The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-12-24
Continued from Nesterday)
"Your boots?" she queried.

question ana then at her His eA-
preston was ludicrously reproachful.
- -tfeai- friend -t-ttf+ yeti--s.-s42--
Ihey certainly are very beauti-
full"
And an intolerable- tight.At. -tao
you think | should sacrifice SO much
for my appearance to please any
one?"
She laughed quietly
i accept the compliment. but come
In. ] have ordered tea in the draw
lngroom. You will be thirsty
He followed her, endeayOring 10
control a grimace OF pain, for the pat
ent leather boots. following the laws
OF their species, had contracted Once
IN the shady drawins.room, he chose
he first strong chair and SAT dow
With a sigh OF relief
II Will be some time before you
get me 10 move again" he said con
clusiyely. Il have suffered much and
claim my just reward
She seated herself opposite him
but close TO the open window, so that
her gaze could wander over the sun
scorched plain that undulated toward
he hills. The smile lowering about
her straight-cut mouth was contradict.
ed by her eyes, which We're grave and
preoccupied.
You need not be afraid. she said.
II am not so inconsiderate as TO
ask busy man like yourself to call
on me in the hottest time OF the al
ternoon for the pure pleasure OF say
lug how-doyou do have something
serious 10 talk 10 YOU about and !
wanted 10 be alone
The Judge opened his small blue
yes wide, but made no immediate an
swer. allowing the entrance OF a ma
i've with silver tea.tray to All mp
he silence. During the noiseless ar
ranging OF the cups he took the OBJ
portunity 10 study his hostess with a
rank and uncritical admiration \
critical observer would have admitted
hat she made striking but not beat
filul picture. though he might have
been hard put 10 II 10 explain the
latter limitation Perhaps the eNcep-
| tIonal about Ter was TOO empnastZed,
or the human taste has erected con
ventiOnal standards in human beauty
TO trespass against which may bring
even perfection very near TO the re-
pugnant
The woman seated By the window
was. indeed. not perfect, but So nearly
did She touch that nigh ideal that II
vas difficult 10 understand why for
many eyes she was physically almost
displeasing True. il depended on the
eyes. The ladies OF KORUNA declared
among themselves that there was
something about Mrs. Hurst : beauty
i. hat made them go cold all over
as they expressed il. but the newly
arrived subalterns rayed aboW her
md wanted TO marry her Which
was an innocent enough form OF lr-
sanity but Mrs. llursts attitude TO
ward them was scarcely even ma
ternal As consequence they ended
by calling her a hard woman. and
their admiration became tinged with
A nervous respect Her very height
and bearing seemed to claim that
much tribute from them Her shout
/ dcrs were broad and straight ike a
mans and suggested strength, though
they were perhaps a little 100 out OF
harmony With her otherwise slight
and fragile figure TO be altogether
graceful on this particular after
noon. her height was accumulated by
her dress The Judge, who Iancied
himself a connoisseur in such THINGS,
would have described 1t as 'himsy
and waved his hand vaguely as final
touch TO his description OF the In
defnable. The ladies OF Koruna
would have said "one OF those wicked.
" expensive tea-gowns. my dear, with
real lace" and exchanged chances
which would have given fllip to
many an old half-forgotten scandal In
reality Il was Mrs. Hurst who looked
expensive" rather than the dress.
The slim strong hands lying passiyely
on the arms OF her chair were beauti-
ful enough TO make the observer be-
leve anything OF the laces that
framed them the face turned TO the
light was a face that might possibly
have seen suffering but never the
baseness OF the cheap and taWdry.
No doubt il was her face which
frightened and even repulsed II
vas colorless, whittier than marble and
rendered startling by the straight
black brows and the somber heavily.
Swallowed eyes. Her hair, which was
abundant, and arranged with consum-
mate art, was white also and OF that
Wilderness which alone enature can
give But she was not an old won-
an. Her face was unlined. Evea
the hard mouth betrayed no sign Of
years. Nor was she young. Her
gtdflnR anu sN"Nhs
Ii was as though beautiful girl had
sprung into middle age without transit
tion-perhaps in single highland
had since that one tremendous chang
remained stationary, Indifferent TO
he behests OF time.
a But. as IL has been said. the man
eho watched her was not critical or
disposed TO discover the why's and
yherefores OF his own admiration. II
vas obvious that he looked upon her
as something OF a riddle-a riddle
hat IL was not for him TO solve SUD
ienly she turned and looked at him
md the color in His face deepened
Pour me out some tea Judge
he said The tone was commanding
o the point OF abruptness but he
pOeyed with an alacrity which proved
hat Il had pleased him. For big
, nian his movements were surprisingly
lalnty.~ and she smiled at him with a
faint pleasure. II like TO have you
about me- she said. You do net
get on my nerves. Now sit down
loser. As | told you | want to talk
% you. and no one knows how long
Te shall be spared before some busy
body discovers that We are having
Ma alone together. Among other
things want your advice. You are
Tho nplv friapH baVa hare