Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-21

to Cadwallader Hunters readiness to
snatch at the olive branch. Loveland had
not the slightest doubt of it. He thought
he had only to hold out hand for the
major to kiss 1t, groveling.
Elinor Coolidge did not blush at the
sight Of Lord Loveland as Fanny Milton
did. but her beautiful face changed curl
ously. It's cameo-clear lines hardened,
her lips were pressed together. and her
large eyes narrowed, cleaning like
topazes between their dark lashes, as the
lights from the shaded candles on the
table lighted sparks in their yellow brown
depths.
The thought flashed into Loveland's
head that the quick. change in her face
meant jealousy Of Fanny Milton. He had
noticed more than once on shipboard that
she had seemed jealous of Fanny. and
now that deep blush of the younger girls
at sight of him had probably vexed her.
He could not attribute the hardening of
the beautiful features to any other cause,
and as OF the two it was wise to prefer
Elinor and her millions to Fanny and her
| thousands. he let his first look, his first
words. be for the Coolidges. father and
daughter.
How d'you do?" he asked. pausing at
the table.
Instead of answering. or putting out her
hand to him as he expected. Elinor al
most convulsively grasped the sticks OF a
delicate little fan which lay beside her
plate. She shot q topaz glance at one OF
the two new men, then let her eyes under
| raised brows seek and hold her fathers.
Lord Loveland was at once surprised
| and puzzled by this extraordinary recep-
ton. Can Cadwallader Hunter have
told them all some lie to set them against
me?" he asked himself. But 1t was no
more than passing thought. 1t wac in
credible that Miss Coolidge should believe
anything against him.
At the sound of Loveland's voice Cad
wallader Hunter Strengthened up IN haste
and turned round, looking suddenly st1n
and wicked as a frozen snake.
He stared into Loveland's eyes, his own
like gray glass; and an unpronising smile
depressed the corners Of his thin lips.
"Oh. that's 1t. is it?" thought Val. with
the carelessness Of q man used to domi-
mating situations. Hes afraid I'm not
going to speak to him. and he darent
speak first for fear OF being snubbed
again. Well"-and Val felt pleasantly
magnanimous-'rll give him lead. How
are your he asked. with the patronizing
tone his voice unconsciously took when he
Then he could hardly believe his eyes
which told him that Cadwallader Hunter
had turned a contemptuous shoulder upon
him, darting disgust in venomous
glance.
This is the--person we were speaking
off, he said to the dark, clean-shaven
man toward whom he had been bending
Che seemed always to be bending toward
some one). when Loveland came up
"Shall we have him turned out?'
Mr.. Coolidge half rose in his seat. los
ing his characteristic stoiidity. "No. no."
he returned, in low. decided voice.
there must be no scene here, for the
ladies' sake. Keep quiet, everybody
You're right, Coolidge" returned the
dark smooth-faced man.
Then the latter fixed his eyes on Love-
land with a stare under q frown, and the
other new man stared also; but the three
xA6 L. -
think Of something easy and natural to
say to each other. A slight, nervous
twitching. which occasionally disturbed
the tranquility OF Mrs. Millions camelia-