The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-08-29

AZ q udppgt spontaneous, almost on
adlng manner.
The two fathers looked on In amused
silence. the one full OF admiration md
pride for the clean, vigorous manhood
Of his son awaiting to receive welcome
from the adorable JANE. the other, long
since conscious Of the splendid beauty
Of his daughter, mentally declaring that
she never had appeared so well as
when standing beside this gallant fg-
ure.
Other guests arrived r,c-e Mrs. Ca
bic made her appearance in the draw.
ing room. She had taken more time
than usual with her toilet. It was i'm
possible for her to hide the fact that
the strain was telling on her p~ercepti-
bly,. The face that looked back into
her eyes from the mirror on her dress
ing table was not the fresh, warm one
that had needed so little care a few
short months before. There was q
~heaviness about the eyes, and there
were strange, persistent lines gather
ing under the soft, white tissues of her
skin. But when she at last stepped
INTO the presence Of her guests, with
ample apologies for her hardness, she
was the picture Of life and nerve. So
much for the excellent resources Of her
will.
Bansemer was the last to present
himself for her welcome, lingering in
the background until the others had
passed.
Pm SC glad you could come. In
deed, it's a pleasure to- She spoke
clearly and distinctly as she extend
ed her hand, but as she looked SQUARE
~ into his eyes she thought him the
ugliest man she ever had seen. Every
other woman in the party was saying
to herself that James Bansemer was
strikingly handsome.
Most pleasures come late In life to
some of u.s." he returned CALAMITY. and
even Graydon Bansemer wished that
he could have said ii.
Your father is a perfect dear" Jane
said to him softly. 1T was not what
ne said just then that pleased me. but
what he left unsaid."
Fathers no end of a good fellow,
Jane. I'm glad you admire him"
You are not a bit like him." she
said re1ectively.
Thanks" he exclaimed you are
not very dattering."
But you are a different sort OF q
good fellow; that's what / mean. Don't
be absurd" she cried in some little
confusion.
I'm like my mother, they say,
l don't remember her at ALL"
"0h, how terrible it must be never
to have known ones motherr' said she
tenderly.
"Or ones father" added James Ban
semer, who vas passing at that in.
slant with Mrs. Cable. please include
the father, Miss Cable" he pleaded.
with mock seriousness. Turning to
Mrs. Gable, who had stopped beside
him, he added, You, the most charm.
ing Of mothers, will defend the ia
theirs, won't your"
with all my heart" she answered
steadily that he was surprised.
Il will iaclude the father, Mr.. Ban
semer," said Jane, IF it is guaranteed
hat he possibly could be as nice and
lear as ones mother. In that case I
link ii would he, oh, dreadfully terri.
never to have known him"
And to think. Miss Cable, of the
l~nfortunates who have known neither
ather nor mother" said Bansemer
enior, slowly, relentlessly. How
they have missed Of life and
owe"
That can be Offset somewhat by the
bought Of the poor parents who never
ave known a son or a daughter" said
.ane,
How a they be parents, then?'
emanded Bobby Rlgby, coming up in
lme.
Go away, Bobby" she sail scorn.
ully.
That's a nice way to treat logic" he
rumbled. ambling on in quest Of Miss
'legg,
The debate viii become serious ie
on continue" said Mrs. Gable lightly.
Come along, Mr., Bansemer. Mrs.
raven is waiting
When they were across the room and
lone she turned a white face to him
nd demonstrated bitterly, "oh, that
cowardly of you after your prom.
'e to mewl
l forgot myself" he said quietly.
Don't believe me to be utterly heart
'ss," His hand touched her arm. In.
family her assumed calm gave way to
deep agitation, and with a swift
.ange of manner she turned on him.
er passion alight.
You she stammered. Then her
found voice, what do you
ieanT she demanded in smothered.
ARMED tones.
He desisted sayagely and shrank
way, the color flaming into his dis
listed, saturnine face. He did not
'eak to her again until be said good
? long afterward.
As be had expected, his place at the
inner table was some distance from