The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1911-12-13

that the dukes youthful face could show a
surprising stubbornness-or resolution, as
one chose. "Things haven't gone well from
the beginning. No quarrel-no differences
that could lay my finger on; but just
haven't gone well! I'm hideously sorry to
bring this unpleasantness to you, but"
"Oh-please!" choked Sue. "Pen-tell
him we'll help him-that we won't let this
thing 60 Oh"
II fancy he knows all that" said Pen.
"Now go in, like dear girl, and have a
word with 'Milla. If there's any talk of her
leaving, let me know" He looked, on that
word, vastly more stubborn than the dusty
duke. "She must stay here till some sensi-
sible arrangement can be made, if we have
to lock her in! See to getting room and
bath ready for CGf'-we'n come presently
and I'll tend to Boy"
Intent at once, as he had known she
would be, on making weary man COM
Portable, Sue hurried up to the house.
Both men.looked after her moment, then
their eyes met.
"Soon as she has Camilla out of the way,
we'll go in" said Pen. 81 fancy you need
something more than her blessed tea. Now,
if you like, let loose"
Whatever additional information he may
have obtained from that confidence he had
no opportunity to impart to his wife. Sue
came to his dressing-room after her own
hasty toilet, to lay her unhappy discoveries
before him. .'*t
"I'm afraid it's gone too far to STOP" she
began breathlessly. emilia admitted that
cE op,>ao<ol LotI of<o~ @1o<
why she asked to be alone to-day" I
"Is 'Milla coming down to dinner, or
must she be BROUGHT"
81 made her see she must come But
Pen! She says Clifton has always been too
attentive to other women. 'Milla was
hardly home with him before a cousin of
Clifton's told her all about some creature
and-Penfeld Bond, zUhat did you sayl"
II said, God bless all gossips and show
'em the error of their ways" Pen answered
glibly. And he met her severe eyes with
bland innocence.
cit didn't sound like bless or the rest
of it. Well, anyway, Camilla wasn't going
to let that woman think she was afraid of
her, so she had some people just as soon as
she could, and asked her. The woman is
titled Somebody, you know, in spite of her
way"
Possibly because of it!' Pen grinned.
Whereupon Sue turned to the door.
Sue-Sue, come back here, you little
goose!"
'But I don't think you should joke about
it" she.protested, presently lifting her head
from his shirt-sleeved shoulder
"Then I won't. But it isn't our affair,
after all; and what's more it couldn't be-
could it,"
"N-no," said Sue, family. Over her head
he smiled, but tenderly.
Louder next time, Mrs. Bond, if you
please. Now! 1t couldn't happen to us
Look at me and answer. Could it?" He
lifted her chin so that she saw his eyes.
"Could it2" he asked, in different tone
"Oh--no, no, DEAR" she cried remorse-
fully. "Not to nsi"
II foresee," said Pen, getting into his
coat, after that little stirring of the depths,
"that we'll have fine cool dinner in spite
of the-What ever is the matter nolV,
girl?"
"Four people coming to dinner-and
forgot to phone them not to-" she told
him, Mortified. "And others to come for
bridge, later"
"Well, what of it?" Pen was calm.
"With Others here, 'Milla can't be too
nasty, and having duke thrown in, unex-
pectedly, will please our republican friends.
It'll 60 off all right"
Camilla was several degrees more "duch-
essy" Ito use his own term) and even more
lovely than usual, though she was as pale
and frosty as the crystal Embroidered chif-
fons she wore. Storrington seemed wholly
at ease. His meeting with Camilla in the
drawing-room before the arrival Of the din
ner guests had been as casual and friendly
as though her absence had been but shop
ping trip to town, and she, perforce, had
answered in kind. As she told Sue, it mat
tered little,-she had no vulgar end to gain
by haste, and she could delay the announce
ment of the intention until he saw how
hopeless coercion would prove, and take
himself away again.
That very courtesy and icy calm of the
two set Sue rose-pink with nervousness; but
she carried herself and covered Camilla S
aloofness, through the ordeal, in manner
that called forth Pens unqualified approval.
No one was overmuch surprised that the
duchess stayed apart when the tables were
set out; and when she was found to have
disappeared, later, and Sue explained the
dreadful headache that had compelled the
withdrawal, there was no embarrassment OF
doubt among her hearers The duke more
, than compensated. a. supper he made him.