The midland journal., 1915-08-20

"Oh, well, expect Hall will be back
before long" said Carolyn.
Mrs. RoyaIton, placid as a COW, eyed
her for moment, then remarked
slowly, meditating, "You call him Hail.
don't you! l hadn't known you were
SO intimate"
"Oh, Lord, yes. 1 always call him
Hall" Carolyn was beginning to be
amused.
Ro3amund tossed her head and
crossed her fee;. watching the new
conner sharply.
We'll" said Mrs Royalton, primly
ironical I'm delighted that you know
him SO well, my dear!"
We'll, now / come to think of it,
Rena. don't know that I do know
him quite so well as I thought, after
ALL She exchanged smile with
Rosamund, who laughed aloud, harsh
ly, causing Mrs. Royalton to turn and
stare at her.
'1'm afraid / fail to see the joke, :"
she said haughtily But of course
Hall Bonistelle isn't at all the sort Of
man one sees through at a glance, you
know He's deep; very subtle per-
son, in fact However" she smiled
complacently, Il tiatter myself that l
understand him little better than |
did"
Carolyn shot her a suspicious
glance. "Why?" she demanded. Made
any recent discoveries?"
Mrs. Royalton deliberately nodded
up and down, and smiled graphically.
"Oh, / donst know fancy he has
something on his mind-in fact, I
know he has-there,s a-well, sort
of crisis yes. suppose he would APP
pear a little excited-but Of course |
really have no business discussing it."
What in the world are you talking
about, Rena?" Carolyn exclaimed.
"Why, I'm talking about Hall Bonis-
telle, of course!"
well, you're not saying much"
Never mind, Carolyn, dear, it isn't
because l haven't anything to say!
You don't expect me to go about re-
peating things he has said to me in
confidence, do you?"
"Oh!" said Carolyn, narrowing her
eyes, ''then Hall has been confiding
in you, too, has he?"
BY this time Rosamund was hard
on the scent, having almost caught up
to Carolyn's suspicious. She said moth
ing, but her eyes were hot and shin
ing, as she scrutinized Mrs. Royalton's
face.
"See here" said Carolyn, now thor
oughly interested, 81 don't see why
haven't right to know. I'm pretty
good friend Of Hall's-you know that
and think you ought to be able to
trust me-"
well. it isn't only trusting you"
Mrs Royalton looked significantly at
Rosamund, sulkily listening.
'sWell, declared" said Carolyn
calmly, "Rena Royalton, either you're
making an awful fool of yourself. or
else Hall Bonistelle has actually"
She got no further. Flodie, head up,
with a busy air, hustled into the room
carrying a handful of prints. She
stopped suddenly, with fine imitation
of surprise, and gazed at Mrs. Royal
ton.
"Oh, Mrs. Royalton!" she exclaimed
''Why didn't you let me know you
were here? I've got your proofs all
ready for you. think they are splen-
did!"
She handed them over, and ap-
preached Carolyn with two other
proofs Here are yours. Miss Dallys.
I'm sorry to have kept you waiting SO
long" She returned to Mrs. Royalton
"Oh, how l dread to look at them!"
that lady was saying. She was. new
ertheless, perusing them hungrily.
Carolyn meanwhile had stridden
across the room to Rosamund, and the
two girls conspired as Mrs. Royalton
lost herself in her portraits.
''Oh, don't like that one I. (.
Really? =. Why, l look a hundred
years old! . Il. There! That's more
like me. Which one do you like
best. Miss Fisher? No, do you?
Why, think it's awful. My eyes are
so hard to take right; you don't get
the soul in them, somehow u. Oh
think l ought to try another sitting.
don't you? . Say, where is Mr.. Boni-
| stelle, anyway"
There came ring at the telephone
Fiodie jumped to snatch up the re-
ceiver
Hello! Yes Why. what's
the matter? Oh. naturally !.
Wait iust/a minute, please!"
Flodie stopped and held her hand
over the transmitter. "Oh. Miss Dallys.
would you and Miss Gale mind not
talking quite so loud for minute? /
can't hear very we'll"
There was long pause, and the
three women, all studying Flodie's
face, saw dozen different expressions
pass over it in quick succession. Then
she spoke again: Really? Oh. you
know. Mr. Bonistelle-well, personally.
1 loathe them Oh, don't know,