The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1909-04-08
Ross-H HuntressCompany
Cor.West and Grove SITS.
Rutland, Vermont.
Rutland. Vermont.

Sure thing said Selwyn, laughing
In the crushing grasp of the big INST
"How are you, Austin? Everybody's
In the country, | suppose" glanclng
around at the linen shrouded furni-
ture. How is Ninag And the kldsf
Good business? And EileenW
"She's all right" said Austin. Cad!
She's really superb specimen this
summer. Where's your luggagef Oh,
Is 1t all herei Enough, ! mean, for US
to catch train for Silverside this
afternoon?"
HAS Nina any room for me3" asked
Selwyn.
"Room Certainly! didn't tell her
you were coming. because II you
hadn't the Kids would have been hor-
rlbly disappointed. She and Eileen
are giving shlndy for Gladys-thats
Gc.alds new acquisition, you know.
So II you don't mind butting into
baby show wen run down. It's only
the younger bunch from Hitherwood
House and Brookminster. What do
you say, Phil?"
Selwyn said that he would go, hesi-
tating before consenting. A curious
feeling of age and grayness had sud
denly come over him, hint Of fatigue,
| of consciousness that much OF life lay
behind him,
So Austin went to the telephone and
called up his house at Silverside, say
Ing that he'd be down that evening
with a guest.
Nina got the message just as she
had arranged her tables. but woman Is
born to sorrow and heiress to all the
unlocked for idlocies Of man.
Dear" she said to Eileen. the tears
Of uxoria vexation drying unshed In
her pretty eyes. "Austln has thought
| ct to seize upon this moment TO bring
man down to dinner So II you are
dressed would you kindly see that the
tables are rearranged and then tele-
phone somebody to fll in-two girls.
you know? The Oldest Craig girl might
do for one. Beg her mother to let her
come"
Whom Is Austin bringing" Eileen
asked
HE didn't say. Can't you think OF
second girl to get? Isn't II vexing?
Of course there's nobody left-nobody
ever fills In In the country. DO you
know. I'll be driven into letting Drina
yit up with us--for sheer lack OF ma
terial. | suppose the little imp viii
have fit II suggest 1t and probably
perish OF indigestion tomorrow"
Eileen laughed. "Oh, Nina, do LEI
Drina come this oncei II can't hurt
her"
And SO It happened that, among the
Jolly throng which clustered around
The little candle lighted tables In the
dining room at Silverside. Drina. In
ecstasy. curly hair just above the nape
OF her slim white neck and cheeks like
pink fire, sat between Boots and a
vacant chair reserved for her tardy
father.
For Nina had waited as long as she
dared. Then Boots had been summoned
to take In Drina and the youthful
Craig girl. and, as there were to have
been six at table. at that particular
table sat Boots decorously facing Ell
ieen, with the two children on either
hand and two empty chairs nanklnA
Eileen.
At dinner Drina and the younger
Craig maiden also appeared TO be bent
upon self destruction. and Boots eyes
opened wider and wider In sheer
amazement at the capacity of woman
In embryo for rations sufficient TO
maintain a small garrison.
'sTbere'll be couple Of reports. be
sah to himself. with shudder. like
selwyn's chaosite. and then therell be
no more Drina aud Daisy. Hello!
lie broke OF. astonished. well, upon
my word OF words, Phil seiwyn, or
I'm broker!'
"rhllw exclaimed Nina. "oh. Aus.
Tin, aud yon never told u.s.
Train was late. as usual" observed
Austin Philip and don't mean 10
butt into this very grand function
Hello. Gerald. Hello. Gladys, Where's
cur obscure corner below the salt
Ninai oh. over tberel
Selwyn had already caught sight o'
the table destined for him. A deeper
color crent across his tronzed face as
be- stepped forward. and bis hrm hand
closed over the slim hand offered
For q moment neither spoke She
could not He dared mol
Then Drins caught bis hands. and
Elieen's ioosened IN bis clasp and fell