Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-06-11

laid. this time, perhaps little more
stress on the "at last" She must have
noted that fact, for she blushed, red as
the strawberries she began to turn
over with a critically poised fork.
"And did you come down alone?"
Vernon went on.
mo, not exactly" said Miss
Greene. MRS. Overman Hodge-La-
throp, and. believe, several"
MRS. Overman Hodge-Lathrop!"
Il think" said Miss Greene, that
she sits somewhere behind" There
was a twinkle in the eyes she lifted
for an instant from her berries.
Vernon scanned the dining room.
There was Mrs. Overman Hodge
Lathrop. in all her-and yes, beside
her. sheltered snugly under her all-pro-
tecting wing, was Amelia Ansley!
They were at a long table, Mrs. Over
man Hodge-Lathrop at the head, and
with them half a dozen women, severe,
and most aggressively respectable.
They sat-all of them-erect, pecking
at their food with a distrust that was
not SO much a material caution as a
spiritual evidence of their superiority
to most of the things with which they
were thrust in contact every day.
Their hats scarcely trembled, such
was the immense propriety Of their
attitudes; they did not bend at all,
even to the cream.
Vernon, who was taking all this in
at a glance. saw that Mrs. Overman
Hodge-Lathrop was, severer than he
had ever imagined 1t possible for
women to be-even such a woman as
she. He would not have been sur.
prised had he suddenly been told that
her name had acquired another by.
phen; certainly her dignity haa been
rehyphenated. There she sat, with
her broad shoulders and ample bust.
her arms jeopardizing the sleeves of
her jacket.
1t was the most impressive break
fast table he had ever seen. 1t might
have given him a vision of the future.
when he should have secured for wom-
en- all their civil and political rights.
and the nation had progressed to fe-
male lieutenant generals. who would
be forced at times to dine in public
with their STATS. But he had no such
vision, OF course: the very spiritual
aversion OF those women to such q
thought would have prevented 1t. oc-
Guilty.
In point of fact, his regard in an in
slant had ceased to be general and had
become specific. having Amelia for Its
objective. She sat on the right OF her
commander. n rather timid aide: and
she seemed spiritually to snuggle more
closely under her protecting shadow
with each passing moment. She
seemed to be half frightened. and had
the look Of a little girl who Is about to
cry. Her gray figure, with its hat OF
violets above her dark hair. was. on
the instant. half pathetic to Vernon.
She sat facing him. her face downcast.
There was no conversation at that
table; It was to be seen at a glance
indeed that among those ladies' there
would be need for none. all things
having been prearranged for them.
Vernon noted that Amelia seemed to
him more dainty. more fragile than
she had ever been before. and his
heart surged out toward her. Then
she raised her eyes slowly. and held
him, until from their depths she
stabbed with one swift glance, q
glance full OF all accusation. indict-
ment and reproach. The stab went to
his heart with a pain that made him
exclaim. Then perceiving that the
complicating moments were flying, he
rose hastily, and with half an apology
to Miss Greene, he rushed across the
dining room.