The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1920-11-10

Continued from Last week.) :

His age might have been thirty He
was a suave, polished, sophisticated
person. Nothing was more natural
than that lie should pause in his trav-
els to call upon two agreeable women
he had met on Pacific steamer. Pos.
sibly he was In love with Alice Bash
ford; this was not difficult state of
heart and mind for man to argue
himself into. She was even more
strilingy beautiful tonight than | had
thought her before. She was again IN
white-tt was only In daytime that she
wore black-and white was exceeding.
ly becoming to her. AS we talked she
piled listlessly q fan-a handsome
trinket OF ostrich plumeN A pretty
woman and a fan are the happiest
possible combination.
There Is no severer test OF grace
than a womnn's manner OF using fan.
A clumsy woman makes an implement
Of this plaything, hourishng 1t to EN-.
phasize her talk, or. what is worse.
pointing with it like an Instructor be-
fore blackboard. But In graceful
hands 1t is unObtrusive, a mere bit Of
decoration that leases and fascinates
the beholder's eye.
With all his poise and equanimity
was distinctly conscious that Monta.
mis- dark eyes were intent upon the idly
swaying fan. I thought at first 1t was
her hands that Interested him as they
unfallingly' interested me, but when,
from time to time, she put down the
fan his gaze still followed 1t. And yet
there was nothing novel in the delicate
combination Of ivory and feathers. I
had seen many fans that to all appear
ances were just like it. Once, as she
picked 1t up and lazily opened 1t, / saw
him bend forward eagerly. then, find
Ing that had noted his eagerness, he
rose, pretending that brass screen
before the fireplace had caught his eye,
and asked whether it was not Il Flor
entine production. which shook my
faith in his connoisseurship. as had
bought the thing myself from q New
York bruSsworker who had made 1t to
my order.
MDntani spoke Of the porcclans.
"uh, TO be sure They don't show to
best advantage In electric light, 10
they? But can have few OF the
ROOM" said Alice.
Mrs. Fnrnsworth had excused her
self 10 finish letter, and from my
chair | could see her head bent over
the big desk in the library. Alice rang
for Antoine, and I followed her into
the hall to offer my aid
"Oh, don't trouble" she said. IAN.
tome can do anything necessary. Yes;
thanks; If you will turn on the dining
room lights"
| was gone hardly half minute.
When reached the drawing-room
door Montani had crossed the room
to the table on which Alice had
dropped the fan and was examining it
closely. He faced the door and the
moment he detected me exclaimed
carelessly: "An exquisite little bnublc!
am always curious as to the source
Of such trihes. was looking for the
makers imDrimatur. know a Pari-
sian who is the leading manufacturer
of tho world. But 1t Is not his, ]
see"
AS we stood talking Of other things
he piled the fan carcessly as though
for the pleasure of the faint scent 1t
exhaled, and when Alice called us he
put 1t down carefully where he had
found 1t.
He really did seem to know some
thing about ceramics and praised, with
lively enthusiasm, the pieces TINT had
been set out on the table One piece,
as to whose authenticity my uncle had
entertained serious doubts, Montani
iiiihesitutingiy pronounced genuine and
stated very plausible reasons for his
opinion.
o" the whole, he was ar interesting
fcllO, When he had finished his in
spcct he fingered for only few
minutes and took his leave. saying
that he WAS spending the night at an
inn near Stamford.
"Well," said Alice when the whir OF
his machine had died away, "What do
you think OF him?
"a very agreeable gentleman," an
swercd. III he doesn't know porce.
lains, he fakes his talk admirably"
"And rs to fans" suggested Mrs.
Farnsworth.
] had not intended to mention Mon.