The Colorado statesman., 1911-06-03

friends house. She had come the
evening before and was new to the
surroundings. At turn In winding
path she met fair-headed young man
In white fannels, who could not re-
move his hat because he wore none,
but who bowed charmingly. She an
swered In kind, looking at him grave
ly.
81 know you are Miss Mary Sum-
ner." he said.
And know you are Frederick Den
toni" She held out pretty hand,
which he took while he murmured how
glad he was. but she interrupted:
But you aren't glad. you know!
You expect to be bored beyond meas
ure-and you didn't want to come be-
cause you knew l was to be here. but
you couldn't refuse your sisters par
ty! Am | not right?"
Her charming dark face was flushed
and sparkling. and she seemed to
speak In hurried. soft breath. He all
but stared.
What makes you say that? Won't
you tell me?"
Play fair!' she begged. You know
perfectly we'll what our families are
up to-don't your 1t was his turn to
flush, but he laughed.
81 wish they had minded their busi-
ness, but you are right. OF course we
are expected dutifully to-fall In love.
OF course don't have to! It's all over
the first glance did It. Now II you
could"
She shook her head.
Don't be polite" she laughed, her
brown eyes mocking him. Its horrid
to be planned for. Let's make them
suffer. We both have spirit enough
not to be captured by the machina-
tions of my mother and your sister.
I'm glad you're-really so-nice. You
might not have been-charming
You've been talked into my ears until
nearly hated you-and l knew yoR
must have felt the same about me-"
Il never doubted that you were all
they said" he admitted. only as you
say-let's make them uncomfortable.
But let's be good friends in secret.
Will you?"
She nodded, and they sat down upon
a rustic seat to talk it over gaily,
|
late May bloomed about them.
Lets be stiff and distant. and al
most rude and Indifferent before the
others"
And get up early every morning
like this-and talk 1t over. Will you?"
He held out brown hand and she
laid a white. slim one in its clasp
moment.
He gave her hand another little
clasp and let it go. She rose and pre-
pared to go. He noticed how tall and
graceful. how very lovely and digni-
fled was her bearing.
Remember" she reminded, that
we have not met. We must not be
seen together-you might come in a
little late to breakfast. I'll be stiff.''
And I'll be cool enough to blight
every rose on the placel" He watched
her go away. and almost wished that
Alice Shaw had not made love thing
far from him, and left raw wound
hard to heal.
When Denton appeared where the
others were all seated at the informal
breakfast, Mrs. Rawson introduced
him to Mary-he knew all the others
and she looked at him an instant.
gave polite. distant little bow and
went on with her talking to Mamie
Rosseter.
Denton. on his part, had been for
mally courteous. Neither had said one
friendly word, though their families
had for ten years been most intimate
The hostess was astonished beyond
| hut fao o1a
sign. But what did they mean? She
watched them all day when they were
within range. Neither went near the
other voluntarily. and If any chance
brought them together, they passed a
| few most formal remarks. She tried
seating them next each other at din
ner-each talked to the neighbor on
the other side. This went on for
nearly week, and the good lady was
in despair. Finally she spoke to her
| brother about 1t.
Il don't know what you mean, Mat
tie. I'm never discourteous to lady.
Do you want me to gush? What. in
short, do you want?"
She was ~''~- and made haste to
retreat. inwardly discounted
81 didn't mean you we're rude, only
| depended on you to help amuse her
| she's the only strar r~~- OF course
you're never rude-I just thought as
her family and ours are so intimate.
we ought to be unusually nice to her!"
well, think you're mistaken-she
seems vastly amused-always in the
thick of things. By the way. where
does Molly Fairly keep herself morn
ings? Hasn't she grown stunning?
She was an ugly enough little girl
like her quiet manner. don't you?"
Mrs. Rawson deftly got away from
the subject. Could Fred take fancy
to Molly? She was dangerously at
tractive and moor. but had been asked