, 1915-09-16

In another moment the waits tainted
out. to be succeeded by a duax<smpa,
and presently the host, In his crimson
cloak. was dofing his piumed hist BE-
fore her. Cfrcling the polished floor
In the mare, there was somethtna
gratefully like former days IN the -
sured touch, the true and ready guid
ance. The intrusive question faded.
He was the John Valiant she had al
ways known, Of flashing repartee and
graceful compliment, yet with q. touch
of dignity, too-as beftted the lord
Of a manor-which sat well upon him.
After a d%ecorous dozen of rounds, she
ook his arm and allowed her perfect
figure TO be conducted through ,tha
various rooms Of the ground floor,
chatting in quite the old-time way, tn
a new gallant claimed her.
The mellow strings made ON thefz
merry tune, and at length the Wash
ington Post marched all in flushed
unity Of purpose to the great muslin
walled porch with its array of tables
groaning under viands ooncoctsd by
Aunt Daphne for the delectat3on d
b palate-weary. a.
And then once more the rwaltz-strxtn
supervened and in the yellow parlor
JOY was again unconflned.
Again Valiant claimed Katharine
and they glided of on The Beautiful
Danube" Her paleness. now had a
tinge of color. but nevertheless he
thought she dropped. You are tired"
he said, "shan't we sit 1t out?"
"Oh, do you mind?" she responded
gratefully. ut has been a fairly siren
uous day, hasn't it,"
He guided her to a corridor, where
branches of rhododendron screened an
alcove of settees and seductive cusll
Ions. Here, her WEAKNESS seemed put
to rout. There was no dropping OF
fringed lids, no disconcerting 81
l%ences; she chartered with ease and
piquancy. ,
Il have been listening to paeans all
the evening"" she said. And you de
serve them. It's a fine big thing you
are attempting--the restoring of this
old estate. And 1 know you have ever
bigger plans, too"
He nodded. suddenly serious and
thoughtful. There's a lot I'd like to
do. It's not only the house and
grounds. There are other
things. For instance, back on the
mountain-on my own lands a set;
Element they call HeIps-Half-Acre.
Probably 1t has well earned the
name. It's a wretched collection OF
novels and surly men and drabs Of
women and unkempt children, the
poorest Of po~or-whites. Not one OF
them a read or write, and they live
like animals. II I'm ever able, I mean
to put a Misunderstanding school w
there. And then"
He ended with a half laugh, sudden
ly conscious that he vas talking In a
language she would scarcely under.
stand-in fact, in a tongue new to him
self. But there was no smile on her
lips and her extraordinary eyes-cool
gray, shot through with emerald
were looking into his with a frankness
and sympathy he would not have
guessed lay beneath her glacial pla-
cidtty.
To Katharine, indeed. 1t made little
difference what philanthropic fads the
man she had chosen might affect as
regarded his tenantry. Ambitions like
these had a immortal flavor that did
not displease her. And the Fargo mil
lions would bear much harmless ham
mering. A change, subtle and fncom-
municable, passed over her.
Il shall think Of you." she sighed,
"as working on In this splendid pro
gram. For 1t is splendid. But New
York will miss you, John" a
"Ah, no. I've no decisions on that
score. / dare say I'm almost forgotten
there already. Here I have a place"
Her head. leaned back against the
cushion, turned toward him, the pale
orchids trembling on her bosom-she
was so near that he could feel her
breath ON his cheek. A new waltz
had begun to sigh its ianguorous meas
"PlaceH" she queried. do you think
you had no place there? Is it possible
that you do not understand that your
going has left-a voidf"
He looked at her suddenly, and her
eyes fell. Before he answered, how.
ever, the big form Of Major Bristow
appeared. looking about him.
1T has-left a void" she said, her
eyes still downcast, her voice Just low
enough, for me-"
The major bounced upon them at
this juncture. feelingly accusing John
Of the nefarious design of robbing the
assemblage of its bright and partic
ular star. When Katharine put her
hand in her cavaliers arm, her eyes
were dewy under their long shading
lashes and her fine lips ever 20 little
trsmulous. It had been her best avail
able moment and she had used it.
As she moved away. her faint COLOR
1liahtlX haiRhtanad. aha WAC Glad Of