Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1909-05-05

Resting my chin in my hand, re-
viewed the evening, which, from my
own private and particular standpoint,
had been failure. Elizabeth had
mentioned Lord Wilfrid's reserved
manner, but to me he had seemed dis
tinctly sulky, and I had more than
once seen his sister look at him ap-
pealingly, and at last with an indig-
nant sparkle in her brown eyes, after
which he reused himself and conversed
in a perfunctory manner with his
neighbor-who happened to be my un-
fortunate self.
Now, I had fully intended to impress
Gordon Bennett with the fact that he
was still under the ban of my dis
pleasure, and in the privacy of my own
room had rehearsed a dignified bear
ing and certain imaginary speeches l
thought would be very effective. It
was therefore somewhat discOncerting
to be politely ignored by the gentle
man in question, who, beyond a civil
bow and smile, had appeared unaware
of my existence and had devoted him.
self exclusively to Elizabeth, who
looked especially pretty in her pale
blue princess gown, and whose nose,
being entirely guiltless of sunburn, did
not shine.
The air of jollity which had distin-
guished our little impromptu feasts
seemed to me lacking on this more
formal occasion. It was as though
our guests had put on another person
atty with their evening clothes, and
l found it unfamiliar and hard to tOl-
crate.
Lady Edith, to be sure, was a Joy
to behold, and talked with unusual
brilliancy. Her white shoulders and
golden hair were strikingly accentu-
ated by her low-cut black gown, and
the color came and went in her cheeks
like the fitful spark of an opal.
Mr.. Blake, the quiet, the self.con-
tanned, beside whom she was placed,
let his soup grow cold as he looked at
her, and had evidently forgotten the
presence of any one else long before
the appearance of the salad. BY the
time coffee arrived decided he was
hopelessly lost, and felt a sincere SYM
pathy for him, for in the lace of her
bodice cleaned the little gold key, and
l knew it locked all men but one out
of her heart.
I felt very sorry for them both, in
the light of my recently acquired in
formation. There were shadows be-
meath her eyes, and a repressed rest
lessness of manner which attributed
to overtaxed nerves, for l knew she
felt it incumbent upon her to make a
special effort to be agreeable, since
the dinner was given in her honor.
Perhaps, I reflected, the anniversary
brought with it painful memories of
other days, and for her sake as we'll
as my own, wished it were over.
Well, it was over, and our guests
had been gone for an hour, though it
was now but II o'clock. I imagined
Gordon Bennett and his friend arriv-
ing at their island and discussing us
over their cigars, with doubtless q
cooling. and stimulating beverage to
refresh them after their exertions,
and would have liked to hear what
they said.
Gabrielle often remarks that she
never hears ice clink in a glass and
smells q good cigar that she does not
wish she were a man. and secretly
sympathize with her, although al.
ways make point Of disagreeing in a
slightly superior manner, as though
such things were beneath contempt.
was thinking Of this now in 4
dreamy, half-conscious way, when I
suddenly became aware that I actually
smelled a cigar-and . very good one.
Moreover. the odor came from 10.