The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1914-06-15


| at him. All the tmpuIsive love
ilumined the shining regard in
which he enveloped his cousin.
IL would have been difficult to
encounter a more enchanting
family life than that into which
Allan Gerard had been drawn.
Thomas Roses wealth had been
made so long before the birth OF
the younger generation. that
money was very nearly non
existent to them; IL was Arcadian,
improbable. but it was so. And
the guard-wall was a strong mu-
tual affection not to We over
thrown from without. Only by
internal treason could that do
main fall.
IL was not in one day that Ger
ard had come to understand this,
but now he first realized, as he
watched Corrie, that Isabel Rose
was placed here by circumstances
and not by fittedness.
Yet. they would probably marry
one another, Gerard reflected. He
felt an elder brothers outrush of
tnvoluntarily he turned 60 Flavia
Will hA0NGAuSht VI les EAA III Al
tation at the folly of 1t all.
Flayia met his gaze. and read
its impatience. How she applied
IL was a reflection less of her own
mind than of Isabel's; she fancied
Gerard jealous of this open WOO
ing of the other girl, and mutely
asking her own Intervention.
Where are You going to take
Mr.. Gerard, Corrie?" she in
quired.
HE isn't going to take him
anywhere" Isabel calmly interpo=
lated. They are going to stay
In and amuse us"
But I'm ten minutes the men
were tramping across the lawn.
Gerard had looked longingly at
Flavia, but receiving no encour-
agement from her, had not ac-
cepted Isabels commanding invf-
tation to stay.
There was a period of silence
after the two young girls were
left alone. Then Isabel burst out
vehemently:
81 know why Corrie dragged
Mr.. Gerard off; he didn't want us
to be together all day. He is
jealous of Mr.. Gerard because he
likes me-"
"Corrie does?"
Isabel launched a glance of ma
lieious comprehension over her
shoulder.
"oh, Corrie! OF coursel But
I meant Mr.. Gerard. Anyone can
see how Corrie hates to have him
with me-"
Flavia did not intend to put the
question lowering at her lips. yet
suddenly the indiscreet words es-
capped her.
Then, you think Mr.. Gerard is
interested in your"
Ibid you ever know a man to
come here without being inter
ested in me. Flavia Rose?"
The superb arrogance was q
trffle too much to escape retort,
even from the considerable Flavia.
We'll. there was Mr.. Stone"
she recalled.
Isabel colored richly. The re-
cent episode of Mr.. Ethan Stone
had not been one of her triumphs
in filtration.
He was almost as old as
uncle" she exclaimed sharply.
He would have died of fright at
the things Mr.. Gerard and Corrie
and like to do. anyway, IL he had
stayed here. He was all nerves.
So are you, for that matter. You
worry over Corrie all the time"
Fiavia never quarreled. But
that did not imply q lack of ca
pacity for anger.
when | am with him, | am not
worried" she stated with dignity.
81 am never afraid when I am
there to share what happens. L
think | will go upstairs"
And he went. leaving the other
girl to devise her own amuse-
ments.
Flavia's fear concerning Isabel
and Gerard, which she had init
mated to her brother the day they
brought their guest home, was not
unfounded. Isabel was a born
coquette, and doespite Gerard's
had contrived to secure much of
his time when he was not on the
practice course.
Inside her own room Flavia
pushed aside the window curtains
to look out. But she saw no
trace of her brother nor their
guest: the guest half of whose
visit was now past. One of the