The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1915-07-05
CHAPTER III.


her pop eyes, which were brown and
brilliant. She was sleek and glossy
woman dressed in the extreme OF
style, apparently quite assured of her
own charms. Her motions were pleas
antly slow-she moved about with
stately swanlike carriage. Her vocal
tones, too, were slow and smooth;
full of a sort of sentimental JUNCTION
Vastly condescending always, was Mrs
Royalton, to her interiors; suave and
fattering to those she admired. She
wore white, with purple hat.
"What's the matter, child? Been
crying, haven't you? What In the
world does a young girl like you have
to trouble your"
"Oh, waiting on customers, for one
Athing!" Flodie tossed her head like a
FLY
Mrs. Royalton didn't, apparently
get the sarcasm. well, you don't
seem to wait on them very much!
Isn't Mr.. Bonistelle ready for me YETI
Flodie started to reply, then changed
her mind. "I don't know" she said,
'I'll see."
Hall was blinking from the dark
room, loaded plate-holders in hand.
ooh, Mr.. Bonistelle," F1odie whis-
pered despairingly, "you aren't going
to propose to her, are you? Oh, don't
don't, please, Mr.. Bonistelle!"
"Well, what's the matter now?
thought you wanted me to-
ooh, but l don't now!"
"Flodie! You're crazy! Don't you
worry! It'll be happy day for you,
little girl, when I'm married! I'll see
that you get better job than this!
Say, where's that other plate-holder?
"Over on that shelf Oh, Mr.. Boni-
stelle, you'll be awfully unhappy! l
know you will"
He stopped impatiently.
Unhappy! With four millions,
Flodie? With a. private yacht-a
country house-a villa in Italy, per-
-automobiles-a valet-by jove,
guess mott"
Her face was absurdly distorted
with pain and anxiety. Her fists were
i clenched. She summoned her courage
FOR the last despairing stroke. "Oh, she
,l-paints, Mr.. Bonistelle! She paints
Y her face like clown! You wouldn't
Hall laughed aloud. For heavens
sake! Is that what's troubling you?
Now, suppose she's the only woman
who does it in all New York! Well,
put your mild at rest, Flodie; I'll
promise to reform her after we're mar
RED Tell her to come in
Mrs Royalton wandered into the
studio She began, as usual, with a
shipper and smile. 81 don't know
that | ought to shake hands with you,
Mr.. Bonistelle! You're bad, bad
boyl Why haven't you been to see
me, all this long while?" She filled
the place with her dulcet personality.
Hall inspected her sagely, as one in
spects valuable object he is expect
ing to purchase, seeing her, as it
were, for the first time. His first re-
mark lacked conviction. ooh, I've
been busy-Rena! That "Rena"
barely saved it.
"Busy! Oh, you're always too busy
for poor little me! I'm sure you'll
take a horrid picture of me-and | did
so want to get good one today"
Mrs. Royalton ratified on, taking OF
her veil and inspecting her hair in
the cheval glass. She twitted him on
his impoliteness, she made her big
eyes bigger She did the spoiled child
kittenishly.
Hall still seemed distract. He broke
away nervously and went to work. 1t
was his custom to engage his object
in conversation, permitting her to
change position, talk, drink tea, f1irt,
or gesture as she would, while she was
unaware, and before she began to
wonder why he did not begin, to have
managed the exposure of some dozen
plates, from one or two Of which he
was pretty sure to achieve triumph
of art and naturalness.
But, at the mercy of his obsession,
this method was impossible today.
Hall was too busy making up his mind,
and could not do two things at once.
you're not paying bit of attention
to me-" she pouted. Mrs. Royalton,
babyish, was picture for cynic.
But Hall was too engrossed in his
own thoughts. He caught her with
an untitled finger, cried "There!" and
slipped in plate. "The fact is, l am
a bit worried today" he confessed.
Gust look a bit over that way. That's
right! Fine!" He deftly pressed the
bulb.
She went up to him and patted his
arm. ooh, you poor dear man! Oh, l
wish l could help him out!"
ooh, no, I'm afraid you can't help
me-" he said irritably. II wish to
heaven you could. Now look up!" he
commanded. Then he dived under the
focusing cloth, and emerged to say,
"It's partly you that I'm worrying
about, though, Rena-"
about me? MOI" Mrs. Royalton
was delighted.
Eyes, am really" He went up to
her and adjusted her jabot.
Her eyes went of at him like
double-barreled shotgun in an explo-
aion of couuetry IT SUPPOSE you tell