Charlevoix county herald., 1913-12-13

hearers in it. In Anice he found, as
ever, an eager listener. But Gerald
yawned in very APPARENT boredom,
while Mrs. Conover shed a few de-
lightfully easy but irritating tears at
the occount of the opera house fight.
Caleb had silently resented these
moist signs of interest, and his glare
had called forth an unusual protest
from his weak little spouse.
The butler entered with card,
which he carried to Caleb. After one
glance at the pasteboard. Caleb
crushed it in his fingers and threw 1t
to the floor.
"Turn her OUT" he ordered
"Why, who is it," squeaked his
wife in high excitement.
cts some woman for Jerry.
Gaines brought me the card by mis-"
"For me?" cried Gerald, jumping
up, his face aflame. "Why, tit
can't"
Eyes, it can. And it is, or rather
it was, for I've sent her away. Maybe
you forgot i made you promise"
"Stand asidew spake dramatic
contralto voice from beyond the por-
there's, II have a right here"
The curtains were thrust apart, re-
vealing the protesting, disconnected
butler; and, pushing past him, tall
slender young woman, quietly but
prettily dressed, pompadoured of hair,
and very, very determined of aspect.
Good Lordw grunted Caleb under
his breath, "she amt even blonde.
thought they all"
But she was in the library itself,
facing the amazed master of the
house Gerald, at first sight of his
wife, had sprung forward and now
grasped the newcomer ardently by
both hands and drew her to him.
81 was sure" murmured the in
truder in that same throaty contralto,
rich, yet insensibly conveying a vague
impression of latent vulgarity, 81 was
sure your man was mistaken, and that
you couldn't have meant to turn me
away without a word when / had
come so far to see my precious truant
boy. Did you? We women, Mrs.
Conover," she went on, eyes and voice
claiming alliance of the meek-faced
little nonentity who shrank behind
Anice Lanier, eve women understand
how hard it is to keep away from the
man who has taught us to love him.
Don't we? Men never can quite real
/ ize that. Not even my Gerald, or he
wouldn't have stayed away so long or
made me stay away from him. Would
! he ?"
at was Dad" broke in Gerald. 81
told you that in my first letter, darl-
ing. He won't stand for our mar
riage, and"
"Ah! that is because he doesn't
! know" she laughed archly. "Mr
Conover, this big splendid boy of mine
! is too much in love to explain as he
should And he's so high-spirited, he
can't listen as patiently to advice as
! he ought to- Can you, Gerald? So
came myself, when | couldn't stand ii
any longer to be away from him.
knew i could make you understand
! Can't ?"
81 can tell better when you've
tried" answered Caleb, watching with
sort of awed fascination the alter
nate plunges and rearings of the vi
brant black pompadour, which, in
Difference to the prevailing style of
the moment-and Of the chorus-was
pendent directly above the visitors
right eye.
His curt rejoinder rather took the
caller aback. She looked about the
group as if for inspiration. Anice
Lanier had risen, and was at the door
Caleb saw her.
please don't go, Miss Lanierw he
called.
81 would much prefer to-" answered
Anice, eff you don't object. This
seems to be purely a family affair
and"
"And at least one person with a de.
cently-balanced brain ought to be
present. Our affairs are your affairs
as far as you'll allow. Please do me
the favor Of staying"
The visitor had, by this diversion
regained grasp on her plan of action
"Mr. Conover," she said, stretching
out her suede-glover hands toward the
Railroader in pretty gesture OF
helpless appeal as to an all-powerfu
judge, 81 am your sons wife. HI
loves me. love him. Does that tel
you nothing?"
EYES," said Caleb judicially, at tell.
me you love each other; if that!
what you mean. For the sake Of
argument we'll take that for granted
just for the present. Now get dowr
10 ldCJS.
81 am your sons wife," repeated
the woman, somewhat less throatily
but still with brave resolve. "H,
sought me out and wooed me. He tolC
me / should receive a welcome in hi!
home. He made me love him. Didn'
you, Gerald? And married him. All
but we were happy, we twol Then
like a thunderbolt from the blue SKY
fell your command that we part. H,
and l. For long-oh, so long-I hav,
tried to be patient, to wait for time t,
soften your heart. But at last
couldn't bear it, l couldn't bear it
so / came here to meet you in person
to cast myself at your feet if neec
be. To"
She paused. The cold, inscrutabl,
gaze Of the Railroader's light eyes die
not tend to inspire her very credit
able recitation. AS a matter of fact
Caleb was at the moment paying very
little attention to her words. He was
noting the hard dryness of her Skin
and the only half-hidden lines about
mouth, brow and eye; and contrasting
them with Anice Lanier's baby
smooth skin and the soft contour OF
her neck and cheek.