Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-03-05

rious. Where did you get your scarf
pin?" .
MY scarf-pin?"
His hand involuntarily sought his
throat. but he was wearing a negligee
shirt and soft silk tie.
'Oh. don't mean to-day. The
Sphinx's head. you know. in dull god.
Where did 1t come FROM"
1t was simple enough question,
and one easily answered, but Gordon
Bennett flushed deep red beneath his
tan and brought the boat up beside
the slip in silence.
"Well?"
In retaliation for his persistence in
the matter Of the jewels. I was deter
mined to press the question, now that
l saw he wished to avoid a reply.
MY pin? Oh. yes. I remember. I'm
glad you liked it."
I'm not sure | liked it; it inter-
ests me-"
"Why?"
"Oh. because it did would like
to know where you got it,
''Well-I found it."
"Where?''
Again pause, and again the blood
mounted to his face.
Where did you And it? I would
really like to know
In the streets of New York"
His eyes refused to meet mine, and
| knew fntuitively that he lied; also
that he realized | knew 1t.
I said no more. but stepped out on
the slip with an unpleasant tightening
OF the muscles Of my throat and a
curious sensation that everything was
slipping away from me.
'Good-by." said. DULY. as I reached
the steps. and he raised his cap in 81.
lence
At the top paused and looked back.
for l thought l heard my name. He
sat bareheaded In the stern of his
boat. gazing after me. but made no
effort to attract my attention nor to
follow me ashore. so l decided l was
mistaken and he had not called me- l
wished he had. l wanted to go back
and ask him to explain. but pride for
bade. and | resumed my walk to the
house with my head as high in the
air as could get 1t. hoping to Impress
him with the dignity OF my exit and
general air Of frosty disapproval.
Elizabeth called to me as l passed
the door OF her room. where she was
reposing luxuriously on her couch.
book in hand.
did you have a good timer" she
inquired. with interest.
No" / returned. briefly: "horrid."
That's too bad. And oh, look at
your nose. How did you ever get so
burned?"
Elizabeth has a straight little nose
which Is my envy as well As my admi-
ration. and she is always very careful
to guard II from too intimate an &C.
auaintance with the sun. so I knew
her exclamation was occasioued by
genuine sympathy. Nevertheless, ! re-
fused her offers OF cold cream and
other first aids to the complexion rath-
er ungratefully and went on to my
room. where she promptly fol-
lowed me- ..r
Did Mr.. Bennett say anything
about tonight" she asked. as she
seated herself on the foot OF the bsd.
"No; why should he?"
You don't mean to say you have
forgotten?"
Forgotten WHAT"
Elise. sometimes I think you must
be in love-or. rather. I should think
SO were It any other girl. Don't you
know that We give a dinner tonight?
Our very FIRST formal effort. to cele-
brate Lady Edith's birthday"
I turned. brush In hand, and stared
at her. had indeed forgotten. al
though our menu for the occasion had
been discussed and our toilets decided
upon that morning at breakfast
And that's why was concerned
about your nose" continued Elizabeth
cheerfully. "and your neck. too. for
that matter. for OF course you must
wear an evening gown. and we all
want to look well. You had really bet
ter try the cold cream and other stun"
This time l did not refuse, for had
a mental vision Of my face. As the
glass reported 1t, rising from the del
icate lace OF my white frock. and the
picture did not please me. SO I spent
the afternoon in amounting my unfor-
tunate countenance. and rejecting
upon the frailties OF manipulating OF
him as q species rather than as a per-
sonality, and determining to let him
severely alone in the abstract. even
while meditating upon a proper course
OF discipline for the individual.
CTo BE CoNTINUEDJ
ApE AAorERe nE EvASIvgNEQ8