The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times., 1916-01-06

master OF Mereside.
Tho little visit to Jasper Grierson's
library was not prolonged beyond the
invalids strength; but notwithstand.
ing its brevity there were inert cur.
rents Of antagonism evolved which
Marsery. present and endeavoring to
serve as lightning arrester. could
neither ground nor turn aside.
Griswold took away from the rather
constrained ice-breaking In the bank.
er's library a renewed resolve to cut
his obligation to Jasper Grierson az
short as possible. How he should be.
gin again the mordant struggle for
existence was still an unsolved prob
lem. or the one-thousand.dolla
spending fund there remained some
thing less than half: for a few weeks
or months he could live and pay his
way: but after that. Curiously
enough the alternative OF another at.
tack upon the plutocratic dragon did
not suggest itself. That. he told him
self. was an experiment tried and
found wanting. but In any event. he
must not outstay his welcome at
Mereside: and with this thought In
mind he crept downstairs daily after
the library episode, and would give
Margery no peace because she would
not let aim go abroad In the town.
How sharper than serpent's
tooth II Is to have a thankiess
shall say-patient, or guest, or
friend?" she laughed, garbling the
quotation to ht the occasion.
Shakespeare said child" he sug.
gested mildly
And so shall l." she gibed-but the
gibe itself was almost caress. Some.
times you remind me OF an impatient
boy who has been promised a peach
and cant wait until II ripens. But II
you must have reason why won't
drive you this afternoon. you may.
We are going to have a tiny little
social function at Mereside this eve.
ming, and want you to be fresh aud
rested for It,"
Certainly. shall come. II you wish
H." he assented. remembering afresh
his immense obligation: and when the
time was ripe he made himself pre-.
sentable and felt his way down the
dimly lighted library stair. being
minded 10 slip into the social pool
by the route which promised the
smallest splash and the fewest ripples
II was a stirring OF the Philistine
In him that led him 20 prefgure weari.
ness and banality in the prospect.
Without in the least expecting II. Girls.
void was Brahmin OF the severest
sect on his social side; easily dis.
posed 10 hold aloof and TO criticize.
and, as a man eastern.bred. serenely
assured that nothing truly acceptable
In the social sense could come out OF
the Nazareth OF the West.
For this cause he was properly hu.
initiated when he entered the spacious
double drawing.rooms and found them
so comfortably crowded by q throng
Of conventionally clothed and conven.
tionally behaved guests that he was
Immediately able TO lose himsef-and
any lingering trace Of self.conscious.
ness-in company which. II appear.
ances were TO be trusted was west.
ern only by reason OF Wahaska's loca.
ton on the map.
And the charming young hostess
. Hitherto he had known her
only as his benefactress and the
thoughtful caretaker for his comfort.
But now, at this first sight OF her
In the broader social field, she shone
upon and dazzled him. Admitting that
the later charm might be subtly sen.
suous--he refused to analy2e II too
closely-it was undenlable that It
stronger life: that he could bask In its
generous glow like some alternating
thing OF the wild answering to the
first thrilling OF the springtide, True.
Miss Grierson bore little resemblance
TO any ideal of his past imaginings.
She might even be the Aspasla to
Charlotte Farnham's Saint Cecilia.
But, even So was not the daughter of
Axlochus well beloved OF men and OF
heroes?
II was some little time afterward,
and Jasper Grierson, stalking like
grim and rather unwilling master OF
ceremonies among his guests. had
grufIiy introduced three or four of the
men. when Griswold gladly made room
in the window seat for his trans.
formed and glorified mistress OF the
illnesses. As had happened more than
once before. her nearness intoxicated
him; and while he made sure now
that the charm was at least partly
physical It's appeal was none the less
irresistible.
Are you dreadfully tired?" she
asked, adding quickly: You mustn't
let us make martyr OF you. It's
your privilege TO disappear whenever
you feel like t."
Indeed. I'm not at all tired" he
protested. 1T is all very comforting
and homelike; so vastly" he hest.
tated. seeking thoughtfully for the
word which should convey his mean.
ing without laying him open 10 the
charOa ~ natrnnIziu,e aunorcIIInua-