Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-03-11
By j. Hartley. Manners

nor 1, 8O0eQ Al1r1c. I'm all
strung up" He turned to jarvis. Tell
Mr.. Brent we're very sorry, but
"I'll see him." interrupted Ethel, al
most animatcdly. Bring Mr.. Brent
here. jarvis"
As Jarvis went In search of Mr..
Brent Mrs. Chichester went up the
great stairs. My head is throbbing.
Ill 20 to my room"
Don't you worry. mater" consoled
Alaric. Leave everything to me- IN
thrash the whole thing out"
AS Mrs. Chichester disappeared Alar-
IL turned to his calm sister. who,
strangely enough. was showing some
signs of life and interest
Really going to teach?'
YES"
Right! I'll find something, too
very likely doctor. We'llpull through
somehow"
Ethel made motion toward the door
as though to stop any further CONVEX
sation.
MIR. Brent's coming" she said. al
most impatiently.
/ Alaric started for the window lead
ing into the garden.
Jolly good of you to let him bore
you. hate the sight of the beggar
myself. Always looks to me like the
first conspirator Mt n play"
The door opened. and Jarvis entered
and ushered in Mr. Brent" Alaric
hurried into the garden.
A few words Of description of Chris
tan Brent might be of interest since
he represents type that society al
ways has with it,
J They begin by deceiving others; they
end by deceiving themselves.
Christian Brent was a dark. tense.
eager. scholarly looking man of twen
ty-eight years OF age His career as
diplomatist was halted at its outset by
On early marriage with the only daugh-
ter of prosperous manufacturer.
Brent was moderately independent in
his own right, but the addition Of his
wife's dowry seemed to destroy oil am
bition. He no longer found interest In
carrying messages to the various lega-
tons or embassies of Europe or in fill
ing routine position as some ones
secretary. From being an intensely
eager man Of affairs he drifted into a
social lounger-the lapdog of the draw
Ing room-where the close breath Of
some rare perfume meant more than
the clash of interests and the conquest
Of woman greater than that of ma
ton.
Just at this period Ethel Chichester
was the especial object of his adora-
ton
i Her beauty appealed to him.
Her absolute Indifference to him
stung him as a lash. 1t seemed to be-
little his powers Of attraction. Conse-
Quently be redoubled his efforts.
Ethel showed neither like nor dislike
just form Of liberation. Brent ac-
cepted this. as Il dog a crumb. in the
hope of something more substantial
to follow. He had come that morn
Ing with a fixed resolve. His man
ner was determined. His voice wooed
as caress. He went tenderly to
Ethel the moment the door closed on
Jarvis.
How are you?" he asked, and there
was a note Of subdued passion In his
tone.
Fair" replied Ethel without even
looking at him.
where is your mother?" suggesting
that much depended on the answer.
Lying down." answered Ethel truth
fully and without any feeling.
| And Alaric?"
"Tn the garden"
Then we have moment or two
alone?" Brent put world Of mean
ing into the suggestion.
Very likely" said Ethel. picking up
score of "Boheme' and looking at 1t
as If she saw it for the first time. all
the while watching him through her
half closed eyes.
Brent went to her. "Glad to see
me?" he asked
"Why not?"
Il am glad to see you'-he bent over
her-"more than glad
"Really7"
He sat beside her. ETHEL" he whis-
pered intensely, II am at the cross
roads,"
"Ohw commenced Ethel. without any
interest
ut came last night"
ibid it?"
This is the end-between Sibyl and
myself"
els it?n
"Yes-the end. It's been horrible from
| the ffrst-horrible. There's not word
Of mine-not an action-she doesn't
misunderstood"
"How boring" said Ethel blandly.
"She would see harm even in this"
"Why?"
"She'd think was here toto He
stopped
"What?" innocently inquired Ethel.
Make love to you" And he looked
earnestly into her eyes.
She met his look quite frankly and
astonished him with the question,
"Well, aren't you?"
He rose anxiously. "Ethel!"
Don't you always" persisted Ethel
Elias 1t seemed like that to you?"
YES" she answered candidly; 'by
insinuation, never stratghtforwardly.
"Has 1t offended your
'"Then you admit it?"
"Oh," he cried passionately, 81 wish
had the right toto Again he
wavered.
yes" And Ethel looked straight at
him.
-"make love to you straightforward