The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1914-07-23

figure to be conducted through the
various rooms of the ground floor.
chatting in quite the old-time way, till
a new gallant claimed her.
The mellow strings made on their
merry tune, and at length the Wash
ington Post marched all in flushed
unity of purpose to the great muslin
walled porch with Its array OF tables
groaning under yiands concocted by
Aunt Daphne for the delectation OF
the palate-weary.
And then once more the waltz-strain
superVened and In the yellow parlor
Joy was again unconfined.
Again Valiant claimed Katharine
and they glided of on THE Beautiful
Danube. Her paleness now had
tinge Of color, but nevertheless he
thought she dropped. you are tired"
he said. "shan't we sit 1t out?"
"Oh, do you mind?" she responded
gratefully. ''It has been a fairly stren-
uous day. hasn't it,"
He guided her to a corridor, where
branches of rhododendron screened an
alcove Of settees and seductive cush-
ions. Here, her weariness seemed put
to rout There was no dropping OF
fringed lids, no dlsconcerting 81
lences; she chartered with ease and
piquancy.
81 have been listening to paeans all
the evening"" she said. And you de-
serve them. It's fine big thing you
are attempting-the restoring Of this
old estate. And know you Eave even
bigger plans, too."
He nodded, suddenly serious and
thoughtful. There's lot I'd like to
do. It's not only the house and
grounds, There are other
things. For instance, back on the
mountain-on my own land-is set
tlement they call Hell's-HalfAcre.
Probably 1t has we'll earned the
name. It's q wretched collection Of
novels and surly men and drabs OF
women and unkempt children, the
poorest Of poor-whites. Not one Of
them can read or write, and they live
like animals If I'm ever able, l mean
to put a Misunderstanding school up
there. And then"
He ended with half laugh, sudden
ly conscious that he was talking IN q
language she would scarcely under
stand-in fact, in tongue new to him
self. But there was no smile on her
lips and her extraordinary eyes-cool
gray, shot through with emerald
were looking into his with frankness
and sympathy he would not have
guessed lay beneath her glacial pla-
cidity.
To Katharine, indeed, 1t made little
difference what philanthropio fads the
man she had chosen might affect as
regarded his tenantry. Ambitions like
these had a manorial flavor that did
not displease her. And the Fargo mil
lions would bear much harmless ham,
mering. A change, subtle and incom-
municabie, passed over her.
'T shall think Of you" she sighed,
'as working on in this splendid pro-
gram. For 1t Is splendid. But New
York will miss you, John"
"Ah, no. I've no delusions on that
score. dare say I'm almost forgotten
there already. Here l have place"
Her head, leaned back against the
cushion, turned toward him, the pale
orchids trembling ON her bosom-she
was 80 near that he could feel her
breath on his cheek. A new waltz
had begun to sigh its languorous meas
ures.
Placer" she queried do you think
you had no place there? Is 1t possible
that you do not understand that your
going has left--a void?'
He looked at her suddenly, and her
eyes fell. Before he answered, how
ever, the big form of Major Bristow
appeared, looking about him.
TT has-left a void" she said, her
eyes still downcast, her voice just low
enough, for me-"
The major pounced upon them at
this tuncture, feenngly accusing John
Of the nefarious design Of robbing the
assemblage of it's bright and partic-
ular star. When Katharine put her
hand in her cavaliers arm, her eyes
were dewy under their long shading
lashes and her fine lips ever SO little
tremulous. It had been her best avail
able moment, and she had used 1t.
AS she moved away. her faint color
slightly heightened, she was glad Of
the interruption. It was better as it
was. When John Valiant came to her
again. =.
But to him. as he stood watching
her move lightly from him. there was
vouchsafed Illumination. It came to
him suddenly that that placidity and
hauteur which he had 50 admired In
the old days were no mask for fires
within. The exquisite husk was the
real Katharine. Hers was the lowell
ness Of some tall white lily cut in
marble, splendid but chill. And with