The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1914-06-25

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 fail
ure. She laughed, not unkindly, in
his face.
Leslie had refused to allow the
sketch to leave his hand. If she could
have gained possession Of it, even for
an instant, the thing would have been
torn to bits. But it went back into his
commod1ous 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 fixedness that betrayed per-
| plex1ty so plainly that she could not
fall to recognize an underlying motive.
He was vainly striving tc 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
| on the last evening of his stay if they
| had ever met before, and she frankly
| confessed to 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 portrait
| during the month of June. He put the
request in such terms that it did not
sound like a proposition. It was not
surprising that he should want her for
a 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 SO long as she might Ive," 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 it,
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
contamination of this particular under
taking. Moreover, it meant that Vivi
ans portrait was to be temporarily
| disregarded.
| Sara Wrandall was quick to recog
nize the first symptoms of jealousy or
the part of her brother-in-law. The
new idol Of the Wrandalls was in love
selfishly, insufferably in love as thing.
went with all the Wrandalls. The,
hated selfshly, and SO they loved. He.
husband had been their king. Blu
; their king was dead, long live thu
, king. Leslie had put on the famil!
crown-a little jauntily, perhaps
ct;cked 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 ha,
been her friend, the only one she coul'
claim among them all. And yet, be
meath his genial allegiance, she coul,
detect the air of condescension, tn
bland attitude of a superior who de
tends another's cause for the reason
that it gratifies Nero. She experience
a thrill Of malicious Joy in contemplat
ing the fall of Nero. He would brin
down his house about his head, an
there would be no Rome to pay tn
fiddler.
4.
Brandon Booth took small cottag
on the upper road, half way betwee
| the village and the home Of Sar
Wrandall, and not far from the al
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. A
his household cares, like the worlt
rested snugly on the shoulders of a
g Atlas named Pat, than whom ther
. Was ITO luoIC ld1lulul Del F1IO1 LII d
t the earth, nor in the heavens, for tina
matter, If we are to accept his ow
t. estimate of himself. In any event,
$ was a treasure. Booths house was a
ways in order. Try as he would,
e couldn't get it out Of order Pats wit
/, saw to that.
( AS he swung jauntily down tho ire
@ lined road that led to Sara's portal
e Booth was full of the JOY Of livin
r Sara was at the bottom OF the tie
race, moving among the flower beds
i the formal garden.
a, At the sound of his footsteps on til
v gravel, Sara looked up and Instant
IS smiled her welcome.
s. at is so nice to see you again" ST
n said, giving him her hand.
a my hearts in the highlands,
It quoted, waving vague tribute to tt
g. heavens And it's nice of you to 81
~~~~~~~~~~~~-
by prosaic, natural gas" works, stl
IS possesses park, whose romantic nj
y den ravines and wealth OF follae
is would furnish an ideal retreat for TT