Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1914-05-29


Booth caught the angry fash in her
eyes, preceding the flush and unac-
countable pallor that followed almost
Immediately. He felt guilty, and at
the same time deeply annoyed with
Leslie. Later on he tried to explain,
but the attempt was lamentable fall
ure. She laughed, not unkindly, in
his face.
Leslie had refused to allow the
sketch to leave his hand. II she could
have gained possession of it, even for
an instant, the thing would have been
torn to bits. But 1t went back into his
commodious pocketbook, and she was
too proud to demand it Of him.
She became oddly sensitive to
Booths persistent though inoffensive
scrutiny as time wore on. More than
once she had caught him looking at
her with a fixedness that betrayed per-
plexity so plainly that she could not
fail to recognize an underlying motive.
He was vainly striving to refresh his
memory; that was clear to her. There
is no mistaking that look in a persons
eyes. 1t cannot be disguised.
He was as deeply perplexed as ever
when the time came for him to depart
with Leslie. He asked her point blank
on the last evening of his stay If they
had ever met before, and she frankly
confessed to a short memory for faces.
1t was not unlikely, she said, that he
had seen her in London or in Paris,
but she had not the faintest recollec-
ton Of having seen him before their
meeting in the road.
Urged by Sara, she had reluctantly
consented to sit to him for a portrait
during the month of June. He put the
request in such terms that it did not
sound like proposition. 1t was not
surprising that he should want her for
subject; in fact, he put it in such a
way that she could not but feel that
she would be doing him a great and
enduring favor. She imposed but one
condition: The picture was never to
be exhibited. He met that, with bland
magnanimity, by proffering the canvas
to Mrs. Wrandall, as the subjects
next best friend" to have and to
hold 80 long as she might live," free
gratis" with the artists compli-
ments," and SO on and so forth, in airy
good humor.
Leslie's aid had been solicited by
both Sara and the painter in the final
effort to overcome the girls objec-
tons. He was rather bored about 1t,
but added his voice to the general
Glamour. With half an eye one could
see that he did not relish the idea of
Hetty posing for days to the hand.
some, agreeable painter. Moreover, 1t
meant that Booth, who could afford to
crafty his own whims, would be
obliged to spend month or more in
the neighborhood, so that he could de.
vote himself almost entirely to the
consummation of this particular under
taking. Moreover, it meant that Vivi
ans portrait was to be temporarily
disregarded. o
Sara Wrandall was quick to recog
nize the first symptoms Of jealousy on
the part of her brother-in-law. The
new idol of the Wrandalls was in love
selfishly, insufferably in love as things
went with all the Wrandalls. They
hated selfishly, and so they loved. Hell
husband had been their king. But
their king was dead, long live the
king! Leslie had put on the family
crown-a little jauntily, perhaps
cooked over the eye bit, so to speal
but it was there just the same, an
noyingly plain to view.
Sara had tried to like him. He hat
been her friend, the only one she coult
claim among them all. And yet, be
meath his genial allegiance, she coulC
detect the air Of condescension, the
bland attitude. OLA superior who de
tends another's cause for the reason
that it gratifies Nero. She experienced
thrill Of malicious Joy in contemplat
ing the fall Of Nero. He would brini
down his house about his head, ant
there would be no Rome to pay tn,
fiddler.
Brandon Booth took q small cottag
on the upper road, half way between
the village and the home of Sar;
Wrandall, and not far from the ali
horred back gate" that swung in tn
teeth Of her connections by marriage
He set up his establishment in half
day and, being settled, betook himsel
off to dine with Sara and Hetty. AL
his household cares, like the worlt
rested snugly on the shoulders of a.
Atlas named Pat, than whom Their
was no more faithful servitor in a.
the earth, nor in the heavens, for tina
matter, If we are to accept his ow
estimate of himself In any event, h
was treasure. Booths house was a
ways in order. Try as he would, h
couldn't get it out of order. Pats wifi
saw to that.
AS he swung jauntily down the ire,
J lined road that led to Sara's portal,
Booth was full Of the JOY of Twins
Sara was at the bottom of the te
race, moving among the flower beds i
the formal garden.
At the sound Of his footsteps on tn
gravel, Sara looked up and Instant
J smiled her welcome.
ut is so nice to see YOU again" sh