The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-05-23

| 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 a 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, it seemed, notwith-
standing her twenty-seven years. Her
4 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
4 she seem to these two men downstairs,
she asked herself-the dour, grim mas
( ter of the house, and her more youthful
h 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?
of her incognito. It was a real trial
of her strength, this! When she turned
away from the mirror the smile still
fingered upon her lips, a 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.
evil you come this way, please?r
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
lily 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 a 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 very ancient manseryant in a
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, q 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
you are not used to dining at this hour,
My brother and 1 are old-fashioned in
our customs. If we had had a little
longer notice"
4 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 it were
|, homemade or homegrown"
: I'VE are certainly farmers" John ad
mitted, with smile, "and don't thinB
there is much here that isn't of ou
: own production. The farm building;
/ are at some distance away from the
! house. There is quite little colony
at the back, and the woman who super
/ intends the dairy lives there. In tbs
! house we are entirely independent OF
J your sex. We manage, somehow oil
: other, with Jennings here and two
boys"
! You are not both woman-haters,
! HOPPER
Her younger host flashed warning
! glance at Louise, but it was too late
Stephen had laid down his knife .anC
fork and was leaning in her direction
MADAM" he interviewed, "since yoI
have asked the question, will comics.
| that have never known any gooJ
: come to a man of our family from tn,
! friendship or service of women. 0ul
t family history, if ever you should come
; TO know it, would amply justify m!
, brother and myself for our attitude to
ward your SEX"
t stephen John demonstrated, /;
] slight frown upon his face. Need yol
: weary our guest with your peculiar
: views? 1t is scarcely polite, to say tht
! least of it,"
r The older man sat, for a moment
grim and silent.
1 Perhaps you are right, brother" h,
' admitted This lady did not seek on
{ company, but it may interest her {,
/ know that she is the FIRST woman VIII,
D has crossed the threshold of Peak Hal
v for a matter of six years
Louise looked from one to the other
: half incredulously.
do you really mean it? Is that lit
orally true?' she asked John.
: Absolutely" the young man as
: sured her; but please remember tha
a you are none the less heartily welcom
: here. We have few women neighborS
e and intercourse with them seems 4
: have slipped out of our lives, Tell me
how far have you come today, an,
where did you hope to sleep tonight {?
|. Louise heSitated for a moment. Flo