The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-02-28

band, l do draw the line. Mrs.
Hudson drove off with Mr.. Blake,
Mr.. Anstruther with Mrs. Blake,
and Mrs. Anstruther with Mr..
Hudson"
And yet they are received?"
Natalie asked.
Every one is received in Tar
rington; some way-somewhere
somehow, they get it. They all
belong to the Hunt club, to the
Country club; they have plenty
of money, and are not afraid to
spend it; they are travelled, pol
ished, when they care to show 1t.
They are birds of passage, here
fawhile, then gone. However, you
know them; you're no stranger
in Harrington"
"No-but this collection is a
new sort to me-" said Natalie.
Anything particular doing In
town." Mrs. Singleton inquired
presently, as they left Harrington
behind and sped along the level
limestone pike.
1.-THE usual things at this sea-
son; few dinners. 1t is pretty
dead"
II see by the Post that my
cousin, Orme Vendome, the new
ambassador to Spain, is In town.
Did you happen to meet him?"
81 met his the other night at
the Whipplingtons'. He took me
in to dinner"
did you like him?" said
Betty.
Il did"
HE told you was his cous-
in?"
Eyes. He wasn't sure, he said
how far you had to go back to
get a common ancestor, but he
thought it was about 200 years"
did he say that?" Betty laugh
ed.
81 should be willing to go back
400 years, If necessary, to claim
him." Natalie responded. HE
is, I think, distinctly worth
while.rI
You think exactly right, dear.
After Carter Singleton, he is the
finest man living. I'll write at
once and invite Rundown. You
haven't any objection?"
mot in the least!"
HE is such a comfortable
chap; he doesn't make love to
every pretty woman. In fact, he
has never made love to any one
at least in this country"
| THAT is, SO far as you know"
well, he is still unattached,
said Betty. Does Orme , know
that you are at Rosemount?"
| Yes. He asked IL would be
In town next week. I said that l
was going to Harrington today.
He spoke of you, and l mention
ed that you were to be my host
ess."
IL see!- did he speak of COM
ing DOWN."
Natalie nodded. "He intimat-
ed that he might be down, II the
state department didn't inter-
fere."
! Il think 1t will be hardly nee
essary for me to wire!" laughed
/ ed Betty. do your"
"He seemed very anxious to
see Cousin Betty" Natalie par
ried.
And Cousin Betty's guest?"
Nonsense! He was very po-
lite, that's ALL"
"Of course! He wouldn't be
Orme Vendome, IL he were not,
nor will he come unless he wish
es. No, I'll not wire; it will be
unnecessary"
CHAPTER II.
RosemOnt.
Rosemont had been in the Sin
gleton family for more than two
centuries. The first Singleton,
in Virginia, had stood with the
royal governor, Sir William Berk-
ley; and when the latter with
drew to the plantation of Green
Spring, Singleton retired from
the council and ended his days
as a member in the House of
Burgesses.
His younger son had inherited
as his portion, some thousands of
acres. between the Potomac and
the Rappahannock, called Rose
mont. 1t was his son who built
the present house-of English
brick, wide hall thru the center
and spacious rooms on either
side.
In the interior, the walls were
panelled, sides and ceiling, with
cypress painted white; the doors,
cornices and windows were of
mahogany; the floors of hard
wood, waxed and polished, and
dark with the use of years, vari-
gated, however, here and there,
by replacements-of wears or of
the scars of wars.
For Rosemont had stood In the
path of both armies. in the Great
Conflict. and had suffered much;
tho 1t was saved from the torch
by Sheridan's personal order, as
his acknowledgment OF q court
eous hospitality on the part Of It's
then mistress---the young bride
of Col. Singleton. Of the Confed-
crate States army, and the moth
|er of Carter Singleton, who now
ruled at R0semont.
And he ruled very much as the |
Singletons, Of generations gone, |
had ruled-with generous hand