Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1909-03-12
sgChapter e.

On liE a "A few days. as he eX-
rSsmIN1 pressed 1t, but 1t was
lyg now the first week In
October, and he had not
yet returned to S,iverside.
A brief note to Nina thanking her
for having had him at Silverside and
speaking vaguely of some business
matters which might detain him In
definitely; briefer note to Eileen re-
GREETING his Inability to return for the
present, were all the communications
they had from him except news
brought by Austin, who came down
from town every Friday.
A long letter to him from Nina still
remained unanswered. Austin had
seen him only once in town. Lansing,
now back in New York, wrote post
script in letter to Drina, asking for
Selwyn's new address, the first init
nation anybody had that he had given
up his lodgings on Lexington avenue.
Eileen had not written him. His sud-
den leave ticking nearly month ago
had so astounded her that she could
not believe he meant to be gone more
than day or two. Then came his
note, written at the PATRONS club,
very brief, curiously stilted and formal,
with strange tone of fnality through
it, as though he were taking perfume
tory leave of people who had come
temporarily into his life and as though
the chances were agreeably even Of
his ever seeing them again.
The girl was not hurt as yet; she
remained merely confused, incredulous,
unreconciled.
1t was possible now to ride cross
country, and Nina, who was always In
terror of an added ounce to her per-
feet figure, rode every day with Eileen,
and Austin, on big hunter, Joined
them two days in the week.
There were dances, too, and Nina
went to some of them. So did Eileen,
who had created a furore among the
younger brothers and undergraduates,
and the girl was busy enough with
sailing and motoring and dashing
through the sound in all sorts Of pow
err boats.
Truly, for her, the world was still
green, the sun bright, the high sky
blue, but she had not forgotten that
the earth had been greener, the sun
brighter, the azure above her more
splendid-once upon a time-like the
first phrase of tale that is told. And
If she were at times listless, absent
eyed, subdued, trife graver or I'M
usually silent, seeking the still paths
Of the garden as though In need Of
youthful meditation and the quiet Of
the sunset hour, she never doubted that
that tale would be retold for her again.
Only, alas, the fair days were passing,
and the russell rustic Of October sound
ed already among the curling leaves In
the garden, and he had been away a
long time, very long time, and she
could not understand.
On one Of Austin's week end visits,
the. hour for conjugal confab having
arrived between husband and wife, he
said. with a trace Of irritation, in his
voice:
II don't know where Phil is or what
he's about. I'm wonderlng-he's got
the Selwyn conscience, you know
what he's up to and if it's any kind Of
damfoolishness. Haven't you heard a
word from him, Nina?"
Nina, In her pretty night attire, had
emerged from her dressing room, lock-
ed out Kit-Ki and her maid and had
curled up In a big, soft armchair, era
ding her bare ankles in her hand.
81 haven't heard from him." she
said. "Rosamund saw him in Wash
ington-passed him on the street He
was looking horribly thin and worn,
she wrote. He did not see her.
"Now, what In the name Of common
sense Is he doing In Washington" ex-
claimed Austin wrathfully. Probably
breaking his heart because nobody
cares to examine his chaosite. By the
way, Nina, Gerald has done rather an
unexpected thing. | saw him last
night He came to the house and told
me that he had just severed his con-
nection with Julius Neergard's COM
pany."
'T'm glad Of itw exclaimed Nina.
'T'm glad he showed the good sense
to do it!'
"Well, yes. AS a matter Of fact,
Neergard is going to be very rich
man some day, and Gerald might
have But am not displeased. What
appeals to me is the spectacle of the
boy acting with conviction on his own
initiative Of course he can, If he
chooses, begin everything again and
come in with me, or, If / am satisfied
that he has any ability, he can set up
some sort Of real estate Office on his
own hook"
Nina hesitated, another idea intrud-
ing.
Austin, the Orchil boy, the one in
Harvard, proposed to Eileen, the lit
tie idiot! She told me. Thank good
ness, she still does tell me things!
Also the younger and chubbier Dray-
more youth has offered himself after
killingly proper interview with me.
thought 1t might amuse you to hear
Of It,"
1T might amuse me more if Eileen
would get busy and bring Philip into
camp" observed her husbanI
"Do you know" said Nina. that |
believe be Is in love with herF
"Then why DOESN'T
81 don't know. | was sure-I am
sure now-that the girl cares more for
him than for anybody. And yet-and
hi CHI &c orr In