The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-09-28

tNo ollfSI CduuiSSllChS COuldluluE
lighted wax candles. She looked stead.
fastly at her own reflection. A little
smile parted her lips. In the bedroom
Of this quaint farmhouse she was look
ing upon face and figure which the
illustrated papers and the enterprise
of the modern photographer had COM
bined to make familiar to the world
the figure of girl, 1t seemed, notwith-
standing her twenty-seven years. Her
soft, white blouse was open at the
neck, displaying beautifully rounded
throat. Her eyes dwelt upon the oval
face, with its strong, yet mobile fea-
lures; its lips little full, perhaps, but
soft and sensitive; at the masses of
brown hair drawn low over her ears.
This was herself, then. How would
she seem to these two men downstairs,
she asked herself-the dour, grim mas
ter of the house, and her more youthful
rescuer, whose coming had somehow
touched her fancy? They saw so little
Of her sex. They seemed, in a sense, to
be in league against it. Would they
find out that they were entertaining
an angel unawares?
She thought with a gratified smile
of her incognito. 1t was a real trial
of her strength, this! When she turned
away from the mirror the smile still
fingered upon her lips, soft light of
anticipation was shining in her eyes.
John met her at the foot of the
stairs. She noticed with some sur
prise that he was wearing the dinner
jacket and black tie of civilization.
"Will you come this way, please?"
he begged. Supper is quite ready"
He held open the door Of one of the
rooms on the other side of the hall, and
she passed into low dining room, dim
ly lit with shaded lamps. The elder
brother rose from his chair as they en-
tered, although his salutation was
even grimmef than his first welcome.
He was wearing dress-coat of old
be remained standing, without any
smile or word of greeting, until she
hal taken her seat. Behind his chair
stood very ancient manservant in
gray pepper-and-salt suit, with a white
tie, whose expression, at the entrance
Of this unexpected guest, seemed Gu
riously to reflect the inhospitable in
stincts of his master.
The table was laid with all manner
IF cold dishes, supplemented by others
1pon the sideboard. There were pots
If jam and honey, silver teapot and
silver spoons and forks Of quaint de-
sign, strangely cut glass, and a great
Dresden bowl filled with flowers.
81 am afraid" John remarked, "'that
,ou are Dot used to dining at this hour.
Ny brother and are old-fashioned in
'ur customs. If we had had a little |
onger notice."
Il never in my life saw anything |
hat looked so delicious as your cold |
hlcken," Louise declared. MAY 1
ave some-and some ham? I believe |
hat you must farm some land your
elves. Everything looks as if it were
omemade or homegrown"
eve are certainly farmers" John adj
litted, with a smile, land 1 don't think
here is much here that isn't of our
wn production. The farm buildings
re at some distance away from the
ouse. There is quite a little colony
the back, and the woman who super
ltends the dairy lives there. In the
ouse we are entirely Independent of
our sex. We manage, somehow or :
Their, with Jennings here and two ;
oys."
"You are not both woman-haters, I
opeT
Her younger host flashed warning
ance at Louise, but it was too late.
tephen had laid down his knife and
,rk and was leaning in her direction. |
MADAM" he interviewed, "since you t
i've asked the question, will confess l
lat have never known any good /
me to man Of our family from the q
iendship or service of women. Our
mily history, if ever you should come 3
know it, would amply justify my v
other and myself for our attitude to-
ard your SEX" d
stephen !" John demonstrated, a t
ght frown upon his face. ''Need you c
cary our guest with your peculiar e
ews? 1t is scarcely polite, to say the t
ist of it."
The older man sat, for a moment, d
i'm and silent.
Perhaps you are right, BROTHER" he S
mitted. "This lady did not seek our G.
mpany, but it may interest ner to IL
ow that she is the first woman who A
S crossed the threshold of Peak Hall II
matter of six years." al
Louise looked from one to the other, OF
If incredulously. 10
DO you really mean it? Is that lit
lily true?" she asked John. re
Absolutely" the young man as III
ed her; but please remember that
i are none the less heartily welcome
re. We have few women neighbors, pa
] intercourse with them seems to
7e slipped out of our lives. Tell me, 10
" far have you come today, and &c
ere did you hope to sleep tonight?" w
,ouise hesitated for moment. For ar
ne reason or other, the question or
med to bring with 1t some disturb tn