Offering no in
formation as to the whereabouts oil
what Major Belwether delicately des
ignated as her Legitimate" But ev
erybody knew he was at last to be
crossed off and struck clean out, and
the ugly history of the winter, now SO
impudently corroborated at Saratoga.
gave many hostess the opportunity
long desired.
Cad" said Alderdene, she's well
rid of himP'
"a suit before referee would settle
him." unused Voucher. "He hasn't a
leg to stand on. Lord, the same cat
that tripped up Stephen SiwardP'
Fleetwoods quick eyes glimmered
for an instant in Quarters direction.
Quarter was in the billiard room, out
of earshot, practicing balk line prob
lens with Major Belwether, and Fleet
wood said: "The same cat that tripped
no Stephen Siward. Yes. But who let
her looseY
ut was your dinner. You ought to
know" said Voucher bluntly.
II do know. He brought her." nod
ding toward the billiard room.
"BelwetherY'
NO." yawned Fleetwood.
Somebody said presently: isn't he
one Of the governors? Oh, l say, that
was rather rough on Siward, though
Sylvia, passing the hall, glanced In
through the gunroom door with an alb
sentminded smile at the men and theii
laughing greeting as they rose with
uplifted glasses to salute her.
1.-THE sweetest of all" observed a
man, disconsolately emptying his glass
ooh, irony What marriage"
Beverly Plank had no time for any
thing outside Of his own particular
business except to go every day to the
big, darkened house In lower Fifth
avenue where the days had been hard
on Siward and the nights harder
Siward, however, could walk now.
using his clutches still, but often stop
ping to gently test his left foot and
see how much weight he was able to
bear on it, even taking tentative step
or two without crutch support. He
drove when he thought 1t prudent to
rco tho horcac In tho heat uSuQlly