The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-06-18

OH TO the village, ne might not nave
gone about the cottage with such a
blithesome air. He was happier than
he had been in days, and all because of
Hetty Glynn!
Leslie Wrandall did not arrive by
the evening train. He telephoned late
in the afternoon, not to Hetty but to
Sara, to say that he was unavoidably
detained and would not leave New
York until the next morning. Some
thing in his voice, in his manner of
speaking, disturbed her. She went to
bed that night with two sources of un-
easiness threatening her peace of
mind. She scented peril.
The motor met him at the station
and Sara was waiting for him in the
cool, awning-covered verandah as he
drove up. There was a sullen, dissat-
isfied look in his face. She was stretch
ed out comfortably, lazily, in a great
chaise-lounge, her black little slippers
peeping out at him with perfect aban-
donment.
Hello" he said shortly. She gave
him her hand. Sorry l couldn't get
rather ungraciously
I'VE missed you," she said. Pull up
a chair. l was never so lazy as now.
Dear me, / am afraid I'll get stout and
gross"
Spring fever" he announced. He
was plainly out of sorts. 'T1l stand, IL
you don't mind. Beastly tiresome, sit
ting in a hot, stufy train"
He took couple Of turns across the
porch, his eyes shifting in the eager,
annoyed manner Of one who seeks for
something that, in the correct order Of
things. ought to be plainly visible.
Please sit down, Leslie. You make
me nervous, tramping about like that
We can't go in for half an hour or
more"
Cant go in?" he demanded, stop
ping before her. He began to pull at
his little moustache.
mo. Hetty's posing. They won't
permit even me to disturb them"
He glared. With final, almost dra-
matte twist he gave over Jerking at
his moustache, and grabbed up chair,
which he put down beside her with
vehemance that spoke palmer than
words
Il say" he began, scowling in the
direction of the doorway, how long is
he going to be at this silly iob?"
Silly job? Why, it is to be mas
terpiece," she cried.
Il asked you how long?"
"Oh, how can / tell? Weeks, per-
haps. One can't prod a genius"
It's all tommy-rot," he growled.
81 suppose I'd better take the next
train back to town"
Don't you like talking with me2"
she inquired. with a pout.
"Of course l do" he made haste to
say. But do you mean to say they
won't let anybody in where Oh,
say! This is rich!"
Spectators upset the muse, or
words to that effect"
He stared gloomily at his cigarette
case for moment. Then he carefully
selected a cigareate and tapped 1t on
the back of his hand.
See here, Sara, I'm going to get
this off my chest" he said bluntly.
I've been thinking it over all week.
l don't like this portrait painting non
sense"
Dear mel Didn't you suggest it?"
she inquired innocently, but all the
time her heart was beating violent
time to the song of triumph.
He was jealous. 1t was what she
wanted, what she had hoped for all
along. Her purpose now was to en-
courage the ugly faIoe that tortured
him, to fan 1t into fury. to make it un-
endurable She knew him well: His
supreme egoism could not withstand
an attack upon it's complacency Like
all the Wrandalls, he had the habit
of thinking too we'll of himself. He
possessed a clearly-defined sense of
humor, but 1t did not begin to include
self-sacrifice among its endowments.
He had never been able to laugh at
himself for the excellent reason that
some things were truly sacred to him.
She realized this, and promptly
laughed at him. He stiffened.
Don't snicker, Sara" he growled.
SOON~
at the same time to consider his an
swer to her question. in a way, yes.
/ suggested tort of portrait, of
course. A sketchy thing, something
like that, you know. But not an all
summer operation"
But she doesn't mind" explained
Sara. I'm fact, she is enjoying it. She
and Mr.. Booth get on famously to-
gether."
She likes him, eh?"
Certainly. Why shouldn't she like
him? He is adorable"
He threw his cigarette over the rail.
Ing. Comes here every day, sup
pose"
MY dear Leslie. he is to do me as
soon as he has finished with her.
don't like your manner"
"Oh," he said In a dull sort OF won
der. No one had ever cut him short
in just that way before. Whats up.