The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1915-08-07


She came in as If making a stage en-
trance. Something was to happen to
night. Rosamund was on the war
path.
She barely acknowledged Flodie's
greeting, or Jonas presence, but cas-
a hasty anxious glance about; then
seeing no women, seemed to breathe
freer. Where's Hall?" she asked al
most Immediately.
"Oh, somewhere about In with the
musicians probably" Flodie turned to
Jonas. "Mr. Hassingbury. Miss Gale!'
Jonas bent over her "Why. now
they's lot O. Gales down to Branford
where live. / wonder if you
Tell Hall to hurry pleased" cried
Rosamund to Flodie. Flodie started
off, smiling, but Rosamund caught at
her arm and held her. "Wait a min
ute, though! Miss Fisher, listen!
Has anything-any important
happened?"
What d'you mean?"
ooh, | mean-well nothing exciting,
has it?"
Flodie reflected why, I'm afraid
Alfred has spilled some salad on his
new dress suit, Miss Gale, if that's
what you mean?"
Rosamund did not condescend to an
swer. She left haughtily and passed
hurriedly into the dressing room and
Invested herself of her wraps. Jonas
had but time to remark to Flodie, $50
she's one of 'em, is she? Pretty gal,
by jiminy!" when she was out again,
and without noticing them, had gone
to the door of the reception room, and
looked in. scowling
Here, the rugs were all up and the
floor waxed for dancing Three mu-
sicians were scraping and tuning their
instruments. Hall Bonistelle was in a
corner, arranging a vase of flowers
Rosamund darted in and swan up to
him. No scowl now; she was differ
ent creature, smiling, radiant. angelic,
sailing on an air Of gladness. She
seized Halls hand excitedly.
ooh, Hail." she exclaimed dramatic
ally, mas perfectly delighted! It's
all right, and you needn't worry
moment longer! Aren't you glad?"
She hung on him fondly as if she ex-
pected him to embrace her.
Hall had turned white. Rosamund's
beauty had instantly disarmed him.
He could no more have said the brutal
things he had contemplated than he
could have struck a child. Weakly, he
procrastinated, fumbling her hand.
"Really?" he managed to say "Jove!
That's fine!"
"Well, why don't you kiss me, Hall ?"
Rosamund's eyes were on the door,
watching anxiously for Interruptions.
Flodie gazed in
Hall looked over his shoulder, en-
barrassed ooh, these musicians-I
don't want them to-say, wait till we
can be alone!"
She stared at him in annoyed sur
prise, then gave another irritated
glance at the door. The sound Of
women's voices goaded her on Non
sense! Why, I intend to announce
our engagement Immediately"
Terror-stricken. Hall exclaimed,
ooh, no, that won't do at all, Rosa
mund, really. Well have to wait lit
tie while-not tonight, anyway"
''Why, that's half the fun of being
engaged-talking about it," Then,
after another quick look toward the
office, she gazed up at him and pressed
his hand 1--WE are engaged, aren't me,
Hall?"
ooh, yes-certainly! Only"
Rosamund had an instant of triumph
and relief. 1t was all right, then. She
tossed her head as if in secret revolt;
she would have her own way, see If
she didn't! WELL" she said coldly,
'Tll wait while, if you insist. Only,
l should think you might look happier
about it. You act SO funny!"
He was saved from having to reply
by Jonas Hassingbury, who, glimpsing
the encounter, and impelled by Flodie,
had plunged boldly forward to the res
cue.
"Say," he began pointblank to Rosa
mund, "be you any relation to Abijah !
Gale? believe his mother was
Nettleton."
Rosamund glared, and Hall, Selling
the happy chance, had already begun
to edge off, with a mumbled some
thing about duties and guests. People |
had, in truth, begun to arrive and the
place was filling rapidly. The musi-
clans had begun to play; Flodie looked
n, with distressed face, and beck
)ned. Still Rosamund held him by
he sleeve.
Jonas fired again. "Ain't never been
Town Branford way, have We? Say,
you ought to run down to our village
some time, miss, and git mess O.
CLAIMS. We got some fust-class Holsters
Town home Know it,"
Rosamund turned the full glory of
Ter gaze upon him. ooh, yes" she said
weetly, IT can easily believe that!~
But alas for her irony! This indul-
renee had cost her her prey. Hall was
llready across the room, and Jonas
lung like a leech. She could not,
With all her insolence, detach him.