The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1913-05-30

dent. Fioyd hurt but not seriously. At
dinner Floyd tells Stanton of MS twin
sister, Jessica. Stanton becomes very ~ ~
and loses consciousness. On recovery. az
his hotel Stanton receives 1nvltauon anu
visits Jessica.
CHAPTER VlI-(continued).
'T am alone in the crowd, too" he
rejoined. ''If 1 thought Floyd would
not object, or feel that took advan-
tage Of his absence, I should ask II
you would do me so much honor as
to go to the theater with me, this
evening"
Her gray eyes widened, the color
flushed through her transparent skin.
Suddenly and vividly Stanton was re-
minded Of F1oyd's face on the first
night when he invited the mechani-
clan to race with him for the season.
"You are asking me?" she doubted.
"T would like to do SO. But not II
you think Floyd would refuse to let
me, If he were here. He can't have
much Of an opinion of me-"
81 wish I might tell you what Jes
thinks Of you" she made grave an
swer. 81 am quite sure that he would
let me 60 with you, Mr.. Stanton; you
are very good and I thank you from
the bottom Of my heart"
The little old Irishwoman in black
silk opened the door for him, beam
ing and smiling. Amazed at himself.
bewildered by a sense of having seen
Floyd and yet not seen him, Stanton
went down into the practical city
street.
He spent two hours in selecting an
irreproachable play and theater; a
task of some delicacy in this his ma
tive town. After which, he ate per-
functory dinner and went home to
dress. Stanton, whose overbearing
willfulness spared no one, whose
rough tongue hurt his mechanician as
often as they met, would no more
have taken F7oyd's sister to dine with
him in a public restaurant without
F1oyd's permission, than he would
have stolen his purse.
1t was dazzling Jessica whom he
found waiting for him, at the appoint
ed hour. Yet she was simply gowned
In delicate gray, with demure lace
collar that came up to her round chin,
and long lace sleeves. 1t was her
vivid, expressive face; the bronze
curls massed under the wide gray
hat, the splendid glow and young vi
tality Of her, that made people look
and look again. Stanton approved Of
her unreservedly; he had fixed mas
culine notions of what women should
wear in public places.
On her left arm, over the transpar-
ent sleeve, she wore an antique silver
bracelet fully four inches in breadth;
q singular ornament, set with dull tur-
auoise matrix. When Stanton assist
ed her to remove her cloak, at the
theater, she suddenly WINGED.
"The BRACELET caught my arm"
she explained, before he could ques-
ton. "It Is too heavy, really, to
wear"
But nevertheless, she did not take
It off, and several times through the
evening touched her gloved finger to
the silver band as if to assure her.
self that it was in place A souvenir,
perhaps, Stanton idly reflected. He
was too much interested in the wear
er to pay heed to the bracelet. Except
for the hours passed with Floyd, he
had never experienced anything like
this satisfying companionship
The performance had ended, and
Stanton was carefully plotting his
charge through the slow-moving mass
Of people, when he heard his own
uame exclaimed. He glanced around,
and saw Valerie Carlisle coming
down the stairs from the boxes, her
large, amber eyes fixed upon him.
Under the strong light, in her elab-
crate pa1e-green gown, her shoulders
bare and showing satin-white where
her cloak had slipped back, her blonde
b air circled with wreath of green
enameled and jeweled leaves, she was
conspicuous enough to draw the
elances of all those passing, as well
as that of the man she called. Stan.
ton bowed and would have continued
on his way, but she called a second
time, adding gesture of summons
'Mr. Stanton!"
Evidently she expected him to ex
cuse himself momentarily from his
companion, as she had moved a few
steps from her father and the younger
gentleman who accompanied her But
Stanton's eyes glinted cold resistance
of the attempt at command. He de,
liberately retained Jessica's hand
upon his arm and. since he must go
led her with him.
You called me, Miss Carlisle?" he
questioned. Miss Floyd. let me in
troduce Miss Carlisle"
The two women bowed without eff.
fusion, Valerie Carlisle scrutinizing
Jessica with an acute attention that
seized every detail of her appearance,
Miss Floyd, have we not metz" she
puzzled Pardon, It seems so to me. d
Probably you have met my twin
brother" Jessica suggested, gravely
self-possessed. "He is much with
Mr.. Stanton.
There was a shock Of antagonism
in their meeting gaze, as there had
been between Floyd and this girl
when he had seen her in the railroad
depot on the way to Lowell. Miss
Carlisle turned to Stanton, enlight
ened.
"Oh, your mechanician; l remem
ber." =