The Dolores star., 1909-05-21

"sherI BE Down Here Again To-Mor.
row, Too"
and she greeted him with a brilliant
smile. With springing step he rushed
toward her, both hands extended In his
eagerness. She half rose to take them:
their greeting silenced the early break
fasters for an instant. Then he sat
down opposite her and leaned over
with a radiant face as near to her as
might be. considering the width of the
tablecloth and the breakfast things be-
tween.
And SO you're here at last!" he ex-
claimed.
His eyes quickly took In her toilet:
remarkably fresh 1t was, thorgh II
had been made on the Springfield
sleeper. II gave none of those evil
dences Of being but the late Towering
of a toilet that had been made the
night before. as do the toilets Of some
ladies under similar circumstances.
She wore this morning suit of brown.
tailored faultlessly to every fat seam
and a little turban to match 1t. Be-
side her plate lay her veil. her gloves.
and brass tagged key. And her face.
clear and rosy in its rich beauty. was
good to look upon. The waiter had
Just brought her strawberries.
"Send John to me-" said Vernon to
the waiter. 'Ill take my breakfast
here. May II" He lifted his eyes to
Miss Greene's.
Surely" said she. well have much
to discuss" - -
"And so you're here again at last. .
repeated Vernon. as II he had not al
ready made the same observation. He
laid. this time, perhaps a little more
stress on the "at last" She must have
noted that fact, for she blushed. red az
the strawberries she began to turn
over with 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!"
'I think" said Miss Greene, that
she sits somewhere behind" There
was 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 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, peckine
at their food with distrust that was
not SO much a material caution as 9
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 theil
attitudes; they did not bend at all
even to the cream.
Vernon. who was taking all this In
at a glance. saw that Mrs. Overmar
Hodge-Lathrop was severer than he
had ever imagined 1t possible fol
women to be-even such woman as
she. He would not have been sur
her name had acquired another by
phen; certainly her dignity had beer
rehyphenated. There she sat. will
her broad shoulders and ample bust
her arms jeopardizing the sleeves ol
her jacket
It was the most impressive break
fast table he had ever seen. 1t might
have given him q vision of the future
when he should have secured for WON
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 81 iritl
aversion of those women to such :.
| thought would have prevented it, o,
| Guilty.
In point of fact, his regard in an in
slant had ceased to be general and ha
become specific. having Amelia for its
| objective She sat on the right Of heI
| commander, a 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 little girl who is about tc
cry. Her gray figure. with its hat oI
violets above her dark hair. was. OF
the instant, half pathetic to Vernon
] She sat facing him. her face downcast
} There was no conversation at that