The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-12-23

that might resemble situation.
Instead of two or three dozen small
tables scattered among the palms OF
the winter garden their hostess had
preferred to construct a great oval
board around the aquarium. The ar
rangement made it little easier for
Selwyn and Mrs. Ruthven. He talked
to his dinner partner until she began
to respond In monosyllables, which
closed each subject that he opened and
wearied him as much as he was bor-
ing her. But Bradley Harmon, the
man on her right, evidently had bet
ter fortune, and presently Selwyn
found himself with nobody to talk to,
which came as near to embarrassing
him as anything could and which so
enraged his hostess that she struck his
partners name from her lists forever.
People were already glancing at him
askance in sly amusement or cold curl
osity.
Then he did thing which endeared
him to Mrs. T. West Minister and to
her two disconsolate children.
Mrs. Ruthven," he said very nat
urally and pleasantly, "I think perhaps
we had better talk for a moment or
two If you don't mind. My dinner
partner is quite impossible, you see,
and happen to be here as filler in
commanded to the presence only few
minutes ago. It's pardonable error.
l bear no malice. But I'm sorry for
you"
There was a silence. Alike straight
, ened her slim figure and turned, but
young Innis, who had taken her in, had
become confidential with Mrs. Fame.
AS for Selwyn's partner, she probably
OWNED his conversational designs on
her, but she merely turned her bare
shoulder trif1e more Enthusiastically
and continued her gossip with Bradley
Harmon.
Alike broke a tiny morsel from her
bread, sensible of the tension.
II suppose" she said as though re-
citing to some new acquaintance an
amusing bit of gossip. that we are
destined to this sort of thing occa-
sonally and had better get used to it,"
81 suppose So"
"Please," she added after pause,
laid me little"
81 will if I can. What am to say?"
''Have YOU nothing to say?" she ask
ed. smiling. at need not be very civil,
you know. as long as nobody hears
you
To school his features for the decep-
tion of others, to school his voipe and
manner and at the same time look
Smilingly into the grave of his youth
and hope, called for the sort of self
command foreign to his character.
CHANGING mt him under her smoothly
fitted mask of amiability. she slowly
grew afraid of the situation, but not of
her ability TO sustain her own part.
They exchanged few meaningless
phrases; then she resolutely took young
Innis away from Rosamund Fame,
/ leaving Selwyn TO count the bubbles
in his wineglasS.
But in ii few moments, whether by
accident or deliberate design Rosa
mund interfered again, and Mrs. Ruth
ven was confronted with the choice of
a squabble for possession of young In
mis-. of conspicuous silence or of re-
suming once more with Selwyn, and
she chose the last resort.
You are living in town. she asked
pleasantly.
"Yes."
"Of course; l forgot. / met a man
last night who said you had entered
the firm of Neergard IL Co"
Il have. Who was the man:'
"You can never guess, Captain Sell
wyn."
Il don't want to. Who was he?"
"PlCGse don't terminate so abruptly
the few subjects we have in reserve.
We may be obliged to talk to each 9th
er for a number of minutes if Rosa
mund doesn't let us alone. The man
was Boots Lansing"
Boots! Here!'
Arrived from Manila Sunday. As
usual, he introduced you as the sub
ject and told mech, dozens of things
about you. l suppose he began inquir-
ing for you before he crossed the
troopers gangplank, and somebody
sent him to Neergard & Co. Haven't
you seen him?"
NO" he said, staring at the prll'
liant fish, which glided along the crys-
tai tank, goggling their eyes at tie
lights.
"You-you are living with the Ge
rards, believer she said carelessly.
For awhile"
"Oh! Boots says that he is expect
ing to take an apartment with you
somewhere"
what! Has Boots resigned?"
$50 he says. He told me that you
had resigned. l did not understand
do you suppose l could have re
mained in the service?" he demanded
His voice was dry and almost accent
less.
"Why not?" she returned, paling.
"You may answer that question more
pleasantly than can" N
She usually avoided champa \e, bu
she had to do something for rseli
now. AS for him, he took what val
offered without noticing what he I. Y
n..AH