The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1915-10-14


with you alone, unchaperoned at a
country inn, is by New York standards
delightfully."- unconventional. II borders
on wickedness." Then, since their at
titude toward each other was SO
friendly and innocent, they both
laughed. They had dined under the
trees OF an old manor house, built a
century ago, and now converted into
an inn, and they had enjoyed them
selves because it seemed to them
pleasingly paradoxical that they should
find In a place seemingly so shabby
genteel a cuisine and service OF such
excellence. Neither of them had ever
been there before, and neither of them
knew that the reputation of this estab-
lishment was in its own way wide
and unsavory.
The repairs did not go as smoothly
as the chauffeur had expected. and,
when he had finished, he was hungry.
So, eleven o'clock found them still
chatting at their table on the lighted
lawn. After awhile, they fell silent,
and Adrienne noticed that her COM
panion's face had become deeply, al
most painfully set, and that his gaze
was tensely focused on herself
! What is it, Mr.. South?" she de-
/ manded.
The young man began to speak,
In a steady, selfaccusing voice.
Il was sitting here, looking at you,"
he said, bluntly Il was thinking
how fine you are in every way; how
there is as much difference in the tex
ture of men and women as there is in
the texture of clothes. From that
automobile cap you wear to your slip
pers and stockings, you are clad in
silk. From your brain to the tone Of
your voice, you are woven of human
silk. I've learned lately that silk isn't
weak, but strong. They make the
best balloons of it." He paused and
laughed, but his face again became
sober. Il was thinking. too, of your
mother. She must be sixty, but she's
young woman. Her face Is smooth
and unwrinkled, and her heart is still
In bloom. At the same age, George
The compliment was so obviously
not intended as compliment at all
that the girl flushed with pleasure
Then" went on Samson, his face
slowly drawing with pain, Il was
thinking of my own people. My
mother was about forty when she
died. She was an old woman. My
father was forty-three. He was an old
man. | was thinking how they with
cred under their drudgery-and of the
monstrous injustice of 1. ALL"
Adrienne Lescott nodded. Her eyes
were sweetly sympathetic.
TITS the hardship of the conditions"
she said, softly. Those conditions
will change"
A man had come out onto the YER
anda from the inside, and was ap-
preaching the table He was immac-
ulately groomed and came forward
with the Difference of approaching :
throne, yet as one accustomed to ap-
preaching thrones. His smile was that
of pleased surprise.
II
bish, and, with q quick hardening
of the face, he recalled their last
meeting. If Farbish should presume
to renew the acquaintanceship under
these circumstances, Samson meant
to rise from his chair, and strike him
in the face. George Lescotts sister
could not be subjected to such meet.
ings Yet, 1t was tribute to his ad.
vancement in good manners that he
dreaded making a scene in her pres.
ence, and, as warning he met Far.
bish's pleasant smile with a look of
blank and studied lack of recognition.
The circumstances out of which Far.
bish might weave unpleasant gossip
did not occur to Samson. That they
were together late in the evening. un.
chaperoned. at a road house whose
reputation was socially dubious, was
a thing he did not realize. But Far.
bish was keenly alive to the POSSIBLE
tiles Of the situation. He chose to
construe the Kentuckian's blank ex.
preston as annoyance at being dis.
covered, sentiment he could readily
understand Adrienne Lescott, follow.
Ing her companions eyes, looked up
and to the boys establishment nodded
to the newcomer, and called him by
name.
Mr.. Farbish,' she laughed, with
mock confusion and total innocence
cs the fact tnat her words might have
meaning, don't tell on u.s."
Il never tell things, my dear lady"
said the newcomer. Il have dwelt
$3.50 AzzzkzzA