The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1917-04-20

4GASl N Ii VIC IOSCdbG CtubtF vi Vic
illumination, and not at all I'M
aware of her decorative background,
sat pretty Margaret Van Dyne in a
mental state of accumulated pensive-
ness.
Miss Van Dyne had an assured, fresh
teauty which did not in the least de-
rend upon the concession of a gown,
though she had the gown, oo,-had
it on; and it was beautiful Also
she was waiting. for her sweetheart,
Charles Lawler, a nice chap and par
ticularly well worth the waiting.
But Miss Van Dyne's face harbored
anything but that contentment which
convention demands of the situation.
For one thing her waiting was devoid
of waiting's most delicious flavor
that flavor of anxiety which gives
a gambling charm to the period and
robs it of tedium. She was not bit
anxious. She knew he would come.
He had 10. They were newly be-
trothed, so what else was possible for
him?-or for herl
Waiting with such dull surety is
less entertaining than irritating, and
Margaret paiHstakingly began to con-
slider herself neglected and to get furious
in proportion. She was not the kind
of girl who had ever been kept wait
ing a minute, nor was she in the least
the kind Of girl who would ever be-
come used to it. She inclined to put
the blame upon her tagged and ticketed
condition.
II wonder why in the world l ever
became engagedP she pondered, eye
ing with cool dislike the solitaire ring
on her finger. The diamond glowing
like the heart of love sent back score
of fiery answering CLEANS.
No, he was not handsomer than
lot of other men-not so very much,
anyhow. And / did mol crave ex-
element. Heaven knows / didn't
need it. And | have plenty of dia-
monds; it wasn't that. Nor was it
rainy weather. | simply had no ex-
cuse. Well, it has certainly turned
out a mistake Now that | am en-
gagged, do not seem to be as valu-
able as formerly Not to anybody.
Even the other men have dropped
their adoring speechlessness and talk
to me as condescendingly as if they
crawl around almost on their knees
LOT u IicIt NOIu+ INOW bucy CIldJ Win
me casually when they please instead
of when l allow. And He is worse
than any of them"
She heard step in the corridor, and
Strengthened expectantly, but shrunk
listlessly again when she realized it
was Kitty, the maid.
Kitty, staggering under a heap of
carriage wraps, came to standstill
in front of her young mistress, looking
primly expectant.
"Welll What?" demanded Miss Van
Dyne, inconsequentially sharp Who
ever intrudes upon grievance is never
remote enough from the cause to escape
a singing.
81 thought, miss, that you dined
out" hesitated Kitty. Kitty was well
worth her wages. 1t takes the cleverest
kind Of cleverness to know when to
be supposititious instead of certain.
Dined out '-where?" demanded
Miss Van Dyne, indifferently refus-
ing to extricate her mind from the
pleasing anguish of revery.
"At Mrs Brierly's, miss"
The mere name Of this honorable
hostess seemed to whip an angry
color into the face of the expected
guest and to give edge to her tongue
~ wasl but I'm notl" she cried
fiercely.
Mrs Brierly's!" she thought as
she watched the impefturbable back
Al uo4,oo -. K;44,, -