The Dolores star., 1915-01-15

uu8t lew mOmouSw VI IUNctOUw
Booth caught the angry flash In her
eyes, preceding the nush and unac-
countabie pallor that followed almost
Immediately. He felt guilty. and at
the Same time deeply annoyed with
Leslie. Later on he tried to explain.
but the attempt was . lamentable fall
ure. She laughed. not unkindly. In
his face.
Leslie had refused to allow the
sketch to leave his hand. II she could
have gained possession Of II, even for
an instant, the thing would have been
torn to bits. But II went back into his
commodious pocketbook, and she was
too proud to demand It Of him.
She became oddly sensitive to
Booths persistent though inoffensive
scrutiny - time wore on More than
once she had caught him looking at
her with = dxedness that betrayed per
plexity 20 plainly that she could not
fail to recognize an underlying motive.
He was vainly striving to refresh his
memory; that was clear to her. There
IL no installing that look In persons
eyes. II cannot be disguised.
He was A. deeply perplexed A. ever
when the time came for him to depart
with Leslie. He asked her point blank
on the last evening of his stay II they
had ever met before. and she frankly
confessed to short memory for faces.
It vas not unlikely. she said, that he
had seen her In London or In Paris.
but she had not the faintest recollec-
ton of having seen him before their
meeting In the road.
Urged by Sara, she had reluctantly
consented to sit to him for . portrait
during the month Of June. He put the
request In such terms that II did not
sound like . proposition. II was not
surprising that he should want her for
. subject; In fact. he put II in such .
way that she could not but feel that
she would be doing him . great and
enduring favor. She imposed but one
condition: The picture was never to
be exhibited. He met that. with bland
magnanimity. by profiering the canvas
to Mrs. wrandall. - the subjects
next best friend" to have and to
hold 20 long ~ she might live" free
gratis" with the artists compli-
ments." and 90 on and 20 forth. in airy
good humor. n ..
Leslie's aid had been collected By
both Sara and the painter In the ANAL
effort 70 overcome the girls objec.
tons. He was rather bored about II.
but added bis voice TO the general
Glamour. With half an eye one could
see that he did not relish the idea OF
Hetty posing for days to the hand.
some. Agreeable painter. Moreover. II
meant that Booth. who could afford to
crafty his own whims. would be
Obliged to spend . month or more In
the neighborhood. 90 that he could de-
vote himself almost entirely to the
contamination Of this particular under.
taking. Moreover. II meant that vivt
ans portrait was TO be temporarily
disresarded.
Sara Wrandall was quick to recog.
nice the first symptoms OF Jealousy on
the part OF her brother-in.law. The
new idol Of the Wrandalls was In love.
selfishly. insunerably In love ~ things
went with all the Wrandalis. They
hated selfishly, and no they loved, Her
husband had been their king. But
their king was dead. long live the
king! Leslie had put on the family
crown-S little jauntily, perhaps
cooked over the eye bit. 80 to speak
but Il WAS there Just the same, tn
noyingly plain to view.
Sara had tried TO like him. He had
been her friend. the only one she could
claim among them Nil. And yet. be-
meath his genial allegiance. she could
detect the air OF condescension. the
bland attitude Of o superior who de-
tends another's cause for the reason
that II gratines Nero. She experienced
u thrill Of malicious Joy In contemplat.
Ing the fall OF Nero. He would bring
down his house about his head. and
there would be no Rome to pay ths
fiddler.
Brandon Booth took small cottage
on the upper road. half way between
the village and the home OF Sara
"IAhuht, auu uUS tab HVti s~0 ~
horred back gate" that swung In the
teeth Of her connections BY marriage.
lie set up his establishment In half =
day and. being settled. betook himself
on to dine with Sara and Hetty. All
his household cares. like the world.
rested snusly on the shoulders Of an
Atlas named Pat. than whom there
was no moro faithful servitor In all
the earth. nor In the heavens, for that
matter. II We are to accept his own
estimate Of himself. In any event. he
was . treasure. Booths house was a.
ways In order Try - no would. be
couldn't get II out OF order. Pats wife
saw TO that.
A. he swung jauntily down tho tree
lined road that led 70 8afa's portals.
Booth was full Of the Joy Of living.
SARA was at the bottom OF the ter.
race. moving among the aower beds In
the formal garden. .|
A. the sound Of his footsteps on the
gravel, Sara looked NJ and Instantly