The weekly times-record., 1913-07-24
over those hills-I ws1 sure of that.
Her fine olive face, crowned with dark

Her fine olive face, crowned with dark
hair, verified the impression had
gathered from Jewett, that she was q
woman of cultivation. She had read the
poets; Dante and Petrarch spoke from
her eyes. Cecilia was no bad name for
her; she suggested heavenly harmo-
MES! And as for Jewett's story Of Wig
gins infatuation. was content
She was talking meanwhile Of the
day and its buoyant air and Of the
tapestries hung In the woodlands in a
voice deep with rare intimations Of
viol chords.
TITS very quiet here. 1t doesn't
seem possible that we are so near the
city. My aunt chose the place with
care, and she made no mistake about
1t. Yes. the house was built by MIR.
Pepperton. sut not for u.s. My aunt
bought it Of the estate Of the gentle
man who built 1t. This will be her
first winter here"
Miss Hollister herself appeared. She
greeted me without surprise and much
as she might have spoken to any guest
in her house. had sometimes been
treated as though l were the agent Of
a decorators shop. or delinquent
plumber, by the people whom served.
but Miss Hollister and her niece estab-
lished me upon plane that was wholly
social. was made to feel that 1t was
the most natural thing in the world for
me to be there. having tea. with no
business ahead of me but to be agree
able. The fact that had come to cor
rect the distemper Of their 6ues was
utterly negligible. l remembered with
satisfaction that ! had journeyed from
town in a new business suit that made
the best Of my attenuated figure. and l
will not deny that felt at ease Miss
Hollister talked briskly as she made
tea. 1T is not necessary for you to
take tea II you don't care for it. Mr..
Ames." she said. rs rose and handed
the first cup to Cecilia. III you will
touch the bell ut your elbow you may
have liquids Of quite another Sort
you are most generous. Miss Hol-
lister. Tea will suffice for the mo-
ment. It Is fitting that shonld take
1t here. It having been u weakness for
tea rs we'll as curiosity and chance that
threw me IN your way at the Aso
Iando."
'"That absurd-that preposterous hole
tn the wall"
She put down her cup and faced me.
continuing: "Mr. Ames. ! will not deny
that II 1t had not been for General
Glendenning's cordial Endorsement Of
you. and the further fact that l had
met your late father, ! should not have
invited you to my house on the occa'
sion to which you refer. My contempt
for the AsoIando and the things. II
stands for is beyond such language as
lady may use before the young.
fall back upon the privilege Of my age
to beg that you will hereafter give the
Asolando a wide berth"
! laughed at her earnestness. but on
turning toward Miss Cecilia saw that
she was placidly stirring her cup. II
might be that one was not expected to
manifest amusement in Miss Hollis
ters utterances. and was anxious to
adjust myself to the proper key in my
intercourse. no matter how brief II
MIGHT he. with this remarkable old
lady.
In nv embarrassment I rose and Of
fered the bread and butter to Cecilia.
who declined it. The austertty OF her
rejection rather unneryed me.
II assure you. MISS 6oliister. that I
have no wish to become habitue OF
the place." l said. And yet you will
pardon me If l repeat that, but for it.
l should not now be enjoying the hos
pitality of Hopefeld Manor"
She lifted her head from her cup and
bowed, but was Immediately interest
ed in the fact that her niece was
speaking.
Il think Aunt Octavia Is hard on the
Asolando." she was saying. Aunt
Octavia is interested In the revival OF
romance. and romance without poetry
seems to me wholly impossible"
"HThe age is decadent. and know no
better way Of restoring the race to its
ancient vim and energy than by send
ing men back to the camp and field or
to sail the high seas in new armadas.
The men Of this age have become a lot
Of sordid shopkeepers. and to my moral
sense the looting Of cities is far more
honorable than the creation Of trusts
and the manipulation of prices. though
cannot deny that but for my late
fathers zeal in destroying his competi-
tors in the baby buggy business we
might not now be enjoying the deli
cate fragrance Of caravan tea"
II assure you. Mr. Ames." said Ce
ella, that the Asolando is very
harmless place. and that as matter
Of fact its aims are wholly consonant
with those Of Aunt Octavia. myself
served there for a time. and those
were among the most delightful days
Of my life. There are times when ]
miss the Asolando."
""Mr. Ames." began Miss Octavi.a
presently in her crisp. direct fashion,
which had the effect Of leading me IN
my anxiety to appear ready With an.
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