The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-09-30

vited nearly every night for the obvious
reason of making up an even number.
The local resources at Orkweil were not
large. and the family mourning still fur
Their curtailed them.
1t had been to Mathilde's mingled dis
appointment and relief that Stewart had
made no attempt at a few quiet words
before dinner. and she went down by her
| self with a sullen resentment burning at
her heart.
In her present humor the newcomer
| talk was a welcome distraction, and ii
was a relief to make such answers to the
semi-patronizing queries as to the voyage
and such, with which he began the con-
versation.
And so you spent Christmas Day at
sea? How very strong minded and sensi-
| BILE in you !" Norman said. 1t was begin
ming to dawn upon him that Mathilde
was not a lady whom it was wise at pat
ronize.
I'm not at all sure" she returned,
that we were either strong minded or
sensible. Even at sea one doesn't seem to
escape the contagious sentiment of the
| day. Solitary confinement would be the
only way to avoid doing or saying some
thing that one would afterwards regret.
Il should think that on board ship the
| opportunities of getting into mischief
were limited" he suggested.
His large experience of charming mar
ried ladies made him quick to see that her
words were meant for her husbands ear,
and he was beginning to enjoy the play.
| "Oh, no; they are only concentrated
| Stewart looked steadily across at her.
"Are you going to confess to having gam
bled away a private hoard at poker?" he
asked.
| She looked back at him as steadily
you must agree that l had not much
luck in my ventures"
I'm not so sure Of that" he answered
carelessly; and the words seemed to heI
such a taunt on the material benefits that
she had taken from him, that deep
painful flush burned her face.
| Norman, feeling the atmosphere toe
electric. interposed. lone should never
spend Christmas in England. Paris oil
| Nice are the only civilized places"
| "Yes, Paris isn't bad" she answered
absently, her thoughts going back to rec
sunset on Christmas Eve over the Lux
embourg gardens.
| You know Paris?" he asked in sur
| prise. II thought"
you thought that l had never been Out
of the backwoods," she laughed. She had
recovered her self-control, and was walk
ing warily now. What should you say
if you knew that / have been an art stu
dent in Paris"
She had now, without any doubt, at
| tracted the attention of the whole table
but with a quick glance towards Stew
art, she knew that he approved of the way
in which she was playing her cards.
While the others listened, Norman an
swered. with all due Difference to you
veracity, 1 should say that l have seer
art students in Paris, and that l canno
imagine you among their ranks"
THE poor studentsp she laughed. "Bu
| perhaps 1 had not time to acquire tn,
griminess of the type
"You certainly had not" he agreed
with conviction. May / ask how lon;
your studies lasted?" and he looked a
her keenly.
II worked there one winter" she an
swered. and again she saw in her hus
bands face that she had answered right
IAN art STUDENT" Norman scoffed
You had finishing lessons for a winter
Was not that it?'
1.-THE same thing with a differen
name," she agreed; and then Nellie brok
in:
slow naughty in you never TO tell u
that you were an artist. am sure tina
you must have lovely pictures of tn
prairies put away somewhere-not con
fess, hasn't she, Jem:"
Not that / know Of" he answered
readily. Mosquitoes in summer AM
billiards in winter are scarcely conduciy
to picture-making."
what a dreadful country it must be
Are you glad 10 get away from it, Mel
lie lisped
This is certainly an improvement Of
it." she answered; and to avoid hearin
more, Mathilde turned again to Norman
She was beginning to feel friendly to
wards this man, who looked at her S
appreciatingly and led up so well to he
conversational effects, and she was quit
content to settle down to play beziqu
with him after dinner, although she saw
that Nellie was doing her best to draw
him away to the piano.
Stewart had been called out of tn
room, and Miss Fearon had her choic
between solitude and the ecclesiastical
couple. The game was amusing and long
and their good-nights were gay an
friendly. When the end of the following
day had come Mathilde laughed to her
self as she bethought how much of it na
been spent in Norman Stewards company
The greater part of the morning ha
been passed in the library over fine col
lection of miniatures, which she found
with great professions of surprise tina
she had not yet seen. These he mad
more interesting with scraps of famil
history, intermingled with a collector
bits of out-of-the-way knowledge.
when you come over TO Paris yO
shall see my own poor little collection
Nothing to equal this, but still have on
or two good things. There is a head o
Madame de Rccamier on a snuff-box lid,
he added tenderly.
While they were thus occupied. bot
Jem and Miss Fearon made separate sal
lies into the room, but each retired o.
finding that their attention was not I
be diverted. In the afternoon there wa
long walk through the beechwoods, an
although Nellie was with them, To- par
was distinctly that of third person.
But Mathilde was not to get throug
this day without an interview with he
husband. She was skilfully intercepte
in twilight visit to Sir James. and FOL
lowed from the room by him. How mad
ly her heart thumped as she walked alon
the dusky passage at his side!
There was seat running round tn
r"'~-" Of a window through which coul
cen young moon in the pale west
orn sky, against which the tree braDche
drew a dark tracery.
DO you mind stopping here a mo
ment?' Stewart said, motioning toward
the seat.
WHY? 1t is so cold and dismal here.
And she shivered
Il should be glad of few minutes o
your society, and | should not hav
thought that you would find it cold i
your furs. But as you prefer. | ca