The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-07-16

Tie porch.
''She seemed to be taking Brandy
out for his morning exercise" said he
surllly. Far be it from me to-
Umph!"
Sara depressed the start of surprise
She thought Hetty was alone.
She will bring him in for luncheon,
l suppose she said carelessly, al
though there was a slight contraction
OF the eyelids. 'He is a privileged
character
1t was long past the luncheon hour
when Hetty came in. flushed and
warm. She was alone, and she had
been walking rapidly.
"Oh, I'm sorry to be so late" she
apologized, darting a look of anxiety
at Sara. 1--WE grew careless with
time. Am I shockingly late?"
She was shaking hands with Mrs
Redmond Wrandall as she spoke. Les
lie and Vivian stood by, rigidly await
ing their turn. Neither appeared to
be especially cordial
What is the passing Of an hour,
my DEAR said the old lady, ito one
who is young and can spare it,"
II did not expect you'll mean to
say Aotd1HS was Sd1u dUCuI luuCn0OQ.
was there, Sara?" She was in
pretty state Of confusion.
NO." said Leslie, breaking in; 1--WE
butted in, that's all. How are your"
He clasped her hand and bent over it.
She was regarding him with slightly
d1lated eyes. He misinterpreted the
steady scrutiny. ooh, 1t will all peel
off in a day or two" he explained, 60
ing a shade redder.
when did you return?" she asked.
Il thought tomorrow was"
Leslie never has any tomorrows,
Miss Castleton." explained Vivian.
He always does tomorrow's work
today. That's why he never has any
, troubles ahead of him.
What rot!" exclaimed Leslie.
where is Mr.. Booth?" inquired
Sara. ''Wouldn't he come in, Hetty?''
Il didn't think to ask him to
+ stop for luncheon she replied, and
then hurried off to her room to make
, herself presentable.
Hetty was in a state of nervous ex
!. element during the luncheon The
encounter with Booth had not resulted
at all as she had fancied it would. She
| AdO OOIA dy GU AOIS0AA LII q 11OSI OlSCOu
certing manner, and now was more
. deeply involved than ever before. She
had been determined at the outset
I she had failed, and now he had 6
claim-an incontestable claim agains
her. She found it difficult to NEE
Sara's steady, questioning gaze. She
| wanted to be alone.
I After luncheon, Leslie drew Sar.
/ aside.
/ Il must say she doesn't seem espe
\ cially overjoyed to see me-" b,
/ growled. "She's as cool as ice."
/ What do you expect, Leslie?" eh,
4 demanded with some asperity.
Y Il can't stand this much longer
\ Sara" he said. Don't you see hoy
i things are going? She's losing he
N heart to Booth
Y. Il don't see how we can proven
! it,"
j by CAD, I'll have another try a
i it-tonight. l say, has she said-any
& thing?"
| "She pities you," she said, ma
licious joy in her soul. That's aki
! to something else, you know"
"Confound it all, l don't want to
pitied!"
Then I'd advise you to defer you
try at it," she remarked.
I'm mad about her, Sara. I can
@. sleep, l can't think, l cant-yes, ca
eat, but it doesn't taste right to me
20 I've just got to have it settled. WHY
people are beginning to notice tn
change in me. They say all sorts c
things. About my liver, and all tha
sort of thing. I'm going to settle
tonight. It's been nearly three week
Is now. She's surely had time to thin
it over; how much better everythin
ID will be for her, and all that. She
q no fool Sara And do you know whs
o. Vivian's doing this very instant owe
10 there in the corner? She's invitin
Ia her to spend fortnight over at GU
at place. If she comes-well, that mean
at the engagement will be announced 6
vs. once"
Sara did not marvel at his assn
IT. ance in the face of what had gone b.
1e fore She knew him too we'll. In spit
err OF the original rebuff, he was tho
pr oughly satisfied In his own mind thu
IN Hetty Castleton would not be such
as fool as to refuse him the second tim
''It is barely possible, Leslie" sh
ut said, that she may consider Brando
Is Booth quite as good catch as yo
and infinitely better looking at tt
10. present moment"
IN Its this beastly sunburn," he l
IN mented, rubbing his nose gently, thin
ing first of his person. An instal
lis later he was thinking of the oth'
half of the declaration. That's ju
er. what I've been afraid Of" he said.
m told you what would happen if tn
portrait nonsense went on forever. 1t
i'd your fault, Sara"
But l have reason to believe 81
If will not accept him, if it goes so Fl
as that You are quite safe in tn
rs. direction"
in. Cad, I'd hate to risk it," he mu
is tered. IL have feeling she's in To-
lat with him."
Vivian approached. Sara, you mu
tn. let me have Miss Castleton for Il
he first two weeks in july" she said S
renely.
his 81 can't do it, Vivian" said the 9th
promptly. Il can't bear the thong
er- of being alone in this big old ba
80 <o h.