The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1909-01-14

chair forward
&R what Is the matter
with Geraldf" she ask.
ed. Gould you tell meY''
Nothing serious Is the matter. Ei-
ieen"
lis be not H."
mot very"
She lay still moment: then. with
the slightest gesture. Come here"
He seated himself near her. She laid
her hand feariessly on his arm.
Tell me-" she demanded And as
be remained silent Once" she said.
Il came suddenly into the library.
Austin and Gerald we're there. Austin
seemed TO he very angry with my
brother ! heard him say something
that worried me- and slipped out be-
fore they saw me-"
selwyn remained silent
WAS that itY'
"l-don't know what you heard"
Don't you understand mef'
mot exactly"
4 We'll then"-she crlmsoned-"ha
Gerald m.mlsbehaved againT'
what did you hear Austin sayY' be
demanded.
81 heard-something about dlssipa.
ton He was very angry with Gerald
1t Is not the best way. J think. to be-
come angry with either OF us-either
me or Gerald-because then we are
usually inclined to do II again, what
ever II is"
They laughed n little, Her fingers.
which had tlghtened on bis arm. re-
laxed. her hand fell away. and she
Strengthened up. sitting Turk fashion
and smoothed her hair, which contact
with the pillows had disarranged so
that II threatened TO come tumbling
over eyes and cheeks.
"Oh. hair. hair" she murmured.
you're Nina's despair and my endless
punishment. I'd twist and pin you
tight II dared. Some day | will too
What are you looking at SO curlously.
Captain selwyn-my mopT
ITS about the most stunningly
beautiful thing ever saw" he said.
still curious.
Ii was new note In their cordial
intimacy. this nasceDt Intrusion OF the
personal. To her 1t merely meant his
very charming recognition Of her ma
turity that she was fast becoming q
woman like other women, to be looked
at and remembered as an individual
and no longer classed vaguely as one
among hundreds Of the newly emerged
whose soft. unexpanded personalities
NIL resembled one another.
For some time now she had cherish.
ed this tiny grudge In her heart-that |
he had never seemed TO notice any.
thing in particular about her except
when he tried to be agreeable con-
cerning some new gown. The contrast
had become the sharper. too since she
had awakened to the admiration Of
other men And the awakening was
only half convinced happiness min.
gied with shy surprise that the wise
world should really deem her so love.
ly.
"A red headed girl" she said teas
ingly. Il thought you had better taste
than-than"-
Than to think you a raving beau
tyr
oh" she said you don't think
that"
As matter Of fact he himself had
become aware OF II SO suddenly that
he had no time to think very much
about IT, II was rather strange, too.
that he had not always been aware
OF II, or was II partly the mellow
light from the lamp tinting her till
she glowed and shimmered like
young sorceress. sitting 80 straight
there in her turquoise silk and misty
lace7
When Drlna had gone to bed Boots
also took his leave. and Selwyn rose,
too. troubled, careworn expression
replacing the careless gayety which
had made him seem so young In Miss
Errolrs youthful eyes.
Walt Boots" he said. I'm going
home with you" And to Eileen. al
most absently: Good night. I'm 10
very glad you are well again"
Good night" she said. looking up at
him. The faintest sense OF disappoint-
ment came over her-at what she did
not know. Was II because In his com.
pletely altered face she realized the
instant and easy detachment from her.
self and what concerned heri Was II
because other people. like Mr.. Lansing
other interests. like those which 20
plainly ln bis face betrayed his preoc-
cupation-had so easily, replaced an In
umscy which had seemed to grow new
er and more delightful with every
meetingf
What was II. then. that he found
more interesting. more important, than
their friendship, their companlonshipf
Was she never to grow old enough or
wise enough or experienced enough to
exact - without exscting = his para
mount consideration and INTEREST,"
Was there no common level OF mental
equality where they could meet--where I
termination OF interviews might be mu.
tna!. might he faIrer TO herr
Now he went sway. utterly detached :
from her and what concerned her. to ,
week other Interests OF which she knew
absorbed ln them to her ut.
ter exclusion. leaving her here with {
the long evening before her and moth {
Ing TO do. becsnse her eyes were not |,
yet strong enough 10 use for reading.
Lansing was saying. "ril drive a. far
II the club with you. and then you can
drop ne and come back later" IN
Right. my son III nnISh q letter +
md then come back"
Cant you WRITE II az the ciubY 4
"Not that letter" be replied 10 low :
roire and. turning 10 Eileen. smiled .
bis sbsent detaeh~d smile. ofyerin az bis I
hand
But she lay back, looking strsish, up /
ltklm. '