Middletown transcript., 1916-02-05
CHAPTER xxII-centinued.

GOOD evening, ne Sald Iormally.
Good evening"" she replied, and he
went out of the door.
When be had gone. she few up 20
her rooms. her first coherent thought
being that she had accomplished it!
She had seen Allison, and had given
him her definite answer. and he'd got
ten him out of the house while the
others were back in the billiard room.
She had held up splendidly, but she
was weak now, and quivering in every
limb, and she sank on her divan. sup
ported on one outstretched arm; and
in this uncomfortable position she
took up the eternal question of Gail.
The angry tears of modification
sprang into her eyes!
The library was quite steadily de-
voted to Vedder court tonight. A high
ly important change had come into the
fortunes of Market Square church. 1t
was as if a stone had been thrown in.
to a group of cardboard houses. All
the years of planning had gone the
way of the wind, and the card houses
had all to be built over again. The
cathedral had receded by a good five
years, unless the force and fire of Rev
Smith Boyd should be sufficient to
coax capital out of the pockets of his
millionaire congregation; and. in fact
that quite normal plan was already
under advisement.
The five Of this impromptu counsel
were deep in the matter of ways and
means when a slender apparition. in
clinging gray. came down the stairs
1t was Gail, who, for some reason un
known, even to her. had decided that
she was selfish; and Rev. Smith Boyd's
heart ached as he saw the pallor on
dark tracing about her brown eyes.
She slipped quietly in among them.
her brown hair loosely waved, so that
unexpected threads of gold shone in it
when she passed under the chandelier.
and she greeted the callers pleasantly.
and sat down in the corner. very
silent. She was glad that she had
come. It was restful in this little circle
Of friends
A noise filled the hall. and even the
lights of the library seemed to bright
en-, as Lucille and Ted. Arly and Ger
aid, and Dick Rodley. came tumbling
in, laughing and chattering. and carry.
ing hilarity in front of them like a
Coil chnund Ae
thoughts still farther back in her head,
and the sparkle returned into her eyes
Were bringing you a personal invi
tation to Arly and Gerald's yacht
party" iabbered Lucille. kissing every
body in reach except Rev. Smith Boyd.
lyon might let Arly extend the invi-
tation herself" objected Ted.
I've given the pleasure to Gerald"
laughed Arly. with a vivacious glance
at that smiling gentleman. He does
1t SO much better. Now listen"
ITS little informal weekend party.
on the Whitecap," Gerald informed
them, with a new something in him
which quite satisfactorily took the
place of cordiality. Sort of farewell
affair. Arly and are about to take a
selfish two months cruise. all by our
selves" and he glanced fondly at the
handsome black-haired young woman
under discussion. We should be
pleased to have you join us and he
included Mrs Boyd and the young rec
tor with nod
"Of course we'll come" agreed Gail.
Doctor Boyd. can't you arrange for
a weekend party once in your life?"
Unfortunately custom has decreeO
that weekend parties shall cover Sun
days" he regretted. but there was a
calculating look in his eye which sent
Lucille over to him.
PLAY hooky just once" she begged.
This is only family crowd. the Bah
bits and Marion Kenneth, and we who
are here"
Rev. Smith Boyd looked at his
mother, and that lady frightened
Visibly.
when is 1t to be?" he asked.
OdtuTudy' AIRY informed nlm, join
ing Lucille, who had sat on the arm OF
Mrs. Boyd's chair ArIy sat on the
other one. and Gerald Fosland. with an
entirely new appreciation of beauty
thought he had never seen a prettier
picture than the sweet-faced old LADY
with the fresh and charming young
women OH either side of her.
Rev Smith Boyd glanced, for just
an instant. at Gail. who was now
sitting on the feather couch leaning
contidlngly against her Aunt Grace He
had been at some pains 10 avoid this
young lady recently. for it is natural
to spare ones self distress, but there
was a look of loneliness about her