The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1920-03-06

turned to Andrea. We're going to
your old hotel, you know. Its really
I the only one. If you prefer. | can send
for motor-car for you and myself ;
| but we'd have to wait half an hour"
Andrea caught her breath as she
| realized that il was only minutes
| before she would be in collision with
world. Her eyes ran down the line
OF their marching column already on
/ the edge of an homogeneous setting. but
still impreSSing with that subtle digni-
/ ~ which the free and half-naked black
takes with him everywhere and which
Is born of his absolute indifference TO
| standards not his own.
Let US go down at The head of our
men, she answered.
You are right" said Trevor,
pleased at her shrewd judgment. I'VE
mortalS," he added. don't always rec
ognize the importance Of fighting an
atmosphere with an atmosphere. To
/ go in as cock of our own walk is a
thousand times better than motor
car and the back door"
Andrea nodded. II felt it but l could
not put it in words like that"
As Trevor, the white head of a
! quarter-mile-long and glistening black
serpent of humanity, swung in be
tween the gatepOSts of the hotels i'm
posing portals, the ever-opportune
Marguerite stretched his neck, raised
his barrel-head and brayed Above
that raucous cry sounded the sponta-
neous and uncomfortable peal of An
drea's silver laughter.
The groups of men and women
| all but one-on the hotel veranda stop.
! ped In their various occupations as
though paralyzed; drinks paused half
way to thirsty lips. cigarettes burned
unconscious fingers. knitting needles
poised instantaneously-all but one
pair. The manipulation of the excep-
ton was a dear but very proper old
| lady wearing q cap of filmy lace on
her plentiful white hair and enough
hlmy lace on her person TO make the
porch chair. in which she sat. look
| like a stall at a Red Cross bazaar
She was knitting vast khaki-colOred
sweater and at the sound of Andrea
laughter she gave no sign beyond purs-
ing her withered lips while she meth
Odically finished off the stitch upon
which she had been engaged.
That done, she raised a pair of
beady black eyes so wonderfully alive
that it seemed impossible they be-
lOnged to her wrinkled face and flash
ed one look at Andrea and one at Ire
vOr. well, my dear" she said calmly.
presumably to the former, its a re-
lief to have you back apparently alive
and WELL"
No sooner were the words out of
her mouth than she was swept into
Andrea's impetuous embrace. "Oh,
Aunty Gwen Oh. you old dear,"
The lady defended herself with con-
siderable energy and was heard. to
grumble that even kissing had de-
generated into rough pastime. Hav-
ing rescued herself from Andrea's
arms, she said, "Now that that is over
you will please go TO your room and
| change from that outiandish circus
costume; you'll find everything as you
left it except for a new lock on the
door,"
Andrea glanced at Trevor and lean
ed over TO whisper imploringly in her
aunt's ear.
Your husband?" enunciated the
old lady clearly. "Well, that's a relief,
too; but | prefer to meet him else
where and after you have presented
documentary evidence. By the way"
she added with ominous emphasis as
he resumed her knitting. Harry is
sill here"
II should say l am" exclaimed
youth in the trim uniform of the Fly
ing Corps. as he stepped out from the
hotel door. Hello. Sister Andy" Then
his eyes fell on Trevor. A slow smile
Of happy welcome spread over his
face. well, I'll be d-w he exclaim-
I'd fervently. 90 you know. Trevor.
I've been saying from the first Cher
chez the flying-machine' Come In and
ct me watch you have a drink"
Trevor, quivering under the pressure
of the control he had sumlrt ned
70 carry him through the trying mo-
ment and filed with an immediate love
and admiration for Auny Gwen,
paused to direct his following to
nearby vacant lot.
rs that marriage tip straight?"
asked Harry.
straight as the good bishop of Mo-
ma and two other missionary Johnnies
could make it," replied Trevor.
Harry was thoughtful for moment,
then he said. swell, Trevor. don't
know how you're fixed for proof but
you know that through lean years and
fat, I'm for you from the break in
balk. AS one sportsman to another, |
congratulate you on putting one over |
on that up-cOuntry animated leather |
sack of vintage wines. By the way, you
realize I've got to wire him."
'Of course" said Trevor. 1.-THE soon
er the better. Don't worry about An
drea's food and raiment." he added
flushing. "The truth is, I'm pretty
well heeled with the needful."
"You Americans generally are" said
Harry admiringly. sort of jolly ma
tional tradition"
Twenty-fOur hours later the iia-
mOnd magnate. perennially flushed as
to face and heavy of paunch made his