Evening star., 1909-06-06

writer,-fnd a Remington typewriter with an
alignment imperfect in just this way"
fine-tooth-comb the city for it STILL accidents
do happen luckily for prophets and seers
And, at any rate, that will be the final proof
Well I'm going to reread the whole bunch,
look for unifying theory-and then call
| on the lady. | confess I'm curious to see her =
MRS. STELLERY, he to find, was
- woman of by no means an obvious type
Outwardly, it is true, she manifested social grace
and experience, handsome rather than
beautiful, with dark, serious face and finely
chiseled features One would call her aristo-
cratic in looks and manner and yet behind the
conventional aspects in which she showed her
self in company, keen observer would note
subtlety after subtlety That she had fine
| mind and fearless one, was occasionally proved
by the flashes of wit and perspicacty that lllu-
| mined her conversation and colored what might
| otherwise be rather bored repressed, though
perfectly polite habit of talk. She seemed
aloof, waiting for something interesting, all
but effete. Her smile elusive; but when
it came forth, compelling, captivating, and as
soon as it had created that impression. it faded
and the weary manner asserted itself again
Only the mouth was temperamental The gray
ewes were well schooled, though velvety soft.
She had trick of half raising one eyebrow,
| which gave whimsical relief to her naughty
pose One could fancy her always playing a
part and wonder what the real woman would
after all, if one Judged by the quivering lips,
This, at least. is the way Astro described the
woman to Valeska later He was waiting IN the
reception room, looking at novel entitled
The Guerdon,' when Mrs. Stellery entered
one brow delicately arched, as If she had not
been quite sure whom she was to find.
He introduced himself, and for moment she
seemed embarrassed and turned the conversa-
ton to the novel.
Have you read it," she asked met the
| NJ AcLa LOT a1,r IN lad at
a dinner and he sent me the book met him
only twice. but he seemed quite an extraordi-
nary man :
Astro turned to the title page, and before
Mrs Viola Stellery Her Book, quaint
enough wording to arouse his smile "A prob
lem9" he asked.
Love after marriage. the modern theme.
she replied
I'D like to know his solution.
She only smiled 1t was her only smile dur
ing the interview. and the talk passed to the
letters.
She had no idea she said, why she was being
SO prosecuted They were stupid and appar-
entity meaningless. yet they annoyed her Their
audactv had now begun to worry her, as well.
If ANYTHING could be done to stop them. she
would be glad Yes they had stopped, for the
time being, and perhaps it would be as well to
wait and do nothing. but now Steery himself
was aroused and wished the matter investi-
gated He was too busy with his press of work
to spend much time on the matter He was
very busy man Quite absorbed IN his work.
and she had hoped to go abroad with him in the
spring At present it seemed impossible And
so on the talk ran, and her expression said.
What you going to do about it, don
care!'
THEN card was brought in, and she said, l
1t is DIR Prmfield. my husbands brother
in law, you know. Married Paus sister, who
died two years ago He's physician. We see
good deal of him :"
She did not add. land he bores me-. but
the merest drag IN her words implied it. In an
other minute the doctor came bruskly IN
He was a nervous, slim, swapping eyed man
of thirty-five with ierky way of speaking and
moving He said, Hello Lila" shook hands,
bowed to Astro, and looked at him with pro-
fessonal eve, seemed to decide that the palmist
was all right, tapped himself INTO seat,
screwed his feet round the legs Of a chair. and
began to talk very fast to his hostess. Ignoring
Astro
Mrs. Stellery endeavored to include both
guests in the conversation: but found it diff |
cult Astro seeing that he was in the way at
least of the doctor withdrew and went back To
the studio.
On the way he stopped at bookstore and
bought a copy of THE Guerdon. Dipping
into it, walking down Fifth-ave he came
across a sentence, reread it, shut the book with
a snap, and walked home thinking
Arrived at the studio r. aid the book open