Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-18
INSIDER"
CHAPTER xxx
BY virginia Terhune Van de water.


not forgotten the experience which
had proved that it was a mistake to
oppose her brother-in-law's will to-
ward me. She had much to lose and
nothing to gain by incurring his dis
pleasure and my animosity.
While l was not attracted to Mrs.
Gore, and did not entirely trust her,
| could understand and Sympathize
partially with her state of mind. Be
fore my arrival she had stood first
in the affections of her small niece
Now that j. once an outsider, had
come into the home, Grace clug to
me, and her father upheld my man.
agement of her and showed his ap-
proVal of me.
The widow would have been more
than human had she not felt a secret
resentment and jealousy toward me.
Net as she was, apparently making
an effort to conceal these sentiments,
it behooved me to ignore them. When
off her guard, as at the table this
morning, she said disagreeable things
but these occurrences were the ex-
ception, not the rule.
So | found it easy to be magnani-
nous that day and even suggested
that she and Grace have their after
noon drive alone together, leaving me
told the child that it would make
"Auntie" happy to have her all to
herself, and she submitted with her
usual doCility.
l fiattered myself that l had acted
wisely until l heard Mrs. Gore tell
Mr.. Norton when he came home
that, as Miss Dart had not cared to
accompany Grace on her outing that
afternoon, she herself had taken the
child out. 1 said nothing. 1 would
not tell my employer that L had act
ed from altruistic motives and not
with the desire to shirk my duty.
But, although I held my peace,
Grace did not.
Miss Dart said that Auntie would
like better going alone with me than
having her along in the car" she
piped up in her shrill treble.
So, after all, / was justified to my
employer.
| was conscious of a childish ex-
citement in dressing for dinner that
evening. AS on the Sunday night on
which l had acted as hostess for Mr..
Norton'S guests, l donned my little
white gown. l did wish that 1t had
been something handsomer than a
simple chiffon, but it was quite good
enough for the governess of Mr..
Norton's daughter.
AS l was surveying myself in the
mirror a knock sounded on my door. |
In answering it 1 was surprised TO
find Mr.. Norton standing in the hall,
a box in his hand.
"I want to leave these with you. |
I am Just on my way to see Grace,
he explained hurriedly.
He went on toward the nursery, |
and closed my door and opened the
box. It contained a large corsage |
bouquet of pink and white sweet
peas.
I pinned the flowers at my belt. !
They gave to my dress Just the
touch it needed. For months, since
nv fathers death, 1 had wore no
color, only black, white and gray. AS
1 thought of this l felt throb of
gratitude to the man who was bring
ing bright touches into my somber
life. He was old enough to be my
father Surely L might accept IA
vors from him.
thanked him a half hour later
when l came into the library where
he was waiting for dinner to be an
nounced.
"These are perfectly beautiful" |
said, indicating the sweet peas.
am very grateful to you for them.
He smiled down at me as he stood |
by me. "And 1 thank you for not
fussing about accepting them,' he
rGJOlneu. 1 dLl Sleb W ~ |
wearing them. The pink in them
Just harmonizes with that exquisite |
flush in your cheeks"
I was spared the necessity of re- |
plying to this compliment by Tom
entrance.
Good evening"" he greeted me
cheerfully. II say, Miss Dart, you
look awfully nice!"
Later, at the table, where l sat op- |
posite Hugh Parker. 1 fancied de- |
tected a gleam of admiration in the
guests ewes, too. / was young, and |
the appreciation that l was not un-
attractive went to my head like wine.
I found myself talking as If | had al
ways been accepted as an equal by
these people. 1 let myself forget the
side table and sundry little happen
ings that rendered me uncomfortable.
And Mr.. Norton, his guest and his
son joined in the talk.
So content was l that I was not
disturbed by Mrs. Cores unusual
silence. For it was not the silence
of bad temper-rather that OF
thoughtfulness. When spoken to she
replied pleasantly, but she volunteer
ed few remarks.
Yet when dinner was over, and the
car was announced, she asked me
what I was going to wear over my
white frock.
Il have only one thing can wear,
7 said. "and that is my heavy winter
coat. That and the jacket that goes
with my new suit are the only wraps
1 own"
Let me lend you my black satin
cloak" she urged kindly. You will
not need a hat, you know, since you
will be in the machine.
| was not accustomed to going to
theater parties, and / had forgotten
that one must wear wraps approprl-
ate to such occasions:
"Oh, something might happen to
your cloak" protested. ought
not to wear it,"
Nonsense she exclaimed. Come
to my room with me"
Five minutes later | came down.
stairs enveloped in a long black satin
coat. I knew it was handsome, but
not suitable for a girl Of my age. Still
I was grateful for it. over my head
/ had thrown a black chiffon scarf.
why, Miss Dart-you look IKE a
little NUM-" Tom declared. Come
on-father and Mr.. Parker are wait
ing outside. Isn't this lark
thought"
Grasping my arm as If had been
a girl in his own set, he ran down
the front steps with me to the walt
ing motor.
Ito BE Continued.)
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