The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1909-04-15
CHAPTER vi,


breach between Vincent and myself
except his unusual pallor, which sug.
gested to me that he, too, had spent a
sleeplcss night.
The girls were inclined to joke our
solemn faces, but so long as the meal
nassed OFF without disclosing that
something was amiss between us | did
not care. All day we saw nothing OF
each other, but thts was not unusual
as we always pursued different
courses. spent most Of my time
with Agatha Fourth, the only honor
able, whom found to be really de-
lightful girl and certainly the posses
sor of remarkable musical talent,
In the evening the others went out
to row on the lake and left Agatha
Fourth alone with me. She sat at the
piano and played everything she
could think Of, while lay on a broad
divan where could watch her and
listen to the soft music.
suppose that my bad night had
something to do with the fact that
was boor enough to fall asleep while
ing for me. Certainly | know that
was guilty OF that appalling rudeness
for | was suddenly brought to a state
of consciousness by the sound of a
clock striking. counted the strokes
mechanically were ~. | must
have slept for hours, and, sure enough
the room was dark except for the fire
1s,,I,t c1t t0h 9
gone from the piano stool. AS | was
about to rise heard voices and, turn.
ing. | saw on the other side of the
piano a man and girl. The man was
Vincent, of course and | thought as
| looked at him sitting full in the
bright freight, that he had never
looked so handsome. His evening dress
showed off his superb athletic form
to the best advantage, and his face
was fresh and strong, with the bronze
of his tan extending to the roots of his
hair, which was cut close to conceal
a wave in the gold of it, 1t occurred
to me at once that his face had lost
much of its boyishness and he looked
every inch man. But it took ME
some time to realize that the girl who
sat with him was none other than the
secretary.
At first | could not tell what it was
that had so changed her, whether it
was her shimmering white evening
gown, or the cleaning bracelets, until
at last ii came to me in Il flash that 1t
was nothing more nor less than the
glory of her hair that had wrought the
Transformation. | had never seen the
secretary with her hair done any way
but plainly and unbecomingly, but
now it was dressed as knew it should
have been dressed long ago. She wore
it low on her long, slender neck, rolled
at the sides and ripping loosely back
from her forehead, in shining waves
and little willful rings held in place
with big shell combs.
And when at last it dawned upon
me that it was really the secretary
who was Nincent's companion, so
GREATNESS was | with amaze that at
first hardly realized that could
hear perfectly what they were saying
And when did realize it, | wanted to
rise and let them know that | was
there, but on second thought | saw
that | must have been there for so long
that they would never believe that
had not heard the whole of their con,
yersation. Furthermore, it occurred
to me that it might be well if stayed
TO hear what Miss Marsh had to say
for herself.
And so | calmly took the dress and
put 1t on, just to amuse myself"
heard the secretary saying, and did
my hair the way the others do theirs
you know. And it was so late thought
no one would find me here"
And if | hadn't left my pipe on the
table no one would have found you
and think what | should have
missed!" Vincent's voice was elo-
quent.
OF course, it was very vain of me
very vain" she went on; but YOU
know when a girl has to earn her own
living she gets little tired OF all
work and no play, and sometimes the
impulse to pretend she's fortunate and
happy and-and pretty"-the secretary
flushed under Vincent's gaze as she
faltered the last word, and hurried on
and like the others-is so strong
that 1t tempts her to deck herself out
in borrowed plumes and sit in an
empty drawing room at l2 o'clock at
night enjoying the illusion for brief
hour"
No" said Vincent. softly, Il don't
think 1t was vain; | think 1t was the
most natural thing in the world, and
and I'm glad you did It," he ended
rather lamely.
The secretary laughed, and won
dered what there was about the sound
that made Vincent rave over it, Then.
as his eyes wandered to her hair, he
sighed.
Why slightest thou. oh, furnace?"
she smiled at him.
Il was just thinking about some,
thing"
About what?"
You don't want to hear?"
"Ah! But do"
Al right, then" He turned on her
swiftly. Il was just looking" he said,
"at your hair III bet the angels have
haos like that"
The secretary blushed. Its horrld
hair she said, giving IL vindlctiye
little pull that only brought 1t to a
more charming disarray Il hate the
color of II. Why, when I was child
never could bear to have the heroines
OF the fairy tales have shining head
OF gnllen hair nnd l mood tn IhinL.