Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-08

cred thoughtfully, and she surveyed the
tins of her small shoes, which were cooked
at an unladylike altitude upon stool In
front of her. with a profundity OF maiden
meditation which was perhaps explained
by the fact that she had received a pro-
posal of marriage the evening before. and
was expecting the proposer to come and
second his own motion at any moment.
To her entered suddenly Jno. Alex.
Goble.
lyon felly" he intimated, austerely.
"Mr. Halliburton. do you mean, John?'
inquired Miss Gaymer, hastily letting
down her feet.
AYE. Wull I loose him in here?'
Yes please. NoI mean
But Cupids messenger was gone. Pres
emily he returned, and. with the air OF one
introducing the coroner to the foreman
Of the jury, announced Mr.. Halliburton.
That ardent sutton advanced CALAMITY
across the lawn, and, taking Joan's hand
with an air Of respectful rapture, en-
deavored to draw its owner into the shade
Of the copper beech. Joan forestalled his
intentions by saying at once:
Come along into the library, Mr.. Hail
burton, and we'll see what my GUARDIAN
has to say to you.
Mr.. Halliburton limited that there was no
hurry, and made a pointed reference to
Amaryllis and the shade: but his unsenti-
mental nymph marched him briskly across
the lawn, round the corner of the house
and in at the front door.
They crossed the cool. dark hall, and
Joan tapped at the oaken door OF the IL
brary.
come in," said q voice.
II have brought Mr.. Halliburton to see
YOU, Hughie." remarked Miss Gaymer.
much as one might announce the arrival
of a person to inspect the gas meter
Mr.. Halliburton. who was not the man
to show embarrassment. whether he felt
1t or not, advanced easily into the room.
Joan surveyed his straight back and
square shoulders as he passed her. and
the corners Of her mouth twitched, ever
so little.
Then she looked at Hughie. 1t was her
first meeting with him since his return
home that morning. He had answered
her note by another, saying that he would
be in the library at o'clock. There was
no twitching about his mouth. 1t was
closed like a steel trap; and he stood with
his back to the wood fire. which glowed
in the grate-it was getting on IN Sep
TENDER and cold out Of the sun-with alb
that, whatever the difficulties Of the posi-
ton, her guardians line of action was
now staked out and his mind made up
one way or the other.
She dropped into an armchair.
'Now, you two she remarked. en-
couragingly. "get to work! want to hear
what each of you has got to say about
my future. It will be quite exciting-like
going to q palmist!"
The two men turned and regarded her
in unfeigned surprise. They had not ex-
pected this. Halliburton began swiftly to
calculate whether Joan's presence would
be q help to him or not. But Hughie said
at once:
"You must leave us alone, Joan, please!
I can't possibly allow you to remain"
Joan lay back in Der chair and smiled
up at him. frankly mutinOus. She had
never yet failed. when she so desired. to
manage a man. Hughie was regarding
her stonily: but two minutes, she calcu-
lated, would make him sufficiently pliable.
She was wrong. At the end of this
her to leave the room. JOAN q little sur
prised at his obstinacy, remarked:
III you are going to object toto Mr..