Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-01-23

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this apartment jollyr
The shaded lamps made pretty
light over Miss Reyniers cream-col-
ored silk founces, over the delicate
lace on her waist, over her glossy
dark hair and spirited face AS Aleck
contemplated that face, with It's eager
yet modest and womanly gaze, and the
noble outline of her figure, he thought,
with an unwonted Towering of imagi-
nation, that she was not unlike the
Diane of classic days. "a domestic
DIANA" he added in his mind She
may love the woods and freedom. but
che will always return to the hearth"
Aloud he said: III you will permit
me, Miss Reynier, would like to in
form you at once of the immediate
object of my visit here. You must
be well aware" At this point Mr..
Van Camp, who, true to his nature,
was looking squarely in the face of
'ass companion. OF necessity allowed
hfnsssR to be interrupted by Miss Rey
nier's Gsted hand. She was looking
beyond her c:sxor through the draw
4cs9room door.
MI. Chamberlain aid Hr. Lloyd
jones" announced the serva2s.
AS Miss Reynier sprefs sarwaro VIII
outstretched hand to greG. she new
corners. Van Camp fixed his e;-e~ on
his hostess with mingled expression
of masculine rage and submission.
Whether he thought her too cordial
toward the other men or too cool
toward himself. was not apparent.
Presently he, too, was shaking hands
with the visitors, who were evidently
old friends of the house. Madame Rey-
nier. the aunt of mademoiselle, was
summoned, and Van Camp was ma
rooned ma sofa with Lloyd-Jones,
who was just in from the West.
Aleck found himself listening to an
interminable talk about copper veins
and silver veins. new kind of assay
ing instrument, and the good luck at
tendant upon the opening of Lloyd
Jones new mine, the Liza Lu.
Aleck was the essence of courtesy
to everything except sham. and was
able to indicate a mild interest In Mr..
Lloyd-Jones' mining affairs. 1t was
sufficient. Lloyd-Jones turned side
wise on his end of the soft, spread out
plump, gesticulating hands, and
poured upon him an eloquent torrent
of fact, speculation and high-spirited
enthusiasm concerning Idaho in gen
eral and the future of the Liza Lu
in particular. More than that. by and
by his cheerful, halfimpudent manner
threatened to turn poetic.
Its great, living In the open out
there" he went on, by this time in
Guiding the whole company in his ex-
ordium. You ride or tramp, or dig
rock all day; and at night you lie
down under the clear stars, thankful
for your blanket and your rock-bed
and your campfire; and more than
thankful if there's bit OF running
water near by. It's a great life."
Miss Reynier listened to him with
eyes that were alternately puzzled and
appreciative. 1t was a discourse that
would have seemed to her much more
natural coming from Aleck Van
Camp; but then, Mr.. Van Camp really
did the thing-that sort of thing
and he rarely talked about it. 1t had
probably been Mr.. Lloyd-Jones' first
essay In the world out of reach of his
valet and club cocktail: and he
was consequently impressed with his
achievement. 1t was evident that Miss
Reynier and the amateur miner were
on friendly terms. though Aleck had
not seen or heard of him before He
had hobnobbed with Mr. Chamber
lain in. London and on more than one
scientific jaunt. The slightest flicker
of jealous resentment cleaned in AL
ecks eyes, but his speech was as slow
and precise as ever.
Il was just trying to convince Miss
Reynier that outdoor life has its Pc
culiar joys" he said. Il was even
now suggesting that she should dig.
though not for silver. Does Mr..
Lloyd-Jones' lucre seem more allur-
ing than my little wriggly beasts, Miss
Reynier?"
II Aleck meant this speech for a
trap to force the young woman to In
dictate preference, the trick failed,
as 1t deserved to fail
q couldn't endure either your mines
or your mudpuddles. You are both
absurd, and don't understand how
you ever get recruits for your hobbies.
But come over and see this new en-
craving. Mr.. Jones: it's an old
fashioned picture OF your beloved
Rhine"
Aleck, thus liberated from Mr..
Lloyd-Jones and his mines, made his
way across the room to Madame Rey-
nier. The cunning of old Adam was
in his eye, but otherwise he was the
picture of deferential innocence.
Madame Reynier loved Aleck, with
his inoffensive Americanisms and I'M
falling kindliness; and with her
friends she was frankness itself. With
two men in Miss Reynier's hands for
entertainment. it seemed to Aleck
unlikely that either one could make
any alarming progress. Besioes, he