The Spectator. (Ozark, Ark.) 1911-1916, 1914-09-25


despite his repugns &c. to watch Nora.
And all the while Mrs. Harrigan was
talking and he was replying; and she
thought him charming. whereas he
had not formed any opinion of her at
all. nor later could remember word
Of the conversation.
Teal" bawled the colonel. The verb
had its distinct uses. and one general
ly applied 1t to the colonePs outbursts
without being depressed by the feel
ing Of inelegance.
There is invariably some slight hes
itation in the selection of chairs
around tea table in the open. Nora
scored the first point Of this singular
battle by Selling the padre on one
side and her father on the other and
pulling them down on the bench. 1t
was adroit in two ways: it put Court
landt at safe distance and in nowise
offended the younger men, who could
find no cause for alarm in the close
proximity of her two fathers, the spir-
itual and the physical. few mo-
ments later Courtlandt saw smile
of malice part her lips, for he found
himself between Celeste and the in
evitable trump.
Touched" he murmured. for he
was a thorough sportsman and appre-
ciated a good point even when taken
by his opponent
Il never saw anything like It," whis-
pered Mrs. Harrigan into the cofonels
ear
Saw WHAT he asked.
Mr.. Courtlandt can't keep his eyes
of Of Nora"
II say!" The colonel adjusted his
eye-glass, not that he expected to see
more clearly by doing SO. but because
habit had long since turned an anecta-
ton into a movement wholly mechan-
ical. We'll, who can blame him?
Cad! II l were only twenty-five or
thereabouts.'
| Mrs. Harrigan did not encourage
this regret The colonel had never
been a rich man. On the other hand.
this Edward Courtlandt WAS very rich;
he was young: and he had the entree
to the best families in Europe. which
was greater In her eyes than either
youth or riches. Between sips Of tea
she builded q fine castle in Spain.
Abbott and the Barone carried their
cups and cakes over to the bench and
sat down on the grass. Turkish-wise
Both simultaneously offered their
cakes. and Nora took q lady finger
from each. Abbott laughed and the
Barone smiled.
"Oh, daddy mime" sighed Nora
drolly.
HUH"
Don't let mother see those shoes"
What's the matter with EN-? Ev-
erybody's wearing the same"
Yes. But don't see how you man
age to do It. One shoe string is viz
gin white and the other Is pagan
brown"
I've got nine pairs Of shoes. and
yet there's always something the mat
ter" ruefully Il never noticed when
put them on. Besides. wasn't
coming"
That's no defense. But rest easy.
I'll be as secret as the grave"
Now, | for one would never have
noticed If you hadn't called my atten-
tion," said the padre. stealing q glance
at his own immaculate patent feathers.
"Ah. padre. that wife OF mine has
eyes like a pilot-fish. I'm in for It"
Borrow one from the colonel before
you 60 home" suggested Abbott.
That's not half bad" gratefully.
Harrigan began to recount the trials
of forgetfulness.
Slyly from the corner OF her eye
Nora looked at Courtlandt, who was
at that moment staring thoughtfully
into his tea cup and stirring the con-
tents industriously His face was a
little thinner. but aside from that he
had changed scarcely at all; and then.
because these two years had left SO
little mark upon his face, a tinge OF
unreasonable anger ran over her. Men
have died and worms have eaten
Them" she thought cynically. Perhaps
the air between them was sufficient
ly charged with electricity to convey
the impression across the intervening
space, iOI ule cycS CdiIc Wy 1uiSAiy,
but not quickly enough to catch her.
She dropped her glance to Abbott.
transferred It to the Barone, and final
ly let it rest on her father face. Four
handsomer men she had never seen.
You never told me you knew Court.
landt." said Harrigan. speaking to
Abbott
Just happened that way. We went
to school together. When l was little
they used to make me wear curls and
wide collars. Many's the time Court
landt walloped the school DULLES for
mussing me up. don't see him much
these days Once in a while he walks
In. That's all. Always seems to know
where his friends are. but none ever
knows where he is."
Abbott proceeded to elaborate some
OF his friends exploits. Nora heard.
as II from afar. Vaguely she caught
a glimmer of what the contest was
going to be She could see only a lit