Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-07-10


shpussssg H;s erusgs shealdees, stun,
tered of IN guest of his wife, stepping
a moment at 4 Deighbefiug table to
speak to Agatha Calthness, who sat
there with Captain Voucher the collar
Of superb diamonds and aqtlamarines
on her slender throat pale blaze OF
splendor
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 q 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
silver and crystal and the bubbling
hiss of a glass reilled.
Major Belwether, his white, fluffy,
chop whiskers brushed rabbit fashion,
peeped in at the door, started to tiptoe
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 mirtb, then, bestowing q
sprightly glance on Plank, which said
very plainly, I'm up to one of my IT.
repressible jokes again. he held up a
smooth, white and overmanicured fore
| finger.
II was In Tiffany's yesterday" he
said, "and saw q young man In there
who didn't see me, and peeped over
his shoulder, and what do you think he
was doing?"
She lifted her eyes little YEARLY.
II don't know" she said.
!! 81 do" he chuckled. "He was choos-
ing collar of blue diamonds and
aouamarinGs he-probably to wear
himself-te -he Or perhaps he was go
ng to be married-he he he-next win
ter-ahem-next November-ha-ha! l
don't know, I'm sure, what he meant
to do with that collar. only
Something in Sylvia's eyes stopped
him, and, following their direction, he
turned around to find Quarter stand
Ing at his elbow, icy and expression
less.
"Oh," said the aged jester, a little
disconnected, Pm caught talking out
I'm church, see! 1t was only a harm
less little fun, Howard"
"Do you mean you saw me? asked
Quarter, pale as sheet. "You are in
error. have not been in Tiffany's In
months"
Belwether, crestfalen under the
white menace Of Quarters face, nod
ded and essayed chuckle without
success.
Sylvia, at first listless and uninter-
ested. looked inquiringly from the ma
jor to Quarter, surprised at the sup
pressed feeling exhibited over so triv-
ial q gaucherie. If Quarter had chosen
a collar like Agatha's for her, what OF
it? But as he had not, on his own
statement, what did it matter? Why
should he look that way at the foolish
major, to whose garrulous gossip he
was accustomed and whose inability
to refrain from prying was notorious
enough.
Turning dfsdainfully, she caught
glimpse of Plank's shocked and al
tered face. 1t relapsed instantly into
the usual inert expression, and queer,
uncomfortable perplexity began to ill.,
wade her. What had happened to stir
I'D these three men? OF what impor-
lance was an indiscretiOn of an old
gentleman whose fatuous vanity and
consequent plumbers everybody was
familiar with? And, after all, How
ard had not bought anything at Tiff
fanys. He said so himself. But 1t
was evident that Agatha had CHANGED
on the collar that Belwether thought
he saw somebody else examining.
She turned and looked at the dead
white neck of the girl. The collar was
wonderful-.a miracle of pale fire. And
Sylvia musing, let her thoughts run
on, dreamy eyes brooding. She was
glad that Agatha's means permitted
her now to have such things. 1t had
been understood for some years that
the Caithness fortune was in rather an
condition. Howard had been
able recently to do favor or two for
old Peter Caithness. She had heard
the major Dragging about it. Evident
ly Mr.. Caithness must have improved
the chance If he was able to present
such gems to his daughter. And now
somebody would marry her. Perhaps
Captain Voucher, perhaps even Alder
dene, perhaps, as rumor had it now