Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-07-07

DIERTING LEONIE
BY ELLIS BROWNE.

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Marjory tried her best not to listen,
but the conversation floated across the
table to her ears with almost fiendish
clearness. Mrs. Fanshaws voice was
bit high pitched, and Just now she
was radiant with excitement, contra
dieting Tommy fatty about Willard.
my dear child, was there. He was
simply mad over her. He can say what
he pleases now, but / know and SO
does everybody else who saw them to-
gether.'
Tommy tried to divert her, catching
sight covertly of Majorys face, the
expression in her clear blue eyes, the
hurt, close lines around her lips.
"Oh, 1 don't know, Mrs. Fanshaw.
Will was just cub. l don't think he
ever really cared for her"
We'll, he certainly did, and if you
could have seen her face last night at
the box party Airline gave, when she
heard he was in town, oh, my dear,
my dear! Women are far more faith
full than men. Hasn't she the most
beautiful red hair you ever saw in all
your life?"
Il can't bear red hair" said Tommy
blithely. Marjory knew she meant
Leonie Raleigh. She had met her at
tea that week and had noticed what
an unusual type she was And Will,
her Will, had been in love with her
only three years ago. She fingered
her engagement ring absently. He
was really very nice, a gentle-voiced,
well-mannered, middle-aged French
man. And suddenly something he was
saying caught her attention:
"You know, so few artists have ever
been able to catch Titian's tone. Red
hair has always eXerted an eXtraordi-
nary effect on artists, yet it is rare.
My friend the marquis is quite wild
over a young Californian he met at
tea yesterday"
Miss Raleigh" suggested Mar
jory Of course, it was Leonie. The
men had flocked around her like bees
at the tea. She had made complete
picture in the fading sunset light of
the studio.
Eyes. He cannot get the inspiration
for his work until he has the divine
thrill for his subject-you see? And
he has sought for a model for his
Francesca. She must be this same
F1orentine type that Titan loved to
paint, ah, the Florentine women with
their dark eyes and red hair and faces
like whitest pearls"
The next day Tommy took Marjory
in to dinner, as Will was west for a
few days, and he noticed her look of
content.
you know, I expect you to purr,
any moment What have you been up
to-"
Tommy" Marjory answered, "has
the marquis any money!"
Not much But he's a really fine
sort of chap, and his title is o. K. An
cient regime, you know. Some of his
people lost their heads in the same
basket with Louis, believe. Why?"
Nothing" Marjory changed the
subject. The count kept her post
ed Both he and the marquis belonged
to the little group of marooned CONT
nentals in New York, too old to go to
war, marking time in the new world.
And it appeared that the red-haired
California girl was splendid success.
She had enough money in her own
right to make the attentions of the
marquis acceptable. Even before
Wills return, everyone was mating
the two and talking of their romantic
meeting. Marjory smiled and said
nothing, not until the night when
Will came back. She was at the opera
with her mother, and two boxes away
on the same tier were Leonie and the
marquis.
you know her, don't you, dear?''
she asked, very imperonally. Tommy
eyed her from the back Of the box
alertly. "Leonie Raleigh from Santa
Barbara"
Willard sat up, his eyes suddenly
keen with interest
Where is she?'
Right ever there in the Seward
box Isn't she lovely, Will? Such
wonderful red hair?"
"Ah, they will be engaged in less
than two weeks, could wager" the
count said happily, next her mother
"He is most devoted to her. He is per.
fectly mad over her. And she is quite
willing to be the fair marquis, ah, yes,
quite willing"
You know" said Will appraisingly
"she always seemed an awfully ordi
nary girl to me. If it hadn't been for
her hair she'd never attracted any at
tention"
"You knew her out West, didn't
you, dear?"
ooh, in a way. Glad she's going to
marry a marquis Leonie's the kind
of girl that requires plenty Of back
ground"
Then, feminine to her pretty finger
tips, Marjory could not resist Just the
one question:
Were you ever really engaged tc
her. WIFI"