The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1915-07-28
CHAPTER Viii.

Mrs. Royalton, in an almost too
vivid shade of purple, was, in contras
to the two rather excited women al
ready there, calm, cool and confident
Things were going very well with
Rena Royalton; she had man in her
| pocket. Rena was getting on; thirty
five had struck its warning bell; if she
were going to be married again, why
not now? Wasn't Hall Bonistelle
handsome? Wasn't he we'll born and
bred? Rena had thought him over,
and decided to accept him. She en-
tered, therefore, in a most becomingly
amiable state of mind, lofty and some
what detached.
To Carolyn she gave smiling but
suspicious, "Why, hello, Carolyn! You
here?" and to Rosamund the quick
unconscious tribute due the natural
blonde. Her eyes returned to Carolyn.
a little troubled IT didn't expect to
see you again so soon, my dear!" she
said.
ROsamund, meanwhile, was staring
at the prototype of the portrait which
ho0 Otdl ICQ luS ulSCu6SlOA VI l1dii .
intimacies. Carolyn, noticing, intro
duced her. Rosamund, however, did
not interest Rena Royalton so much
as did Carolyn herself.
Where is Mr.. Bonistelle?" she
asked.
"Oh, he's Out-as usual" said Caro-
Ign. II expect Miss Fisher will at
tend to you, though"
Mrs. Royalton shrugged her shout
ders. miss Fisher will hardly do for
what l want" she said. I'm afraid
I'll have to see Mr.. Bonistelle him.
SELF"
Rosamund frowned, but Carolyn
only raised her eyebrows.
ooh, well, expect Hall will be back
before long," said Carolyn.
Mrs. Royalton, placid as a COW, eyed
her for moment, then remarked
slowly, meditating, You call him Hall,
don't you! / hadn't known you were
SO intimate"
ooh, Lord, yes. always call him
Hail." Carolyn was beginning to be
amused
Rosamund tossed her head and
crossed her feet, watching the new
conner sharply
well" said Mrs. Royalton, primly |
ironical, "Tm delighted that you know
him SO well, my dear!'
well, now l come to think Of it,
Rena, l don't know that l do know
him quite so well as 1 thought, after
ALL" She exchanged smile with
who laughed aloud, harsh
", causing Mrs. Royalton to turn and
stare at her.
I'm afraid l fail to see the joke"
she said haughtily "But of course
Hall Bonistelle isn't at all the sort of
nan one sees through at glance, you
know. He's deep; a very subtle per-
son, In fact. However" she smiled
IT flatter myself that l
him a little better than I
lid"
Carolyn shot her suspicious
dance. "Why?" she demanded. Made
my recent discoveries?"
Mrs. Royalton deliberately nodded
lp and down. and smiled graphically.
"Oh, don't know fancy he has
omething on his mind-in fact, l
now he has-theres a-well, sort
# crisis-yes, suppose he would ap-
ear a little excited-but of course
eally have no business discussing It,"
what in the world are you talking
bout, Renal" Carolyn exclaimed.
"Why, I'm talking about Hall Bonis-
ellie, of Counsel"
well, you're not saying much"
Never mind, Carolyn, dear, it isn't
ecause 1 haven't anything to say!
'ou don't expect me to go about re-
eating things he has said to me in s
onfidence, do your" !
"Oh!" said Carolyn, narrowing her 8
yes, then Hall has been confiding :
/ you, too, has he?" I
By this time Rosamund was hard :
4 the scent, having almost caught up f
Carolyns suspicious. She said moth ;
e, but her eyes were hot and shin
e, as she scrutinized Mrs. Royalton's ),
ce. :
"See here" said Carolyn, now thor :.
lghly interested, II don't see why !,
went right to know. I'm pretty =
,od friend of Hall's-you know that =
I'd I think you ought to be able to
ust me-"
"Well, it isn't only trusting you" %
rs Royalton looked significantly at :,
,samund, sulkily listening. =
well, I declared" said Carolyn ',
lmly, "Rena Royalton, either you're =
aking an awful fool of yourself, or -
,e Hall Bonistelle has actually" =
She got no further. Flodie, head up, -
tn busy air, hustled into the room, .
frying a handful of prints She ~
)pped suddenly, with fine imitation
surprise, and gazed at Mrs. Royal n