The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1909-07-09
VIII.

CHAPTER VIII.
Whils h1sy Ia her room. Mathi1i- wss
interrupted Ey 4 knaek az the dear. and
FAe delivery Of q large ba1 addressed "a
Mrs. Stewart
Size was "a the reias II ss.yins shAs
there EHHss ~ ss2zzae mistake. wAea. wifh
a START, ss~ rene na1e~ed.
VITA ga uarousscyfnbl- anticipation.
sh< crear4 fhe parcel. ard. aions ss she
was a vivid snsa ayet her fare Is sAe
lifted car 5 goax cIaak Of dreaded yel-
Tes. Tarvias in tsns frorn pesriy white 70
deepest dosecotsr. II was edged With
sofs. gray ostrich feathers. sad lined wlsh
whsts far. ia exchange for a soaL.
She rsutssr~a 70 herself, snf thea. as
though ashamed Of the bitterness Of TIRE
taoaghs. SIR forced herself 10 s-knuv ledge
tae aellsira~d shon~htsalness OF The gift.
IL was in words II gentle di--ity thu,
sae thssk@d Stewart for his siff as sas
stood By the sigrin. FIRE. dressed for
the ~eTenir..
He sEcsd beside her. docking dowa. The
crisp wAvex Of her tawnv hair we're
arawa back from her low. .quAre fore
bead. ara Frightened by sae contrast Of
a black siSretre.
Her l0w-cat black bos,ioe showed ~e
~hiss curves OF her neck. e-esrcled BY a
string os pears. The soft simmer OF
sne gray velvet cloak, which hang open
from Der shoulders. acted as a frame to
ths splendid e~aloring cf face ard hair.
Il was right be said lightly. "As
soon as ! saw tina. thing in . Bond street
window. | knew thar IL wcrld make you
Look Ike a Venetian noS.r-ssa
bat sareiy no-aressas mus. have beea
like LAZY Mayor~~ses. fair. fat and for
sy.'" she iesEed. though her smile told
that she liked the words.
This is rather different from our
Christmas dinner" Stewart said, cheer
fully. As they took their seat q. q small
table In she dining room. that. with its
red-shaded lights and groups Of well
dressed people. bad 50 festive an air TO
those fresh from she dark discomfort OF
winter seas.
hey were at no lack for the casual
careless talk of those who have been
thrown together In the intimacy Of daily
life.
-Byethebye." he said. as they Ioiserei
over their coffee, -yoa never told me
how you had disposed of your victim.
poor Hudson Where did yoa par from
hinyt
AT Eusson." she laughed. III. vas
rather woe-oegons.
The poor boy was dreadfully struck"
and his eyes as they rested on her. seem
ed 20 add thar IL was natural enough.
And he was shaken % without any ad-
dress. or suchyT be asked, lighting his
cigarette
oh, | told hin that / was going to
Paris ~ once. and would write from
there. or something of that kind. | hard
~ remember what" she answered. care
less!y. beginning TO pull on her long.
E~arlcolorsd gloves.
a conspirator Requires a good mem
orr. You'll need to remember every
word you ny to Mn. Herbert" be said.
sarningiy.
She shivered- 1t gives NE q chill TO
bear her name. You have never de-
scribed her 10 me. though"
He thought for . moment There 10
nothing very definite about Der to de-
scribe. She 10 one Of those bleached look
ing women. with . high. bony nose. and
p&I~ eyes"
But What style II sher Grande
danDe' or country squiress? Wsldressed
% dowdy! One can always stand better
10 ones Uns with . dowdy woman."
-SA<s certainly not IN outdoor per
son. shough she's great on local in6u-
ences. and societies and such-her piety
is hs strongest point. I think. up
pose sAs 10 vriI-iress<d in q way, though
rh~re Is nothing snsar abou, her. /
shoald say that the prevailing aspect was
skimr8ness. There h always o look ~
though something were too narrow. or
TOO xhost. or too something"
How graphic. : abe commented Then,
parxuing her inquiries. do yeu D
that she will pretend 10 be friendly at
arsty
-GoodnA@ kDws. Ton uray be surs
that whatever she DOES IL win be with
q object Of keeping her influence over
my father. and preventing rue from a<
CURING any. Never forget that"
Il shall not forget IT, she said. and
sAs conhdent amiIe Of warfare lit her
facs.
He Watched her cnrioussy.
IL VIA ~ xauusTE cDnp0ls II u
ever TO an open battle between you
fvo. Bat We must BE- going"
The play that they watched that even
Ing had 10 tragic figure Of the woman
With . past. dropping her arms and star
ing ous into Acancy. Stewart had taken
good care Of thar. IL was one o1 those
nippAns comedies Of society life, acted BY
ladies and gentlemen Ia the smar,sss
of modern attire.
The wit. the fashions. m audience
~ers all + welcome anua~ nsnl and Il
vas with the sensations that mark the
cod Of . successful evening that they re-
surred to the hotel.
All the "a ;Te Mathilte fsi, her spirits
dag ~ they went towards ;as lift, for the
old was returning with the
prospect Of . sesea-ssse In that little sit
ting room upstairs. She had rejected the
proposal Of supper. and they wer. wait
ing amongst . little group Of returned
ih~eater-soeS like themselves. for the de-
scent OF the lift. 1t did not need the
murmur from Stewart. How tired yeu
look I" 10 make Mashilde aware that che
had grown pale knd chill.
t4 -l-1 -