The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-04-28
THE
TANGLED
Web
BY Ethel Watts-Mumford Grant
Aushor q ''Dupes, " 'Whaswssh." " Eac.
Copynshs, 1908. BY Benz. B. Hsmpson
CHAPTER 1.

rVHLYN GRANGE 10 one OF the
L show places OF Long Island.
1t occupies a hill crest commanding
the great Hampstead plains, made
beautiful by its fine graduations of
distance and color. To the left lies
the wooded rolling country OF
Wheatley Hills, and but . few
motor miles away the blue waters Of
the Sound indent the Islands shore.
The house. vast edifice Of pale
red brick with white trim-possesses
terraces bordered by marble balus-
trades, descending in steep success
sion; each q giant step Of flowers,
divided down the middle By q marble
staircase alternating with pehhled
pathways. The right wing OF the
mansion is devoted to the luxurious
housing Of its guests. The left wing
contains the servants quarters and
the necessary array OF kitchens. De-
tached buildings for squash and
bowls offer exercise and pleasure for
dark and sullen days. In the dis
tance the great bulk Of the stables
lies shrouded in huge trees, whence
a faint yapping from the crowded
kennels is almost always audible.
1t was Wendham's first visit to
the Grange, and, as he drove up the
long, leaf Uttered road in the gather
ing dusk, he was unprepared for
the imposing structure that met his
sight. Really" he said to Mrs.
Lawdon, who had arrived on the
same train, and sat beside him en-
veloped in chinchilla and grey wells,
"a title should go with it. Doesn't
seem the proper thing for just
plain Mister, does it?''
DO you think anything is too
fine for the American gentleman"
she answered.
Wendham was glad that the grow
ing dusk hid his smile. Really,
wasn't quite serious about it," he
answered, "and I've been away so
long, you see, that I've grown con-
tinental.'
She nodded. Charlie told me
you'd been in Europe-how long
four years, wasn't it?'
-Four years." he echoed thought
fully, "and what changes!"
And Charlie married!-you got
our cards, didn't you? 1t seems to
me they were sent to Vienna or
somewhere like that"
"Yes, 1 received them-about six
months ago"
Then there's the Boskwith di-
vorce-that must have surprised
you--and Nellie Gaynor's a widow
now, you know"
She paused abruptly, suddenly
recalling the gossip that linked Boyd
Wendham's hasty departure with the
marriage Of the lovely Nellie
Doesn't look heartbroken," she
commented to herself, as she turned
to examine his appearance under
cover OF admiring the passing land
scape. She saw a strong-featured,
keen-eyed man of powerful build,
whose hair, though prematurely
grey, did not age his appearance,
chiefly because of the boyish sparkle
OF his unusually handsome eyes, and
the affectionate humor of his f1exi-
bic mouth-'Decidedly handsome" :"
thought Mrs. Lawdon, with dab at
the gilt fringes of her hair. II won
der why she didn't take him-they
say old Gaynor was a pill" Aloud
she said, Mrs. Gaynor's to be one
OF this house party. Did you see her
abroad? She was over there more
than a year after Mr.. Gaynor died" p"
mo, didn't happen to see her in
Europe. My specialties-I'm a ply
sician, you know-kept me in Wen
ma, but I'm looking forward to re-
newing an old friendship. I've had
a glimpse OF her, of course, since I've
been back, but only for a moment, 4"
He spoke SO naturally that Mrs.
Lawdon was disappointed. He
glanced at his companion, wondering
how that astute cotillion butterfly,
Charlie Lawdon, had ever been SO
''let in" The whole surface of their
world had been rippled by the plunge
OF this particular little clod into its
distilled and filtered depths. There
was no denying Mrs. Lawdon's gaudy
and perfumed plsbeianism.
DO you know Mrs. Evelyn well?"
she asked abruptly. i've only met
her once or twice, but they're old
friends OF yours, aren't they7"
They are two OF the best have, u
he answered. ''Cass and I were col
lego mates-and Patty, oh we'll,
remember her with long red silk legs
and short brown silk braids,' he
laughed reminiscently. "She was 9
funRy child. always tired: she wal
born tired-but, here We are; let me
help you."
The carriage drew up before ths
main entrance, whose white columns
seemed vast in the soft electric IL
Elimination from the dull glass
globes guarding the doorway. The
footmAn rang the bell and returned
for Wendham's simple suitcase and
Mrs. LRwdon's elaborate travelling
empedimenta. The rest OF her col
lection was in charge of her maid.