The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-11-25

early rising.
He said something about this even.
ing she said TO herself. and wistful
smile curved her pink lips
Lena Gilbert. passing by, saw the
smile and marvelcd Her own lips
were set In a straight scarlet line that
matched the vivid hue Of her cap. 1t
is fate" she muttered between her
set teeth
The men did> not return from their
hunting expedition until an hour before
dinner. but Felicia had spent the after.
noon I'm her own room. and when she
was sure that every one was dressing
she stole downstairs to the music
room and opened the piano. She loved
these half hours of music. when In the
sound proof room she played softly 10
herself. dreaming as she played.
When she had finished with dain-
| ty, airy thing that seemed TO express
| her own light heartedncss she went
| to the library The evening papers
would be here, aud II was fayorite
gathering place for the women before
dinner.
She was well within the great room
before she was aware that it was al
ready occupied and that her presence
| was an intrusion. Langford Dale was
standing there. one elbow on the high
mantei shelf and his head thrown back.
looking down ut Lena Gilbert with q
rather surprised expression on his face.
Lena. dazzling in pale blue. with her
golden hair piled in a mass Of puffs
and curls at the back Of her head
stood before him with flushed cheeks
and dropping eyes. AS Felicia entered
Lena was saying:
II received your note, Lang. and
am here"
The little scene smote sharply upon
Felicia's happy mood, aud the rosy
veil was torn from her eyes. Before
either of them had noticed her pres
ence she had vanished. Back To the
music room she few, her fingers crush
ed tightly in her palms.
When she stopped in the middle OF
the room and stared before her she
saw her own reflection in the long mir
ror. All I'm white she was. like a
bride. and her face was as waxen as
the white lilies of the valley on her
bosom. Those We're LanGford Dale's
favOrtc flowers.
All at once Sue laughed shortly ana
tossed the flowers from her. She cross.
ed the room Ia another door and en-
tered the small conservatory. Here
she deliberately chose n brilliant scar
let poinsettia blossom and placed II
against the white Of her gown. 1t
gave color to her cheeks and lips
when she went TO the dining room.
Felicia did not glance ut Langford
Dale. who had taken Lena Gilbert In
Ia dinner. She talked vivaciOusly To
Jimmy Folsom aud excited vain hopes
In the breast at that much smitten
young man. She dld not notice that
Langford's handsome face was pale
aud set or that Lena's eyes flashed
terrible anger and contempt and that
the two did not once address each 9th.
or. but convcrsed with their neighbors
at The table Felica's heart was bleed
ing and sore nj the faithlesSncsS OF
one whom she thought worthy of her
love
After dinner Laugford found her
alone for an instant and approached
her Felicia" he was whispering
eagerly when she arose and. with \
whitening look at him. crossed to Mrs.
Lindsay's side. where she remained
the rest OF the evening.
GOOD night and goodby, everybody.
I'm going on the early train tomorrow
morning" called Lena Gilbert merri'
~ as they all parted NJ the foot Of tho
stairs at bedtime.
As they crowded around Miss Gil
bert each one adding his or her word
Of regret nj her going. Felicia over
heard Jimmy Folsom speaking to Lang
ford Dale. You going on that early
train. TOO. Lang? You said you were
leaving IN the morning, but isn't II
Just q bit -eh?" he chuckled disagree
ably
Don't he an ass, Jimmy" growled
Langford.
"Well, YOU told me n half hour ago |
that business suddenly required your |
presence in town But Felicia diu !
not hear tue rest. She said goodby to |
Lena Gilbert and then Went up to her |
room, the unhappiest girl in the world |
If one excepted Lena Gilbert
lust as midnight was striking In the |
hall below Lena came tapping at her
door May | come in, Felicia" she
inquired IN II strained voice.
Certainly" called Felicia. who sat
in her dressing gown before the fire
If there were traces of tears on her
cheeks she had forgotten To remove
them. and so she and Lena Gilbert
stared at each Others woebegone faces
without word. At last Lena brought
n crumpled sheet " paper from her
bosom and laid it IN Felcia's lap.
mora found this today thought
IL might be for me. and | waited. but
II was for somebody else He had blot
ted u and thrown II away intending
10 write another before dinner Don't
have any misunderstanding over the
matter: it's horrible 10 he unhappy"
without knowing exactly what N
was all about except that Lena Gilbert
was In deep grief about something. the
VirI that \ uuofnrd naIa I.x..I II