Gilpin observer., 1914-06-11

laugh she had known in the past.
yes. but | can hardly believe 1t; /
seem to have been here half lifetime.
To think that month ago | was a
double-dyed New Yorker"
Its been a strange experience for
you. When you come back to New
York"
He looked at her, oddly she thought.
why should | go back?"
Why! Because it's your natural
habitat. Inst it?"
That's the word" he said smiling.
1T was my habitat. This is my home"
She was silent moment in sheer
surprise. She had thought of this
Southern essay as a quickly passing
incident, colorful chapter whose
page might any day be turned But
1t was impossible to mistake his mean
ing. Clearly he was deeply infatuated
with this Arcadian experience and had
no thought at present but to continue
it indefinitely.
They were passing the entrance of a
cherry -bordered lane, and without TAX
ing his hands from the gear, he
nodded toward the low broad-eaved
dwelling with its towering arbors that
showed in flashing glimpses of brown
and red between the intervening trees.
The palace of the queeni" he said
Rosewood, by name"
She looked in some curiosity. Clear
ly, II not a refuge of genteel poverty,
neither was it the abode of wealth:
so. from her assured rampant of the
Fargo millions, Katharine reflected
complacently. The girl was a local
favorite. of course-he had been tact
full as to that. It was fortunate, in a
way. that he had not seen her. Katha-
rine, in the grand stand until after
ward Feeling toward her as she be-
lieved he did, with his absurd direct
ness. he would have been likely to
drop the rose in her lap, never re-
hecting that. the tourney being a local
function, the choice should not fall un
on an outlander
The slowing of the car brought her
back to the present. and she looked
up to see before them the great gate of
GLADDEN. Hall. She did not speak till
they had quite stopped
Then, as her hand lay in his for
farewell You are right in your de-
cision," she said softly. This is your
place. You are Valiant of Virginia.
l didn't realize 1t before, but am be.
ginning TO see all 1t means to YOU"
Her voice held a lingering indefin.
able quality that was almost sadness.
and for that one slender instant, she
opened on him the unmasked batteries
of her glorious gray eyes.
The tournament ball at Damory
Court that night was more than an
event. The old mansion was an ire
sistible magnet. The floor of its vel.
low parlor was known to be of delecta-
BILE hugeness. Its gardens we're le-
gend. The whole place, moreover. was
stepped In the very odor of old mys-
terry and new romance. Small wonder
that to this particular affair the elect
the major was the high custodian
of the rolls, his decisions being as the
laws OF the Medes and Persians-came
gaily from the farthest county line
and the big houses of the neighbor.
hood were crammed with overnight
guests.
BY half past nine o'clock the pha.
lanx Of chaperons decreed by old Gus.
tom had begun to arrive, and the great
iron gate at the front OF the drive
erect and rustless now-saw an impos.
ing professional Of carriages. These
passed up slope as radiant with the
fairy light of paper lanterns as Japa.
nese thoroughfare in festival season
The colored bulbs swung moon-like