The Elbert County tribune., 1909-06-10

laid. this time. perhaps, a little more
stress on the "at last" She must have
noted that fact, for she blushed. red az
the strawberries she began TO turn
over with a critically poised fork.
"And did you come down alone ?"
Vernon went on.
mo, not exactly" said Miss
Greene. Mrs. Overman Hodge-La-
throp, and. believe, several
Mrs. oyerman Hodge-Lathropi"
Il think" said Miss Greene. that
she sits somewhere behind" There
WAS twinkle In the eyes she lifted
for an instant from her berries.
Vernon scanned the dining room.
There was Mrs. Overman Hodge
Lathrop. In all her-and yes, beside
her, sheltered snugly under her all-pro-
tecting wing. was Amelia Ansley!
They were at a long table, Mrs Over
man Hodge-Lathrop at the head, and
with them half a dozen women, severe,
and most aggressively respectable.
They sat-all of them-erect, pecking
at their food with distrust that was
not SO much a material caution as
spiritual evidence of their superiority
to most of the things with which they
were thrust in contact every day.
Their hats scarcely trembled, such
was the immense propriety Of their
attitudes; they did not bend at all,
even to the cream.
Vernon, who was taking all this In
at glance, saw that Mrs. Oyerman
Hodge-Lathrop was severer than he
had ever imagined 1t possible for
women to be-even such woman as
she. He would not have been sur.
prised had he suddenly been told that
her name had acquired another by
phen; certainly her dignity had been
rehyphenated. There she sat, with
her broad shoulders and ample bust,
her arms jeopardizing the sleeves of
her jacket.
1t was the most impressive break
fast table he had ever seen. 1t might
have given him vision of the future,
when he should have secured for wom-
en- all their civil and political rights,
and the nation had progressed to fe-
male lieutenant generals, who would
be forced at times to dine in public
with their staffs. But he had no such
vision, of course; the very spiritual
aversion of those women to such
thought would have prevented it, oc-
Guilty.
In point of fact, his regard In an in
stant had ceased to be general and had
become specific. having Amelia for its
objective. She sat on the right of her
commander, rather timid aide; and |
she seemed spiritually to snuggle more
closely under her protecting shadow
with each passing moment. She
seemed to be half frightened. and had |
the look of little girl who is about to |
cry. Her gray figure. with its hat of
violets above her dark hair, was, on
the instant, half pathetic to Vernon. |
She sat facing him. her face downcast. |
There was no conversation at that |
table; 1t was to be seen at a glance |
indeed that among those ladies' there |
would be need for none, all things |
having been prearranged for them. |
Vernon noted that Amelia seemed to |
him more dainty, more fragile than
she had ever been before, and his
heart surged out toward her. Then
she raised her eyes slowly, and held |
him. until from their depths she |
stabbed with one swift glance, al
glance full of all accusation, indict-
ment and reproach. The stab went to
his heart with pain that made him
exclaim. Then perceiving that the |
complicating moments were flying, he
rose hastily. and with half an apology
to Miss Greene. he rushed across thu
dining room
ITO RE CONrrNyrrrr,>