The Ordway new era., 1917-12-07

,
, smile parted her lips. In the bedroom
Of this quaint farmhouse she was look
ing upon a face and figure which th'
! 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. He'
soft, white blouse was open at the
neck. displaying a 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 1t. Would they
find out that they were entertaining
an angel unawares7
She thought with a gratifled smile
Of her incognito. 1t was 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
ly lit with shaded lamps. The elder
brother rose from his chair as they en-
tered, although his salutation was
even grimmer than his first welcome.
He was wearing q dress-coat Of old
fashioned cut, and a black stock, and
he remained standing, without any
smile or word Of greeting. until she
had taken her seat. Behind his chair
stood a very ancient manservant in q
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
Of cold dishes, supplemented by others
upon the sideboard. There were pots
Of jam and honey. silver teapot and
silver spoons and forks Of quaint de-
sign, strangely cut ghss. and a great
Dresden bowl filled with flowers.
" am afraid" John remarked, shat
you are not used to dining at this hour.
My brother and are old-fashioned in
our customs. II we had had a little
longer notice"
Il never in my life saw anything
that looked so delicious as your cold
chicken" Louise declared. MAY
have some-and some ham? 1 believe
that you must farm some land your
selves. Everything looks as If II were
homemade or homegrown"
1--WE are certainly farmers" John ad-
mitted. with smile, 'and don't think
there Is much here that isn't of our
own production. The farm buildings
are at some distance away from the
house. There is quite a little colony
at the back. and the woman who SUPER
intends the dairy lives there. In the
house we are entirely Independent of
your sex. We manage, somehow or
other, with Jennings here and two
boys"
You are not both woman-haters, ]
HOPPER
Her younger host flashed warning
glance at Louise, but 1t was too late.
Stephen had laid down his knife and
fork and was leaning in her direction.
Madam" he intervened, "since you
have asked the question, l will confess
that / have never known any good
come to a man Of our family from the
friendship or service of women. Our
family history. II ever you should come
to know 1t, would amply justify my
brother and myself for our attitude to.
ward your sex"
"Stephenl" John demonstrated, q
slight frown upon his face. "Need you
weary our guest with your peculiar
views7 1t Is scarcely polite, to say the
least Of it."
The older man eat, for q moment
grim and silent.
Perhaps you are right. brother" hi
admitted. This lady did not seek oul
company. but 1t may interest ner t.
know that she 10 the nrst woman whs
has crossed the threshold Of Peak Hal
for Q matter Of six years."
Louise looked from one to the other
half incredulously.
do you really mean 1T Il that Ut
sfally truer She asked John.
| Absolutely" tic ysung man ~
sured her; hut pisass remembss tAa
you are none the Len heartily velcSm,
hsEe. We have fsW wo0en HslgADoel
land lntercoasss witA 49, ssesna Z,
lAAys e1lpUe1 81 e eee 1lvas. Ten -
IAew ~ ~ - etdle le1ay, -