The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1915-10-01
CHAPTER xII-continued.

CHAPTER xiI-continued.
d. ..,& Is
The party was now in full swing
Some twenty were in the reception
room, dancing or watching The
dancers The evening grew in life
and merriment. Mr.. Doremus, bacl
from his interview with Flodie, was in
fected by the revels. He blossomeG
suddenly and unexpectedly into hilar
ity, and encouraged and stimulated BY
the gayer of the young actresses, be
came, in spite of himself, the.center ot
the party. The company did not. lei
him off till Alfred Smallish, blushing
furiously, appeared In the doorway.
Supper is ready mean-er-sup
per is served" he announced, and
coughed into his hand
:. The three soubrettes who had beer
pelting Mr.. Doremus with pinks, now
surrounded him, bound him with eyer
green garlands and carried him off en-
slaved, through the Office, where Flo
die was presiding over tables of salad
and sandwiches, into the reception
room, where they enthroned him on an
old Spanish chair, and waited on him
like houris. The gentlemen rushed
back and forth with plates and nap
kins; everybody began to talk and
laugh. Beer bottles popped.
Hall was now becoming desperate
Il did not seem at all so easy as he
had expected. If only Flodie hadn't
got her back up so foolishly! Well
he must, at least, be off with his old
loves before he was on with the new
And, for that, he must have the an.
swers of the two women. He left the
company and walked into the studio
now deserted, to look at the clock
Heavens! 1t was already half after
eleven. Something would have to hap
pen in hurry, if
Carolyn Dallys appeared in the door
way, smiling. She was wearing corn
color, in costume no man could have
described five minutes after he had
seen 1t. Carolyn's clothes were always
not only original but characteristic of
her.
She sauntered in, and dropped upon
the couch, to look up at him good-na-
turedly. Halls hopes rose. It was 60
ing to be easy, thank heaven. She
didn't at all have the smile of a pros
pective owner. ~
We'll, Hail." she began, you don't
seem particularly anxious to see your
blushing bride. l had almost begun
to think you we're deliberately avoid
ing me-"
Avoiding you! Nonsense, Caro-
lyn!" Hall laughed easily and tossed
her a box of cigarettes. Really, I've
been SO confoundedly busy with all
these people, and"
She broke in placidly: We'll. you're
not busy now, are you?"
Hall began to be afraid. "Oh, no, Of
course not. Why?" He watched her
as If she we're about to strike him.
We'll, then, I've made up my mind.
Hall"
What do you mean?" he asked, and
assuming a carelessness he was far
from feeling, he walked to the table
and took up a flower, idly.
Why. told you over the telephone,
didn't I? Look pleasant, Hail." she
said; SITS yes I've decided to accept
you" 3, =.
Hall grew faint 1t was not alone
the words that alarmed him. 1t was
the cold-blooded tone in which they
were uttered. There was a deliberate
ness. fixity of purpose in it that
threatened his complacency. Carolyn
still maintained her usual jocular man.
uer, but there was something keen and
steely beneath it that he had never be-
fore felt. He rose to meet 1t with all
his skill at acting. ~
Lord, Carolyn" he exclaimed, walk
ing up to her impatiently, you didn't
really take me seriously, this morning,
did you?" He burst out into forced
laughter. Well, that is funny; think
of .you-of all -women-getting caught
like that! It's perfectly absurd! You
can't make me believe you thought l
was in. earnest, you know! That's alb
surd!"
So the agile trout, when he first
feels the hook in his mouth, thinks
that by bold struggle; he, can regain
his freedom, and thrashes the pool
with hectic energy. But Carolyn, with
all her humor, was a shrewd cool fisher
of men. Calmly, surely. she Kept her
line taut. She had struck four mil
lions! Not for moment had she lost
her composure. Slowly she spoke );
she almost drawled. u, r...'.. -
why, yes, did. Hall, Surely. You
seemed to have a lucid interval, syoa
know, this morning, and l believed
every word you said. And what
more" she added, Il believe it now'
Lazily, to and fro her feather fan was
sweeping.
Hall fioundered again, wildly. oh,
come ON, Carofyn!- Cant you take q
. joke?"
Yes" she answered< 4sr1liiingly,
when see the point oft: = Will you
kindly explain?' 80 .
l., The point Hall well knew, was in
/. his own mouth He dashed UP and
down the room fretfully, making fer
vent gestures. Poor fish, He still
+, imagined he could get away from the
hook Good heavens. have explained,
haven't L. Why, only wanted to hear
y bat you'd sayl"
Well. voure heard: l say yes
.~~~~~-~~-~~-~~~~- --~~~o~Y~>~~
Cosmopolitan Nation. =.
, The Roumanian is lover Of the
mountains and the woods it is. in
deed. to the peaks and forests of the
Carpathians that he owes his national