The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1911-07-07

pam ShC met "a diT-neduSO young man
In white fiannels, who could not re-
move his hat because he wore none.
but who bowed charmngly. She an
swered In kind looking at him grave
ly.
Il 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
J speak in a hurried, soft breath He all
but stared
What makes you say that? Won't
you tell me?"
Play fair!" she begged. You know
perfectly well what our families are
up to-dont you?' 1t was his turn to
| flush, but he laughed.
Il wish they had minded their bust
ness, but you are right. OF course we
are expected dutifuly 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 hooking him. ITS horrid
to be planned for. Let's make them
suffer. We both have spirit enough
not to be captured by the machina-
lions 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 / knew you
must have felt the same about me-"
Il never doubted that you were all
they said' he admitted only as you
say-lets make them uncomfortable.
But let's be good friends In secret.
VIII your"
She nodded, and they sat down upon
a rustic seat to talk it over gaily.
While birds sang and the fulness of
late May bloomed about them.
Let's be stiff and distant, and al
most rude and Indifferent before the
Others"
And get up early every morning
IKE thls-and talk 1t over. Will your"
He held out a brown hand and she
laid white, slim one in It's clasp
moment
He gave her hand another little
clasp and let 1t go. She rose and pre-
pared to go. He noticed how tall and
graceful. how very lovely and digni-
fed was her bearing.
Remember" she reminded, that
we nave 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 place." He watched
her go away. and almost wished that
Alice Shaw had not made love a 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
measure, but too clever to show a
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 a 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 a lady.
Do you want me to gush? What. In
short. do you want?"
She was si'~~@~d and made haste to
| retreat. inwardly discounted
81 didn't mean you were rude. only
depended on you to help amuse her
she's the only strar or course
you're never rude-I just thought as
her family and ours are SO intimate.
we ought to be unusually nice to herr"
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'' your"
Mrs. Rawson deftly got away from
the subject. Could Fred take a fancy
to Molly? She was dangerously at.
tractive and poor. but had been asked
because of the hostess obligations to