The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-07-21

| Wllnln the open WINDOW, lnIee were
in the party apparently father, moth
er and daughter beyond question OF
| high social class. Paterfamilias, sit
ting in stately dignity at what might
be considered the head of the board,
a broad napkin spread across his right
knee, was typically arstocratic, Of
| spare figure. stern lean face with iron
| gray hair, and mustache3 trimmed to
| perfect point, his eyes, cold and
| emotionless, cleaning like steel points
behind goldrlmmed glasses-a man
certainly over 60, possessing to the
extreme that irritating hauteur pos.
sible only TO an Englishman Of recog-
nized family and position The lady
occupying the seat opposite him whom
] naturally presumed to be his wife,
was feshy enough to own an ample
| double chin. which dropped to a vaster
eHpanse below; most eXpousiyely
| gownod, her fingers laden with dia-
| monds, and a lorgnette at her eye,
| through which she deliberately sur
veyed the assembled company Her
| evident attempt at duplicating the
calm haut-ton of her emotionless com
panion was nevertheless somewhat Of
counterfeit, as it failed to conceal
wholly a slight twinkle Of amusement
curying the corners of her mouth, and
a certain slight vulgar uneasiness Of
| manner, His ideal was evidently that
| OF a marble statue. cold, immaculate,
his slightest movement revealing the
frigidity of one born to the purple,
while my lady retained some sem
blance to flesh and blood although
well veneered by long social artifice.
He was nature, while she had evident
ly been developed by skill; yet the
matron, to my thinking, proved far the
more interesting specimen of the two.
must confess, however, wasting
precious little attention upon either,
for my eyes early rested upon the
younger woman seated between the
two, and hence directly confronting
me. / will not say / never saw a fair
er picture of womanhood just when
the lovely flower becomes a blossom
fully blown, yet assuredly none other
ever possessed for me the same i'm
definable fascination the same in
effable charm. Twenty-Five, possibly,
although her age was difficult to guess,
with oval face and clear, fresh skin,
the rich, red blood of perfect health
crimsoning the rounded cheeks; eyes
of deepest, darkest gray, the kind of
eyes pledging a thoughtful soul be-
hind to yield them such rare power of
expression; a face rejecting the joy
of living, yet responsive, and, in mo-
ments of quietness, saddened beyond
its years; an enhancing dimple visible
in the rather broad chin; the lips
moist and rosy with health sufficiently
parted to reveal tantalizing glimpse
of white, regular teeth behind; the
forehead low and broad, the wealth Of
shadoWing hair of darkest brown, yet
with an odd gleam of reddish gold
causing the gathered masses to seem |
an aureOle of beauty. But it was not
the outward face alone, nor any com.
bination of pleasing features, which |
yielded such rare and indescribable |
NAAStl IL ~ was AGbIllCl q uAo LlllNb anu ]
unusual personality which gave to .
these both life and attractiveness Her .
slightest glance or movement, natural .
and unaffected, seemed a new revela. .
tion of self, the outer expression of
secret inward life which instinctively
longed to penetrate, the guarded mys-
terry of which was invitation.
The three conversed little, speaking
English with that lack of restraint
common to those who have been ac-
customed to having discreet servants
behind their chairs, the man grum-
bling icily over the quality of food fur,
nished and the Indifferent service, my
lady commenting with audible distinct,
ness on the personal appearance OF
the various people present, the girl
contenting herself with an occasional
monosyllable when directly addressed.
/ dispatched my own order, and, while
idly waiting the return of the servant,
had my attention attracted toward a
group gathered about a second table
just beyond the one occupied by the
English family party.
(TO BE CONTINUED